If I Am Baptized and I'm Gay, Can I Be Absolved?

Know this: There isn't one sin that Jesus did not die for on the cross for you.

Those who abide in homosexuality are abiding in sin like any other sin.

Take even a heterosexual…

If you're abiding in lust.
Having desires.
Acting on those desires outside of marriage

These are sinful in the same way that acting on homosexual desires are sinful.

In God's eyes, there's not one sin that's worse than the other.

So…

Can you be absolved of the desires?
Can you be absolved of the acts?
If you follow through on the desires, are you forgiven?

The answer is absolutely yes.

The reality is, when you come to your pastor to be absolved, it's you confessing that you have guilt for what you've done.

It says in the service of private confession and absolution…

I want to do better.
I don't want to live this way.
I don't want to have these desires.
I don't want to succumb to the temptation.
Please forgive me.

And the answer is…

Absolutely yes.
You are forgiven.
It is Christ’s to bear now.

And he grants you strength and endurance in your Christian walk.

The reality is, the Word of God is what endures forever.

And the Word of God says every sin in Christ is forgiven, that you may bear it no more.

But rest assured that no matter what it is, including being gay, in Christ it is taken care of.

Meaning in Christ, He bears that struggle with you. And it's going to be something you struggle with your whole life long.

It's not something that's going to go away.

It's going to always be there.

But thanks be to God, Christ is always there for YOU.

Contributor Chris Hull is the senior pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Student Center in Macomb, IL.

#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #forgiveness #salvation

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[maureen]

Jesus said, You are healed, now go sin no more. For the LOVE of Jesus we struggle to turn from sin. Thank God for the confessional box.

[kirkdockter]

At which point do we talk about repentance? And turning from sin. Also, are you saying that an infant that is baptized at the choosing of his/her parents (and not receiving Christ on their own) is absolved of all sin as long as they live? Does that not set up the possibility of false salvation or people feeling as though they can do anything and be saved? Does not a true believer turn from non-benefiting things such as drinking, Swearing, listening to Elton John, etc…. Where does the fruit come in?

[simonearendse]

You can ask him to forgive you and heal you