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Depravity I've been realizing that many of us have misconceptions regarding the utter depravity of man. I was recently asked if I believed that homosexuals were born that way. My response is, "Of course they are; we all are. I was born a homosexual, and so were you." We were conceived and born in sin, completely separated from God and in utter depravity. Nothing good dwells in my flesh. Is there something good in yours? You may not be able to imagine yourself involved in a homosexual relationship, and the thoughts of it nauseate you. Your response to my statement that you were born a homosexual may make you want to tell me you would never do that. Don't bother - I know your flesh and there is nothing good there. There is no depravity you are not capable of. But just because you were born that way does not mean I regard you that way. (2 Cor. 5:16 and 17) The believer has new life in Christ; but the unbeliever has NOTHING but a sin nature. Unbelieving homosexuals have no choice because they ARE born that way and they have no other recourse to resist it. Believing homosexuals, even though they were born that way, have a life dwelling in them that is NOT perverted. They have Christ's life and being born that way is NO excuse. They have the power that has overcome EVERY temptation. Still as a believer I know how in my flesh I could easily be a child molester, a rapist, a pedophile, a murderer. I've sat with people in counseling whose offenses have literally made me sick to my stomach. I've cried out to the Lord asking why He had me there, asking why He had me listening to these people pouring out their failures and struggles. And the Lord confronted me, "Listen to what they have been through. Listen to the pain they have endured. Listen to what led them into that depravity, and then tell Me you wouldn't have turned to what they have turned to. Tell Me you would be doing as well as they are if you had that internal pain and torment." In those instances I feel like Job: "I am speaking of things I don't have a clue about. I think I'll shut up now and just let You minister love and life to these hurting and tormented souls." You may not struggle or have ever been tempted with homosexuality, or any other perversion like it. Maybe you can't imagine yourself participating in that kind of sin, but just because the idea is foreign to you does NOT mean you are not capable of it. Do you know that I have fallen into something worse than that, and it is likely you have too? I have fallen into legalism and killed the Spirit of Christ in my brothers and sisters. Worse than that, I have blasphemed the Holy Spirit repeatedly by rising to the throne and claiming to be God for myself and others. It is true - there is nothing we are not capable of in our flesh, but thanks be to God for freeing us from being held captive by this body of death - our depraved flesh. We are free of the control of sin and flesh because of Jesus. We have His life now. We are free to be run by the Holy Spirit of God and have our lives transformed as He renews our mind with His mind. Jesus is everything we are not and we are free to receive all He has if we will just admit to ourselves and to Him what we are not. Your flesh is depraved, but He is not. You and I are the great "I am nots". But He is the Great I AM! Verses for Reflection Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalms 51:5 MKJV) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. (Romans 7:18 KJVR) People conceived and brought into life by God don't make a practice of sin. How could they? God's seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It's not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin. (1 John 3:9 MSG) |
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