Social Morality

Issues which concern the morality of human beings have long been a subject of intense interest

Does God really care about how we live our lives? Are there certain socially acceptable behaviors that are common in modern times that God objects to? Has God changed or relaxed His view of human sexual relationships?

Some ask if God ever cared much for the sexual behavior of people.

Although there are many opinions and people are entitled to speak and express their thoughts on these subjects, it is more important what God thinks and how He has determined that we should live.

By virtue of His rights as Creator, only God has the right to make laws that regulate the behavior of human beings, made in His image. People may certainly determine that they will not believe in God or follow His law. God has given every person the privilege of choice. He will, however, hold each one of us responsible for what we do with our choices.

Just as human governments determine the behavior of citizens who live in their countries and cities, God has the right to determine the laws for all people who live on His earth. If a person does not want to follow the laws of God, they are free to leave earth and start life on their own planet; one that they create themselves, in their own universe.

Until that time, people are breathing God’s air, eating His food, and drinking His water. Everything that is on the earth belongs to the Lord and only He has the right to determine how we live.

These things being said, God has clearly established laws for man’s social moral behavior.

Adultery is forbidden as it violates the moral fabric of marriage and destroys families and the lives of both parents and children. Adultery and subsequent divorces, causes untold heartache and misery to countless others who love those who divorce as a result of Adultery occurring in a marriage. For this reason and because Adultery hurts and destroys human life, God has said that we shall not participate in this behavior.

Fornication is forbidden as sexual acts between unmarried persons because it violates the sanctity of God’s creation of mankind. God intended that certain things are used correctly and in their proper context. The missus of sex has been one of the primary causes of moral decay in the world, destruction of human relationships and lives, the the ruin of entire nations. For this reason, God has forbidden unmarried persons from engaging in sexual relationships with one another.

Sodomy, is forbidden because is violates the purpose of creation in God making male and females as separate and distinct from each other, but made for each other. Sexual relationships between same-sex couples violates the natural laws that God created for humans sexual behavior, just as Adultery, and Fornication does with opposite-sex couples.

Of all the Old Testament commandments that God gave to Israel, sexual sins were carried over to the Christian church in the New Testament and are still in effect today.

In The Beginning

Jesus referred to the text of Genesis 1:27 in His commentary on marriage when the Pharisees of Israel asked Him if it was right for a man to divorce his wife.

The Pharisees also came to Jesus, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?”And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:3-6

The verse that Jesus is referring to is found in the first book of the Bible:

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27

Jesus returns to the original intent of God, when He first created a man and a woman. In what Jesus states, we learn that God intended that there would be two sexes, man and woman and that these two would be joined together as one. If it was the intent of God that two men or two women would be joined together, God would have stated this in His original comments regarding His creation of man.

There is not a single place in the entire Bible where God is described as endorsing the union of a same-sex couple, nor the acceptance or celebration of a same-sex marriage.

Notwithstanding the rest of the Bible, this is sufficient evidence to define what God’s intention was in the creation of two different sexes and the union of a man and woman in marriage.

On the negative side, God does state repeatedly; His opposition to the union of two men or two women. Although the text from the book of Leviticus that condemns two men having sex together, was written for the Jews and the nation of Israel; we find that the rules regarding sexual immorality for all people, has never changed—throughout the Bible. When we arrive at the New Testament, we discover that God was very specific that the new believers in Jesus church, were to avoid all sexual immorality. This includes, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, and bestiality.

Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. Acts 15:19-20

Paul speaking to the Christians at the city of Corinth:

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

The book of Acts, chapter 15, defines the three absolute requirements of new Christians; to abstain from eating meat that had been dedicated to idols, sexual immorality, and eating meat in which the animal had not been bled-out before eating.

Paul stated to the Christians at Corinth, chapter 6, that they could not continue in fornication, adultery, sodomy, living as drunkards, or any of their former sins, if they would follow Jesus. Paul said that many of the new Christians used to practice these things in their life, but now that they have come into a new relationship with Jesus; they were washed of these former sins and they should not continue in them, any longer.

For this reason, although the entire text of the book of Leviticus is written specifically for the Jews; the laws regarding sexual immorality were continued throughout every generation of men and women.

Why God Gave These Laws To The Jews

First, notice who these laws are written for: “Speak to the children of Israel.” These laws were written for the Jews who had come out of their bondage as slaves in Egypt for 400 years. God was calling these people into a new and unique relationship with Him that was based upon Holiness; a separation from the former pagan nations in which they once lived. As the Jews come into their new land, they will also be living in the middle of other pagan nations who practice all sorts of sexual immorality, child sacrifice, and other horrible practices.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the LORD your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD. ~Leviticus 18

The following laws, are designed to separate the Jews from all the pagan nations who practice the things God has determined that His people shall not do. The purpose of these laws is to make the Jews a unique people who are separate from the world—to belong to God.

