Overcoming Same-Sex Attraction

Some Christians want to serve God and do his will, but find themselves struggling with same-sex attraction even though they accept that homosexual practice is sinful. Some try to fast and pray while increasing their involvement in church activities. Despite all their efforts, they still find themselves struggling to totally resist the temptation.

Scriptures & Highlights

Romans 1:16-27
Overcoming Same-Sex Attraction begins with receiving the power of the gospel, and a renewal of the mind.

From a biblical view, this is an easy topic. The Bible treats heterosexual relationships as a given. But from the cultural and social norms of the current western worldview, this is a difficult topic.

There are Christians today who want to serve God and do his will, and fully accept that homosexual practice is sinful. However, they still find themselves struggling with same-sex attraction. Some try to fast and pray and stay busy in church. However, even though they are doing all of that they still find themselves struggling with same-sex attraction. There are new believers that are coming out of a homosexual or bisexual lifestyle, and experience temptations and struggles in this area after being saved, and desire to break from this attraction. How can this attraction be broken?

Gospel Power Over Self-Effort

Begin by fully recognizing what the power of the gospel has done for you to give you victory over same-sex attraction.

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Attempting to overcome the temptation, and lust through self-effort alone won’t do it. Praying and fasting more, and getting busy in church won’t do it. There must be a full faith in Christ, that the Power of the Gospel will and can free you. What has the power of the gospel don for you to set you free.

1. Justification Through Faith

Romans 4:4-5 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

God places you in right standing with him by Faith in Christ
You are Forgiven Through the Blood of Jesus.
You Are Declared to be A Child of God.

Don’t try to pay up for the sin you have committed, but rather receive forgiveness by faith, and know you are a child of God by faith in Christ. You cannot pay your way into freedom from this lust, but receive the power of the gospel of Christ.

2. New Life Through Resurrection Power

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

We are placed in right relationship with God through Christ cleansing blood that was shed on the cross, and we are given a new life through the resurrection power of Christ. The old person is dead. The body of sin has been destroyed and buried and you are new in Christ. Count the same-sex attraction as dead, and know that you are new in Christ.

3. Righteous Living by the Power of the Spirit

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

You are enabled to live righteously through the power of the Spirit. Go and Sin no More

Count it an Abomination Over Normalcy

Understanding that the power of the gospel is what frees you, and not your own self-effort, then ensure your mind is renewed. Homosexuality is sin. Sin is hated by God. Sin cannot touch God. God will forgive you of your sin, and justify you, but then he calls you to walk away from sin. He said to the woman who was caught in adultery in John 8:11 “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more”. Justification is freedom from condemnation that you may go and sin no more. See sin as something that God’s wrath and anger is against. But note that Homosexual practice is called an abomination; it has greater consequences than other sins. In short it is a more heinous sin than other sins. Consider it that way.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Not just a sexual orientation
Not just a normal attraction
Not just the way you are
Recognize that God’s wrath is against it
Recognize examples of God’s Wrath Against it (such as Sodom and Gomorrah).

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

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.

Divine Order Over Social Order

God’s creation order reveals his will concerning the relationship between man and woman. Accept God’s Divine Order in Creation. God created male and female, and gave the two different sexes so reproduction would be possible. God saw it was not good for the man to be alone, and so the woman was made to be a suitable helper.

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth

Male and Female
Reproduction - be fruitful, multiply
Female - a Suitable Helper for the Male

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Be careful of the messages being brought about on television, news, and even in education as they are different from the created order. Taking in these messages will strengthen and affirm same-sex attraction; instead resist same-sex attraction knowing that it is outside the will of God.

Gratitude Over Bitterness

Give God praise for how he has created you. Be thankful for your gender, and the role you have been given in your gender. Do not be bitter over how God has created you. Accept the gender identity given by God in creation and give God praise for it. Put away any bitterness toward your biological sex that may have arisen through sexual, physical or emotional abuse in the past. Put away any bitterness out of frustration due to the temptation. Give God praise for how he has made you biological, and be thankful for the biological role he has given you in the earth.

Romans 1:21-23 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Creator
1. He Made You As You Are
2. His Holy Nature
Thankful for Who You Are
1. Thank Him for Making you a Male/Female
2. Thank Him for the natural role of the sex for which you were created
  1. Don’t be bitter about being a wife
  2. Don’t be bitter about the responsibilities of your gender

Psalm 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Divine Nature Over Corrupt Nature

Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Obey the Truth

I Peter 1:22-23 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

2. Surrender to God’s Spirit

Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

3. Kill the Flesh

Remove every opportunity to please the desire such as people that you are around, places that you go, and things that you watch. The Holy Spirit will bring these things to your memory.
Fast and Pray to allow God’s Spirit to work in you and put the flesh to death.
Actively Resist the Desire. Strive Against it.

This is meant to get you started and thinking according to God’s will so that you can resist same-sex attraction. Through the power of God, the attraction can completely leave you, or you may be able to walk in victory constantly despite the temptation. Seek the support of your church pastors and mature Christian friends to support you in resisting same-sex attraction.