A Gospel Question...

I was asked how to approach a homosexual with the gospel…

The first thing that you must remember is why you are talking to them in the first place. Are you approaching them because “they especially need the gospel”? Or are you telling them because you genuinely love them and want them to live their lives so that God is pleased with them? You must share the gospel because the love of God has been poured out in your heart through the Holy Spirit, and also (though not less important) the simple fact that we are commanded to bear witness of the gospel in all the earth.

If your motive for sharing the gospel is not pure, then you have other problems that are far more pressing than sharing the gospel with someone else (Matt. 7:3-5).

In general, you should not approach them any differently than any other sinner. My advice is to remember two things: first, to “let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Col. 4:6) Second, “in meekness [instruct] those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.” (II Tim. 2:25) Meekness and graciousness are paramount, you must not treat them as less than human, or as more sinful than anyone else (Jas. 2:10-11) – they are just as human as everyone else, and certainly have not broken God’s law any worse than anyone else has.

Having said that -- you just take the same kind of approach that you would for anyone else: telling them of their rebellion toward God, of God's requirements, of the punishment that they deserve (that we all deserve), and of the salvation from sin that Christ has provided. Tell him that it is open to him specifically, and that Christ does not save us merely from the punishment of sin, but also from the power of sin in our lives so we can live rightly before Him. Then tell him what God requires of us for salvation -- that it is by faith that we receive it -- we don't go change ourselves and then come....we first turn to God, and He changes us, "for he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life," and “repent ye, and believe the gospel.”


(Thanks to Daniel for prompting me to think about the topic.)

The Gospel

Every person on earth needs forgiveness for having disobeyed God (Romans 3:23). We cannot be saved from sin by trying to do better, for we have no way of making up for our own past misdeeds.


Therefore, part one in the way of salvation is: Repent from your sins.

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19)


However, step one alone cannot save us, for without God's involvement, it is merely works. Thus, repentance must be combined with faith in God, for those who wish to be pleasing to God must "believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6)


Part two then is: Believe on Jesus Christ.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31)


Now, what do repentance from sin and faith in Christ look like in your life? "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26). This involves the next two parts...


Confess Jesus as your Master:

"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart the God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)

and...

Live the obedient life:

"Not everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

"Whosoever says he knows God but does not obey Him is a liar." (1 John 2:4)


Too many people stop at part two and think that they have all the salvation they need - faith without works - this dead faith, however is not the salvation that Scripture speaks of. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil; if the people that He has saved continue in sin, what victory is there, since Satan's works are still being done? If you are truly saved, you will bear fruit - good fruit - just as a tree is known by the fruit it bears, a believer in Christ is known by whom he obeys (1 John 3:10).