These first laws are simply directed at nakedness before any person. The idea is that nakedness, sex, and the intimacy that takes places in a sexual union, is holy, special, and for those who are in the bond of marriage that God first established in Genesis chapter 1.

None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the LORD. 6 The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness. 7 The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is your father’s nakedness. 8 The nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or elsewhere, their nakedness you shall not uncover. 9 The nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for theirs is your own nakedness. 10 The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, begotten by your father—she is your sister—you shall not uncover her nakedness. 11 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is near of kin to your father. 12 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is near of kin to your mother. 13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt. 14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law—she is your son’s wife—you shall not uncover her nakedness. 15 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness. 16 You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near of kin to her. It is wickedness. 17 Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive. 18 “Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity. ~Leviticus 18:5-18

These next laws for the Jews, were directed at regulating what is good and proper in sex. Notice references to some of the pagan god’s of the surrounding nations who practiced these things that God is telling His people to not imitate. Molech was one of the vicious god’s of the Canaanites that is described in detail, in the chapter: Understanding God’s Judgment. Molech was a great cast iron god that sat upon a stone throne above the people. His body was hollow, with an area at the lower section of the statue where a fire could be kindled. The flames of the fire would superheat the cast iron, at times, develop such high temperature; that fire would shoot-out from the outstretched arms of Molech. A newborn baby from a willing family, was placed alive, onto the outstretched arms of this vicious god where the infant would be burned to death. This was one of many horrible gods that the Canaanites worshipped.

In addition to this horrendous practice, the Canaanites also participated in adultery, same-sex relationships, fornication, and bestiality. Because these practices were a perversion of God’s intent for the human body, He warns the Jews ahead of time; when you come into the land that I am bringing you, do not participate in the practices of these nations and people.

Moreover you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, to defile yourself with her. 20 And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. 21 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. 22 Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion. 23 “Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. Leviticus 18:19-23

VERSE 21: God defines the union of two males in sex as an “abomination,” and a woman with an animal as a “perversion.”

VERSE 23, these practices are defined as things that defile a nation. This makes it clear that same-sex unions, not only defile the bodies of those who participate in these acts, but also the entire nation. We find that God destroyed all of the Canaanite nations because they participated in same-sex acts, sex with animals, offering their babies to Molech, and other sexual immorality.

As Leviticus, chapter 18 is concluded, God defines these acts as things that “defile the land,” and the reason that He will visit punishment upon their inhabitants.

24 For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants. 25 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you 26 (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), 27 lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you. 28 For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 29 “Therefore you shall keep My ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am the LORD your God.’ ”  ~Leviticus 18:1-30

  • Verse 25: Keep these laws.
  • Verse 26: These practices of sexual immorality are abominations, and have defiled the land.
  • Verse 27: These acts will cause the land to “vomit” the inhabitants out. The idea here is that these things are sickening and will be expelled.
  • Verse 28: Whoever commits these acts will be “cut off,” a phrase used repeatedly throughout the Old Testament to described “killed.”[1]

The argument that is made by those who seek to define same-sex relationships as a part of the Old Testament covenant of God that He made between Himself and the Jews, but not other people; is disqualified when we continue our search. The New Testament is clear that all of the laws that describe sexual relationships in the life of the believer in Jesus, are still in effect.

Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. Acts 15:19-20

The Christian church is required to keep the original laws of God requiring correct behavior with their bodies. This means that God has never discontinued the Old Testament laws regarding same-sex relationships, or any other sexual relationship.

Were The Laws Of Sexual Immorality Still In Affect When Jesus Came?

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus:

“Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”  ~John 8:3-5 (NIV)

This woman is Mary Magdalene, who was a known prostitute in Jerusalem. In John chapter 8, she is brought by the Pharisees before Jesus to be judged for her adultery, being caught in the very act.

“Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.”

As a result of her encounter with Jesus, she turns from her sin and begins to follow Him as her Savior. Jesus instructs Mary to make certain that she does not continue in this sin again: “go and sin no more.” Luke later records an evening when Jesus is having dinner at the home of Simon, one of the Pharisees. Suddenly, Mary burst into the home and falls at the feet of Jesus—weeping convulsively, anointing His feet with her tears and fragrant oil. Simon is indignant over a known prostitute coming into his home, and immediately begins to wonder to himself why Jesus, if he were a true prophet, would allow such a woman to touch Him.

Jesus, knowing what was in Simon’s heart, begins to tell him a story...

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Luke 7:40-43

JESUS ESTABLISHES AN IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE OF SALVATION: those who have a deeper sense of their own sin, will love and appreciate what Jesus has done for them in forgiving them, in greater measure, than a person who does not consider themselves much of a sinner.

