“On the other hand, if they continue in their sinful behavior, they will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
All continue sinful behavior, whether one sin’s differently then another is irrelevant.
Romans 6: 1-23:
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
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.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
EPHESIANS 2:
8 FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD:
9 NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.
1 JOHN 1:
7 BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT, AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP ONE WITH ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN.
8 IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US.
Galatians 2:21:
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain
Not according to scripture. God drew a line in the sand.
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who£ has also given us His Holy Spirit." 1 Thess 4:3-8
Did you catch that? Those who reject this command against sexual immorality have rejected God. We will all stumble in some form of sin, and hopefully repent and ask forgiveness as we do. This is different from continuing and sin and then approving and promoting the sin.
Don’t forget Hebrews 10:26:
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins”
I just read Romans yesterday, fantastic letter filled with wonder.
Early in the letter Paul referred to an accusation that he (and his ministry brothers) were saying “Let us do evil that good may result!” He later, in the part you quoted, addressed it again.
Got me thinking. It’s clear from Paul’s letters, in toto, that he considers a works gospel no gospel at all. He preached grace, through faith...and that as a free gift! The slanderous accusation he denied emphatically, and yet it came.
I can think of many well known and respected preachers who teach, what is to me, a “gospel” of works that is cursed! They pay lip service to grace but they always get around to threatening salvation with law.
And...THEY WILL NEVER BE ACCUSED, AS PAUL WAS, OF SAYING “LET US DO EVIL THAT GOOD MAY RESULT”!
Hmmm.....
Of course, they will continue to sin, as do we all, and no sin is worse than any other. I meant if they truly repent (turn away from) of the sin of practicing homosexuality, they can be forgiven and the God that I know will welcome them into His presence. He loved the world so much that he gave us His Son to die in our place. He also knows our hearts and is the only one in the position to decide where any of ua will spend eternity.