Romans 1:26-27

NASB	NLT	VOICE
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged natural relations for that which is contrary to nature,	26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.	26-27 This is why God released them to their own vile pursuits, and this is what happened: they chose sexual counterfeits – women had sexual relations with other women and men committed unnatural, shameful acts because they burned with lust for other men. This sin was rife; and they suffered painful consequences.
27 and likewise the men, too, abandoned natural relations with women and burned in their desire toward one another, males with males committing shameful acts and receiving in their own person the due penalty of their error.	27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within the penalty they deserved.

One of the words that shows up repeatedly is “relations.” This is the Greek noun chrésis (Khray-sis). It refers to use, usage, employment, and sexual intercourse. This is the only time Paul uses this word. He uses it to reflect the line between honoring and dishonoring God with the body.

The reason Paul claims God had abandon them refers to the peoples’ rejection of his truth and lean to follow their idols. God giving them over is his response that allows people to pursue their own sinful desires as a form of judgment. Again, as mentioned in the Leviticus passages, they viewed this as sinful because it went against the command shown in Genesis 1:28 for humanity. Exchanging what was considered natural for unnatural for them was a deliberate choice to abandon God’s created order. For this context, natural refers to the heterosexual relationship as designed by God; unnatural refers to homosexual behavior that contrasted Genesis 1:28. Natural relations referred to the biological and complementary design of male and female. Abandoning the binary suggests a willful rejection of God’s design and violation of God’s moral law.

Now – a lot was said there. For our conversation, let’s revisit that Day 6 creation story in Genesis 1. Genesis 1:28 said that humans should be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and govern it, and reign over creation. Now, again, the “unnatural” side of this is about the end of 1:27 “…male and female he created them.” We must remember that advancements in gender, gender orientation, and sexual orientations have shown us a lot more exists outside of the binary. Different genetic mutations and lifestyle choices have shown us that gender and sexuality exist on a spectrum. It does not dehumanize those that do not exist on either end of the binary but instead extends our understanding of how God created humanity. Since our bodies are created individually through God’s placement of our genes passed on through our parents, the balance of hormones that placed within us, and our nurturing and how we’re raised – the implication of this command goes beyond the sexual relations mindset. This command teaches four commands:

• Be fruitful.
• Multiply and fill the earth.
• Govern and reign over creation.

We are not taught to try and do everything ourselves. It was the entire reason behind why Eve was created, because God recognized that it was not good for man to be alone. Some of us will focus on the familial, reproductive relationship because that’s where God’s placed our focus with. Some of us will focus on using the fruit of the spirit given to us by God to bring the Kingdom of God down to earth and to love God as he loved his creation. Some of us will focus on the leadership, governance, and power structure to help ensure that all of God’s creation has an equal right to life and cares for the marginalized community. If someone does not do one of these options, that wouldn’t minimize their efforts and work in the other options. So if someone who is homosexual is fighting to equal rights for others and working towards meeting their needs of the community – would we judge, bully, and condemn their acts solely for the reason that they sleep with and potentially have sexual relationship with their same-gendered partner? No. So, why are we still doing it today?

Believe it or not, Paul actually uses this mindset in the next chapter of Romans. It shows that that judgment is more sinful than any sexual act.

Romans 2:1-3

NASB	NLT	VOICE
1 Therefore, you have no excuse, you foolish person, everyone of you who passes judgment; for in that matter in which you judge someone else, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.	1 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.	1 So you can see there are no excuses for any of us. If you eyes shift their focus from yourselves to others – to judge how they are doing – you have already condemned yourselves! You don’t realize that you are pointing your fingers at others for the exact things you do as well.
2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.	2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things.	2 There’s no doubt that the judgment of God will justly fall upon hypocrites who practice such things.
3 But do you suppose this, you foolish person who passes judgment on those who practice such things, and yet does them as well, that you will escape the judgment	3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?	3 Here’s what is happening: you attack and criticize others and then turn around to commit the same offenses yourselves! Do you think you will somehow dodge God’s judgment?

Hearing these words, does it change your mind about Romans 1:26-27? It did for me. I often left the Romans 1 passage as a more “historical context” condemnation and not an “eternal purpose” reality. When we continue to use and abuse historical context as the law, we are not making progress in our reality. We are staying stuck in a reality that no longer fits the world today. It’s not about adapting to the chaos of the world to fit God into, but how we can see God in the chaos of the world. People being gay does not mean that God has abandoned us, or that the end of the world is coming, or that they deserved to be treated as lesser than ourselves. Paul’s saying that in the Romans 2 passage. People who judge everyone that they come across condemn themselves. Does this mean that if we judge gay people, that we are gay ourselves? No. That’s not how that works. We often will judge people based on their lifestyle, based on the face-value words that the Bible teaches, and their general disposition towards gay people. Our lives are not perfect. Our lives are not the goal. Our lives are not ideal. There are things that ALL of us struggle with, so why do we look to punish, condemn, and abuse those who live with a same-gendered person in a romantic manner? God is a god of love, compassion, and mercy. If there was true conviction in a Christian person who lives in a homosexual life, there will be either change or judgment from God alone. We are not in a position to use our power and judgment to restrict other people’s right to life, so we must work to share the same compassion and mercy that God shares with us.

Paul’s culture had a pleather of taboos against non-procreative sex, even among heterosexual and their practice of pedophilia and sexual rituals in pagan temples. With all that in mind – how do we apply the biblical sexual ethics today? We must remember that homosexuality was often equated to incest, bestiality, and adultery. Acts that we still condemn today because it’s impure of the familial bound, impure against the natural creation order of inter-species, impure against the covenant against a committed relationship. Why was this the one restricted act that became commonplace in our world today? Why was this the main Levitical law that we still get hooked on in 2025 today? We have not adapted to a more open, more progressive, more welcoming and inclusive environment, and a more compassionate mindset. We struggle with unlearning what we grew up learning, what we were surrounded by through our family and religious community, and how we interpret the scriptures through all that. We have learned that sex is more than just a reproductive act. It’s a way to connect with your significant others and create a bond with them that often does not exist with anything else. Now, do I agree with the constant ease of sex between people/friends/significant others that happen without the addition of commitment. I truly believe that people who are in committed relationships and truly see themselves in a long-term relationship. For me, I will not commit sexual acts with my partner until we are at minimum engaged, if not married. Now, do I push that on others? No. Do I think that my way is better, and my way is right? No. If people question me, I have my reasons, but I will not continue to push until I change your mind. I will tell you why I believe what I do and ensure to make sure that you have understood me (part of my anxiety, but still.) How do I understand the biblical sexual ethics today? Avoid sexual immorality, which I have defined below:

Sexual Immorality: committing sexual acts or being nude with someone(s) outside of the boundaries of a healthy, God-led romantic relationship with the intent to accomplish sexual satisfaction, obtain money, satisfy lustful desires, or obtain gratification in a noncommittal manner in a way that can involve a variety of forms of abuse, force and/or inhuman treatment of those involved.

Next part: Sexual Morality and Idolatry || The Church Clobber || Part 5