Therefore I say to you (Simon), her sins (Mary), which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. ~Luke 7:47

It is important to distinguish here that Jesus is not saying that one person’s sin is less grievous than another. The point being—all sin is the same before God; however, not all people see themselves as sinners—to the same degree. To those who think themselves more righteous and not in great need of a Savior, they will always love Jesus less than someone who fully appreciates the depth of their sinfulness and estrangement from God, and how much Jesus has forgiven them.

In other words, people who have a deep sense of gratitude for the sacrifice that Jesus has made for them, are likely to love Him more. Whereas, people who have not experienced a deep sense of remorse for their sins—nor an understanding of how much He suffered for their sins—will not feel as much love or appreciation for what Jesus has done.

In reality, every transgression is the same before God. Every sin causes a person to be excluded from the presence of God and to forfeit eternal life. The sin of lying causes the same penalty of death as the sin of murder. Sin is defined as: missing the mark of perfection—falling short of the glorious ideal that God has established for all human beings.

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… Romans 3:23

Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one. Psalms 53:3

As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one…” Romans 3:10

Many of us have seen the text from John 3:16 displayed during a football or baseball game. The majority of the people of the United States have heard that “God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son.”

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

There is, however, more to this verse than simply the Love of God for the sinner. Just three verses further in the text, we see a description for why most people will not receive this love that God offers through Jesus Christ:

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, (but) men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19

Most people love their sin (darkness), and they do not want to turn away from those sins and surrender their life to Jesus Christ. Today, we have a politically correct Gospel that leaves repentance from sin out of the salvation message of Jesus Christ. The word of God states emphatically that there is no forgiveness of sin without sincere repentance. There is no eternal life without a willingness to turn from sin and to live a new life of righteousness.

Even after we have surrendered our life to Jesus Christ, we will still continue to sin. The difference is that we are no longer living in a continual lifestyle of disobedience to God. When sin occurs, it is by a moment of weakness or during a time when we are not thinking correctly. It is not because we have a mind-set that loves sin and a desire to pursue it. Salvation only occurs when there is sincere repentance from our sins and a genuine sorrow for having offended God. Once this Godly sorrow occurs and we experience a true conviction to repent and act upon that desire, God is able to forgive all our sins and grant us eternal life.

David’s prayer of repentance towards god in Psalm 51 is a perfect example of sincere repentance:

Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise. Psalms 51:1

This is a long and heartfelt prayer of repentance. David did not make any excuses for his sin; he took ownership of them all, and he rightly laid blame for his errors on himself. In David’s repentance, he exonerated God of all fault, and defined judgment for our sins by God as a just act. David’s sincere repentance is observed in a change of his life. This is in contrast to Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. The Bible describes Judas as also sorry for what He had done.

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” Matthew 27:3-7

Was the remorse of Judas sincere?

It would be natural to assume that Judas felt a great sense of regret for having betrayed Jesus—who he knew was innocent. After seeing the resulting errors of all his actions, Matthew 27:3-10 describes Judas as “remorseful.” It is possible that the reader might imagine Judas as repentant enough over what he had done—sufficient for redemption.

It is important to understand the difference between remorse and repentance.

  • REPENTANCE is a sincere regret that causes a person to make changes in their life.
  • REMORSE is a feeling of regret or guilt for wrongful actions or words without the desire to change.

The difference between repentance and remorse is defined by what a person does after he feels a sense of regret or remorse. The Bible defines true repentance as—Godly sorrow.

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation… 2 Corinthians 7:10

The kind of sorrow that leads to true repentance, produces a sincere desire to change the behavior that caused the sin in the first place. Many people feel sorrow when they commit a certain act, speak a particular word, feel anger, display selfishness, feel lust in their heart, or covet something material in the world. Feelings of regret speak to our conscience, which produces guilt, which causes sorrow. In order for salvation to be possible, a person must go one step further: take action to cease their former conduct. Without action to change sinful behavior, God will not forgive, nor grant salvation.

Today, when people come to receive Jesus as their Savior, very often, the message of repentance from sin is not even a part of the prayer for salvation. Often, it is “Jesus, I want to accept you as my Savior….,” as if the Lord would be very fortunate if we asked Him to accept us.

John wrote that all of us are already under the condemnation of God because of our sins.

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:17-18

The whole world, apart from Jesus Christ, remains under the condemnation of God. Jesus came to rescue us from this fate. If you were hanging over the edge of a cliff and someone reached out his hand to lift you away from certain death, how would you respond? What would be the attitude of your heart having been saved from a fate of destruction? Thankfulness? Perhaps a desire to live a better life since you came so close to death?

Are We Judging Other People?

