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JI Packer: Homosexuality-an heretical issue

Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by shodan, Nov 22, 2011.

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  1. shodan

    shodan Member
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    This is a piece that should be widely distributed.

    Homosexuality: A Heretical Issue

    When asked about calling those who support homosexuality and profess to be Christian “heretical,” Packer very carefully and insightfully explained what he meant. He began by saying that as Christians we are tempted to sin in many ways, including homosexuality. However, because God has saved us through Jesus and empowered us with the Holy Spirit, we are to practice ongoing repentance of sin and rejection of sinful desires. He explained in great detail that he perceives the approval of homosexuality to be “heretical” because it denies a fundamental aspect of the gospel—namely repentance. Packer explained how for six years he called his Anglican Diocese to repent of their sinful support of unrepentant homosexual activity, to no avail. Eventually, his own archbishop sought to pull his license (essentially his ordination or credentials) as a punitive measure. In the end, Packer, along with roughly thirty Anglican churches, came out from under their “heretical” leadership to form a new Anglican alliance. Returning to the issue of denying a fundamental aspect of the gospel (repentance), he explained that 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 says,

    "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

    Packer was clear that those who do not call Christians to repent of homosexual activity are, as Scripture says, “deceived.” He told me that the first of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses was that the whole of a Christian’s life is to be one of repentance of sin. Any Christian who does not practice and promote repentance is denying an aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When I asked how the denial of repentance merited the label of “heretical,” Packer said, “ “‘Heresy’ ought to be used when an aspect of the gospel is being denied.” He further explained that because God through Paul warns the Corinthians that those who practice homosexuality unrepentantly will be damned to hell, “Souls are put at risk every time homosexuality is tolerated.”

    http://theresurgence.com/2008/07/17/j-i-packer-on-homosexuality
     
  2. The Biblicist

    The Biblicist Well-Known Member
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    Homosexuality is heretical for a number of reasons. It is a direct attack on marriage and the family unit. In the context of the last days it is one of the prominent signs of rebellion against God ("days of Lot").

    However, gospel repentance is not a repetitive act but a once for all act. We do not get saved and lost saved and lost saved and lost all throughout our life. Hence, the repentance of true children of God is never in regard to the gospel after new birth. Those who have not been born again, repentance is something they have never done even once.

    For the born again child of God confession and forsaking of sin is the natural process of Christian growth and progress in sanctification. Those who never manifest this natural process to some degree have no basis to the claim of new birth. However, in those where this natural process has been manifested but where failure to confess certain sins seems hindered over a period of time or they died with sins unconfessed ALWAYS is accompanied with practical temporal GREVIOUS consequences but the only eternal consequence is loss of rewards.

    Hence, the bottom line between lost professors and truely born again is not sin as they both have sin. The issue is whether they can sin and get away with it without suffering grevious temporal consequences. Chastening always accompanies unconfessed sins by children of God and if necessary physical death.
     
    #2 The Biblicist, Nov 22, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 22, 2011
  3. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    Excellent and to this I agree whole-heartedly. Repentance is to be preached to the lost today. It is an catalyst within the Gospel message and its power, which shows forth those who've been genuinely regenerated.

    Within the thread about "Coming out Day" there were some churches shown that were embracing this lifestyle, embracing those who practice this sin, not those who were saved out of this sin, those who practice this sin. It is wickedly deceptive to have such a message. I say this because we are shown within Scriptures that love is the greatest of all things, that we are to practice love, to love is to fulfill the law &c. But the world has the wrong idea of love altogether, therefore "churches" think they are being Christ-like by embracing and receiving unrepentant practicing sinners, of any flavor, and loving them and teaching them (by not preaching repentance) that God loves them just as they are. But I find it of great interest that Satan has used one model of sinful man, that is homos*xuals as the acid test of "tolerance" possibly because this may be the most grievous form of sin to God.

    With all this there has been a change in the Gospel, and it then is a false Gospel. We know what Paul said in Galatians concerning this. The Gospel has been supplanted in some churches with a new message and it is a self-esteem Gospel and a "love" gospel and a "tolerance" gospel(after the world's definition of love.) Persons are to be embraced in their sins, loved for their sinful lifestyles and it goes further; they are to be those whom we learn from, we are to learn about what they do, why they became this way, and the crux in all of this lies in this false premise: that they are really good people and they are out to tell us just how sweet, kind, nice, and good they are. Well, God has something different to say about this, ("there are none good") and to the world and to others who claim to be christian, this doesn't sit too well with them, and some can't see Gods side (repentance/salvation from sins) as love. Rather, we are taught that love is "tolerance." This doctrine is demonic and from the pit of hell itself, and it has many subtle shades, and some of this is seen within the theology of others, concerning their view of repentance being preached (or not) and of their position (not Gods) on sinful mans state.

    I know this will go over like a lead balloon, but not caring about that, but about truth, I will state it regardless of what others think, and I will and am doing so in true Biblical love. I'm ashamed to say this, but some Baptists would believe them and this message as being true love and tolerance and look at this as a fulfillment of "unity" and "Gospel-esque" in nature, since some have show on here that they believe man to not be so bad, and reject the indictment of God in Romans 3 and other places within the Scriptures.

    When we state that repentance isn't a part of the Gospel anymore we have diluted the Gospel, and it is then no longer the Gospel at all. We must ask ourselves what is at stake when we preach anything other than truth and love and the Gospel and repentance. The false teaching that when a person believes they've repented is a false Gospel. Nowhere do the Scriptures teachthis, it is a subtle and wicked lie.

    J.I. Packer has it correct. All that truly beling to Christ, and He knows who are His and those who are not (and pay attention, it's not the ones who have not and do not repent) are to depart from iniquity.

    Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness. 2 Timothy 2:19"


    - Peace
     
    #3 preacher4truth, Nov 23, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 23, 2011
  4. Gup20

    Gup20 Active Member

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    Sticky: Warning: No Threads Regarding Human Sexuality Are Allowed in This Open Public Forum

    You will note this sticky post.
     
  5. preacher4truth

    preacher4truth Active Member

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    These subjects are being discussed and have been discussed on the BB. Nothing has broken any rules in this thread according to posting rules.

    I find it also interesting that this subject in itself is attacked and an attempt to not talk about it is made. Quite interesting indeed.

    We as Baptists better address this and better quit hiding from the stand we are to take.

    Packer is correct.
     
  6. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I fully agree with him. Embracing sin is heretical. Saying sin is good is heretical. Saying God made us sin is heretical.
     
  7. The Biblicist

    The Biblicist Well-Known Member
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    Can't say it much better than that Ann!
     
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