reply to post by The time lord
The death penalty only applied when the Jewish nation was a theocracy - i.e. in Old Testament times when they regarded the eternal God as their
Law-maker, Ruler and Judge. The same penalty was also prescribed for adultery and for fornication; it was not, as some people assume, something
peculiar to homosexual practice.
Although the penalty is no longer relevant, the same moral law still stands today - i.e. it is the standard by which all of us will be judged on the
day of judgement, unless we have found forgiveness through the Cross. Jesus stated in no uncertain terms that he had not come to abolish the law:
"Don't assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill... whoever breaks one of the least of
these commandments and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of Heaven...
Gospel of Matthew 5:17&19
Jesus actually revealed that the law is far stricter than many had realised. Even looking at a woman to lust after her breaks the commandment not to
commit adultery, in God's eyes (Matthew 5:27).
When people quote certain laws from the the Old Testament in an effort to say it would be ridiculous to apply O.T. laws today they fail to understand
that there were 2 codes: the moral law, and the ceremonial law. The latter pertained to things such as food and clothing, to set the Jewish nation
apart as uniquely belonging to God. The moral laws, however, were not abolished by Christ. This is clear both in the Gospels and from the N.T. book of
Romans.
It is therefore not possible to follow Christ and continue to practice immorality of any description, whether homosexual or heterosexual. Christians,
however, are no better than anyone else - they have simply accepted God's forgiveness for past wrongdoing and covenanted with God that they will seek
to no longer live that way.
This is, in many ways, the key to understanding the New Testament stance on this issue:
Do not be deceived: no sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals [i.e. practising], thieves, greedy
people, drunkards, revilers, or swindlers will inherit God's kingdom. Some of you were like this; but you were washed, you were sanctified
[=set apart to live God's way], you were justified [=made acceptable to God] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of
our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9b-11