Why is it difficult to honestly tell a person; out of a conviction of deep and abiding love, that if they fail to receive Jesus as their Savior, there is no hope of eternal life? We are not condemning someone if we tell them the truth about their present situation; we are loving them. Why is it that if we tell people that they need to repent of their sins, we are told that we are “judging” them and no one has the right to judge anyone else? Jesus never said that we could not judge sin and tell someone to repent; otherwise, how could the Gospel be preached at all?

What we are prohibited from doing is condemning people for their sins. Condemnation is final judgement, which only God has the right to execute. Judging that a person is on a dangerous course of sin that will lead to the loss of his eternal life is not only approved by God, but encouraged. See the chapter: Are Christians Hypocrites?

…let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. James 5:20

Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul. Ezekiel 3:20

In other words, if we see a person committing sin and we warn him to turn from his sins—to Jesus for Salvation and he refuses our warning, God will hold him accountable for his sins and release us from guilt. If, on the other hand, we fail to warn a person, and his sins lead to the loss of his eternal life, God will hold us accountable because we failed to give warning.

Even when we do warn others, we are to do so with great gentleness and humility, understanding that we ourselves are often tempted and may also fall into sin.

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Galatians 6:1

The first clause of the new covenant from God is that a person must repent and turn from his sins to Jesus Christ. John the Baptist came before Jesus to prepare the hearts of the people for His arrival. John’s message was—Repent!

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:1-2

We must understand that although God earnestly desires forgiveness for sinners, He will never forgive sin apart from our complete repentance. We must be willing to forsake our old lifestyle dominated by sin and turn to a new life of righteousness, if we are to be saved.

In Jesus’ death, God was punishing our sins. It was by great suffering that we were afforded the opportunity of forgiveness. If we are not serious in our repentance, then God will know. If we come in genuine sorrow for our sins, appreciating the great sacrifice that Jesus has made, then God will extend complete forgiveness and salvation to us, without cost.

If we seek to justify our actions, or to assert that God does not care about our personal behavior or choices in relationships, we are not being honest.

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10

God does care immensely, what we do with our bodies. We understand this truth when we see how and for what purpose He has created a man and a woman—for the express purpose of revealing how important this is.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

And Jesus answered and said to the Pharisees, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh….  ~Matthew 19:4-6

Later, Paul commented on what this joining together as one flesh actually means:

So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery (this spiritual union), but I speak concerning Christ and the church.  ~Ephesians 5:28-32

Paul defines marriage as an illustration of Jesus love for His bride, the church; which is made up of all those who love and believe in Him for their salvation. Then Paul recites the Genesis 2:24 verse, and defines what this means; the becoming of one flesh is a spiritual event where a man and a woman, by their sexual union, become a single person. This cannot occur between two men or two women, as the sexual union of these couples does not convey a spiritual union, as it does between a man and a woman. See the former chapter: Understanding God’s Law, for details.

The Thread Remains The Same

As we follow the thread of God’s requirements for sexual purity for every human being, we find that this requirement has never changed since the creation of the world. At no time has God ever changed, amended, or altered the requirements for what we can and cannot do with our bodies.

Although the arrival of Jesus has ended the requirements of the Old Testament sacrifices, keeping of the sabbath, and the many social laws that were written for the Jews, the laws the regulate the use of our bodies, has not changed. When Jesus spoke in Matthew 5:17-19, He describes the requirements of every person to keep the law perfectly, if they will seek to find approval from God by the keeping of His law. If a person finds that they cannot keep the law, for no one truly can, and they seek to find approval from God by Jesus death and resurrection, they will be approved. The reason that any person can be found to keep all the laws of God when they place their trust in Jesus as their Savior; is that Jesus perfectly fulfilled every requirement of God’s law, for us. Those who place themselves in Jesus for their salvation, also fulfill all of the law.

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  ~Matthew 5:17-19

The Laws Given To the Christian Church

When the leaders of the early Christian church met to discuss what would be required of new believers. From Acts 15:19-20, it is clear that all of the laws that describe sexual relationships in the life of the believer in Jesus, are still in effect.

Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. ~Acts 15:19-20

The Christian church is required to keep the original laws of God requiring correct behavior with their bodies.

All of the other laws of God must also be fulfilled, and they are—in Jesus. When a person sincerely turns from their former sins and determines to no longer live their life in those sins, they can trust in Jesus death and resurrection and be saved. If a person is unwilling to cease their former sins, then salvation cannot occur. A person cannot be a Christian and willingly continue to practice their former sins. Because same-sex relationships, fornication, and adultery, are all in the same category of sexual sins, a person must first end these relationships and not continue in them, before they turn to Jesus and receive salvation. A person cannot claim to be a follower of Jesus, while remaining a fornicator, adulterer, homosexual, or lesbian.

See The Next Chapter: “Sodom And Gomorrah”

NOTES:
[1] Thus I establish My covenant with you:Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth. (Genesis 9:11 NKJV)