By Wayne Camp

God used Sodom and Gomorrah and some other cities in that area as a warning of his holy hatred of the abomination of homosexuality. In Sodom and Gomorrah God, through the instrumentality of angels, smote the homosexuals with blindness. Later they were killed when God rained fire and brimstone upon them from heaven. 2 Peter 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly. Let me impress upon you the fact that God says that what he did to the homosexuals in Sodom and Gomorrah was what he saw to be good. Ezekiel 16:49-50 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

We have already seen that they will not inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. This does not mean that a homosexual cannot be saved. But, it does mean that a practicing homosexual is not saved and will not go to heaven if he dies a practicing homosexual. I know that this sounds hard but it comes down to the fact that one who is given to a habitual life of sin, he is not saved. 1 John 3:7-10 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. In this passage the idea is not that a child of God lives a sinlessly perfect life. It is not that the child of God does not commit single acts of sin from time to time. John is telling us that the child of God leads a life that is characterized by righteousness. He is also telling us that the person who habitually practices sin is not a child of God.

According to Jude, homosexuals will suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. It is true that the people of Sodom suffered death by fire and brimstone. What a horrible death they died. But, this fiery death ushered them into the eternal fires of hell from whence no one ever escapes.

Many homosexuals are beyond redemption because God has given many of them over to reprobate minds. Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient. A practicing atheist is no more lost and doomed than a practicing homosexual. A person who rejects God and goes about to satisfy his vile, abnormal affections would have to experience the new birth and its consequent graces of faith and repentance before he could ever be saved.

It should also be pointed out that most homosexuals are headed for a short life and an early death—there are not many old homosexuals around. Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

The homosexuals of Sodom and Gomorrah have stood as testament to God’s hatred of the sin of homosexuality and his judgment upon those guilty of that sin down through the ages. 2 Peter 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly. Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

God used Sodom as a warning to the Israelites. Deuteronomy 29:23-24 And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath: 24 Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger? Lamentations 4:6 For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her. Amos 4:11 I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

God used those cities as a warning to Babylon. Isaiah 13:19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

God used Sodom as a warning to Edom. Jeremiah 49:17-18 Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. 18 As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.

God used Sodom as a warning to the Chaldeans and Babylon. Jeremiah 50:35-40 A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men. 36 A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed. 37 A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed. 38 A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols. 39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. 40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

God used Sodom as a warning to the Moabites. Zephaniah 2:9 Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.

Jesus used Sodom and Gomorrah as a memorial to God’s judgment upon those who would not receive those whom he sent forth to preach the gospel. Matthew 10:14-15 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Jesus used these cities and their sudden destruction as a warning to those who may be still living in unbelief when he will come again. Luke 17:29-30 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Isaiah and Paul declared that Israel would have been as Sodom and Gomorrah if God had not graciously preserved a remnant of that people. Romans 9:29And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

What does God think of homosexuality? One way to determine the answer to this question is to examine expressions found in Scripture where those holy men of God spoke as they were born along by the Holy Spirit. The terms they used to describe homosexual behaviour are God’s terms.

According to the inspired apostle Paul homosexual relations are unseemly or inappropriate. Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Again, according to Paul’s inspired epistle, homosexual activity is the exercise of vile affection. Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature.

In the book of Judges we are told that homosexual sin is an extremely vile act. Judges 19:22-24 Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. 23 And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly. 24 Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.

Homosexual conduct is declared to be against nature or unnatural. Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. I recall as a child occasionally hearing that someone was charged with crimes that were against nature. This was apparently charges against homosexuals or against those who were involved in incest.

It is apparent from the conduct of the men at Sodom that homosexual conduct is the result of burning, sinful lust. James said that when lust is conceived it brings forth sin. And lust, unnatural, vile, burning lust is what drives homosexuals. Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Homosexuality is uncleanness. Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves. Being unclean does not simply refer to the fact that they sinned in their paganism. Homosexual relations are themselves unclean. It is no wonder that our own country is in an epidemic of Aids. While some innocent people have been infected through blood transfusions, Aids is predominately a disease of homosexuals. It is passed through their unclean sex acts.

These unclean relationships are dishonoring to the bodies of those involved. Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves. I shudder at the thought of what most of these people do.

There is also something about homosexuality that makes those who become homosexuals effeminate and self-abusive. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. The last two—effeminate and abusers of themselves with mankind—are both descriptions of homosexuals. Rarely does one see a homosexual who is not effeminate. They usually act more like a woman than a man. In reverse, most lesbians—female homosexuals—often have male qualities in their lives and conduct.

God calls them dogs when they sell their bodies in homosexual harlotry. Deuteronomy 23:18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Sodomites are wicked to the extreme. Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. Genesis 19:7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Biblical writers must have almost run out of adjectives and terms to describe the incredible awfulness of the sin of sodomy.

Their sin is abominable. Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

They commit folly. Judges 19:23 And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly. It is not acceptable to call a man a fool unless God has classified him as such. God has called the atheist a fool. Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. God has also classified the acts of homosexuals as folly and that makes them fools.