What does the Bible say about homosexuality?
Maybe this is about you, someone you love, or a question you’ve been afraid to ask out loud. Whoever you are, you are welcome to read this, and God loves you.
The Bible teaches that sex is designed for marriage between one man and one woman: “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Jesus repeated that design (Matthew 19:4–6), and Scripture names same-sex sexual relationships as outside it (Romans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10). It also says the same about sex outside marriage for everyone. And it gives the same hope to everyone: “that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 6:11). In plain words: every person bears God’s image, every person is loved by God, and every one of us needs Jesus.
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Neither do I condemn you
Religious leaders dragged a woman caught in adultery in front of Jesus and asked if she should be stoned. Jesus said, “Whoever among you is without sin, let him be the first to cast a stone at her.” One by one they walked away. Then Jesus asked her, “Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord.” “Then neither do I condemn you. Now go and sin no more” (John 8:3–11). He didn’t condemn her, and He didn’t tell her the sin didn’t matter. Both at once.
What the Bible is and isn’t saying
It is not saying that people with same-sex attraction are worse sinners than anyone else. The same list in 1 Corinthians 6 includes the greedy, drunkards and slanderers. It is not saying that feeling an attraction is the same as acting on it. Temptation is not sin (Hebrews 4:15). It is saying that God’s design for sex is marriage between a man and a woman, and every one of us is called to surrender our desires to Him.
If this is your struggle
You are not alone and you are not disqualified. God loves you as much as anyone in the church. Following Jesus will cost you something, as it costs everyone something (Luke 9:23). He promises to walk with you, give you a family in His church (Mark 10:29–30), and make you new.
If this is someone you love
Love them. Keep the door open. Listen more than you lecture. You can hold to what God says and still be the safest person in their life.
What the Bible says
- 01
God’s design.
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”
Genesis 2:24 - 02
Jesus repeats it.
“Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.””
Matthew 19:4–6 - 03
That is what some of you were.
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. 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.”
1 Corinthians 6:9–11 - 04
What Scripture names.
“For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.”
Romans 1:26–27 - 05
Neither do I condemn you.
“The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?” They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger. When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” And again He bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there. Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.””
John 8:3–11 - 06
While we were still sinners.
“But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.
Whatever your story, read Romans 5:6–11 today. Then pray for one person in your life who needs to know God loves them.
Common questions
Is being gay a sin?
Experiencing same-sex attraction is a temptation, not a sin in itself. Acting on it sexually is outside God’s design.
Can gay people go to heaven?
Anyone who turns to Jesus in repentance and faith is saved. The same call applies to all of us.
Is it hateful to believe this?
Disagreeing is not hating. Jesus loved people perfectly and told the truth at the same time.
Bring your real question.
Talk is a place on Become to ask anything, in your own words and your own language, any hour. No question is too honest.