Expert: LEBoyd - 8/5/2008

Question
QUESTION:
  Hello Sir.

         I apologize to you if I seemed a bit abrasive with my leadership question. Your response was very much the wisdom, direction, and unbiased guidance I am seeking. I was speaking with some friends of mine about the forgiveness of sin, and the question of sex change came up. I said: "I understand the bible says all sins are to be forgiven except the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. I know I can not change the nature god gave me even if I change my sex". With that can a transsexual make it to heaven? Also how does Duet 23:1 stand today?


ANSWER: Zach,

While God will forgive sin, He will not forgive "willful" sin.  Heb. 10:26-31 tells us that willfully sinning will lead us to destruction.

Heb 10:26-31
26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

I put that in the message this time because it is very important.  Many people believe that the forgiveness of sin always occurs once we are obedient to accepting Christ's sacrifice through faithful baptism.  However, this Scripture shows us this is not true.  If a Christian continues to willfully sin, they will be judged accordingly.  There is no "Once saved, always saved."

Why?  Because it is an insult to God.

As far as sexual sin is concerned, look at what 1 Cor 6 says:
1 Cor 6:9-11
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

The key is very 11 - "such were some of you;"  Christ's sacrifice is sufficient to wipe out all these sins (and others) if one changes.  In Corinth, the Christians "were" fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminates, homosexuals, thieves, coveters, drunkards, revilers and swindlers.  But they changed - repentance is a change of heart, mind and action.  

So, when someone says, "That's just the way God made me."  They are wrong.  It is an excuse to continue to willfully sin.  People can change, and must change to be saved.

1 John 2:16 says:
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

We all have our own weaknesses for specific types of sin.  They break down to these three categories; lust of the flesh (sexual and gluttony), lust of the eyes (covetousness and idolatry) and pride of life (pride and egotism).  It doesn't matter into which group our personal weaknesses fall, but we must change.

The change is "walking in the light" - not "willfully sinning".  And 1 John 1:7 says:
7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

That's the opposite of "willfully sinning".

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mr Boyd.
    
      I give you my word I will reduce my stress upon your Knowledge (Brian) after this question. Thank you sir. I am married and a father of 2 - Daughter(4) - Son(1)... I am coming into a more spiritual understanding of the role of a Husband, Father, and being a MAN. The bible says the soul that sins it shall die. I understand that, but if I fail to make aware the spiritual consequences of sin to my family I am responsible for that right? Now, in the garden Eve first transgressed not Adam. So then why did God ask Adam what happened and held him accountable for the sin Eve committed, and is this what is required of me to answer for the spiritual knowledge of my family? Also, due to the fact the serpent beguiled the woman and the woman beguiled the man, is the the way the enemy attacks the marriage or a relationship, through the woman to get to the man?

Answer
Zach,

The accountability of mankind is primarily for one's self, not for others.  The two exceptions are for men who agree to be elders of their congregation (as we discussed earlier) and for teachers (James 3:1).

However, clearly our interest in saving ourselves extends to saving our loved ones.  Therefore, Christians who want to have their loved ones saved will teach and encourage them to love God and obey His commands.

Men do have a special charge with their families, in that God expects the man to be the head of the family (Eph 5:22ff and Col 3:18-19), as Christ is the head of the body/church.

1 Tim 2:12-15 discusses the sin of Eve and the role of Adam.  Adam was not deceived, but Eve was.  God punished both Eve and Adam.  The account in Genesis is pretty interesting.  Eve was deceived and then it says, "she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate." (Gen 3:6).  It doesn't say Adam was deceived, almost indicating that he knew exactly what he was doing.  Then, as you probably know, when asked by God, he almost blames God for giving him "the woman".

So, both were punished for their own sin, not for the sin of the other.

As I mentioned in the last post, each of us have our areas of weakness.  The devil will use any method possible to get us to sin and turn our backs on God.