I watched Boy Erased yesterday, and these gay conversion places are abusive and I can see nothing about the love of Jesus Christ in them. I don’t agree that people are born homosexual, as God created the man, Adam, then woman in Eve from Adam’s rib. Two men together cannot create a child, neither can two women create a child, therefore it is not natural. However, we don’t know if abuse, or whatever else, has caused these thoughts. They need to hear that God loves them.
However, these gay conversion therapy place are abusive. If this film is based on a true story, not once did I hear the gospel of Christ given to these men and women. At one point in the movie, the lead pastor, I think played by Joel Edgerton, said to one of the young kids that God will not love you as you are (homosexual), and this is deeply saddening, because Jesus Christ died for everybody’s sin. Preachers who teach this to homosexuals are very wrong, because there is no fruit of Christ in their judgements. YES, GOD LOVES THEM AS THEY ARE. God hates sin, but he loves the man or woman. He provided a way for the sin to be paid through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Are these preachers sinlessly perfect. NO. Nobody is. This is why Jesus had to die for the sins of humanity.
This world today and many of its preachers and teachers do not believe the finished work of Christ. They believe in Christ, say it’s by grace then say works are necessary. This is mockery to Jesus. Either they believe God (who saves anyone who comes to Him), or they believe (and teach others) that Jesus did not do enough, and we need to work for salvation too. Read the Holy Word for yourself and learn about the great love that God has for mankind. They are enemies against the cross.
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself – Phillippians 3:1-21
Many churches and teachers may say Christ did enough, but then when it comes to their salvation message, they add works. They have no understanding of the true saving message of the gospel. Paul warns us against them.
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away – 2 Timothy 3:5
Anyone who teachers another gospel is accursed.
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed – Galatians 1:6-9
If you want to be born into God’s family today, then all you need to do is to come as you are. We have all sinned against God and all fallen short of His glory.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;– Romans 3:23
The wages of sin is death, and God loved us enough to send His only begotten son (God in the flesh), and whoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord – Romans 6:23
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life – John 3:16
Nobody can change before coming to Christ as Saviour, so any message from your church or pastor telling that you need to ‘repent of sin’ to get saved is a lie. They are adding works to the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. The problem is our flesh, and we are all flesh.
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
When we are born again, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us and we are given a new nature that cannot sin (the new man)
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him – Colossians 3:1-17
Paul is explaining that we have a new man and we should be focusing on spiritual things, instead of those on this earth. Easier said than done, as I know I fail daily.
The Holy Bibles tells us to renew our minds daily, so sanctification or discipleship after salvation is a process throughout the believers life.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God – Romans 12:2
There is nothing we can do but to trust Christ for salvation and what He did for us. Believe on the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. We still have the old sin nature, plus the new spirit nature, there will always be a battle. Sin will always be present, and anyone who says otherwise is delusional and the truth is not in him.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us – 1 John 1:5-10
In order to have fellowship with God, we regularly confess our sins to God and Christ’s blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Not everyone wants to have fellowship with God, as some christians remain babes in Christ, or carnal Christians. However, it is our reasonable service to walk with God, after what He had done for us, but it is not conditional unto salvation. This is why God grants free will to everyone. Salvation is a one time process, while sanctification or discipleship takes a lifetime.
