LGBTQ— HOW DOES JESUS CHRIST MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO "LIVE FREE"?

THE FIRST STEP IS ALL ABOUT "GOD" AND THE INDIVIDUAL…AND, IT's CALLED = SURRENDER

KEY SCRIPTURE:

”His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.“.

2 Peter‬ 1‬:‭3‬-‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬

This world is a battleground. Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:17-19), the world God created has been in conflict with Him (Romans 8:20-22). Satan is called the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4), and due to Adam's sin, we are born on his team (Romans 5:12).

When we reach the age when we can make moral choices, we must choose whether to follow our own sinful inclinations or to seek God (see Joshua 24:15). God promises that when we seek Him with all our hearts, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). When we find Him, we have a choice to make: do we continue following our own inclinations, or do we surrender to His will?

Surrender is a battle term. It implies giving up all rights to the conqueror. When an opposing army surrenders, they lay down their arms, and the winners take control from then on. Surrendering to God works the same way.

God has a plan for our lives, and surrendering to Him means we set aside our own plans and eagerly seek His. The good news is that God's plan for us is always in our best interest (Jeremiah 29:11), unlike our own plans that often lead to destruction (Proverbs 14:12). Our Lord is a wise and beneficent victor; He conquers us to bless us.

There are different levels of surrender, all of which affect our relationship with God. Initial surrender to the drawing of the Holy Spirit leads to salvation (John 6:44; Acts 2:21). When we let go of our own attempts to earn God's favor and rely upon the finished work of Jesus Christ on our behalf, we become a child of God (John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

But there are times of greater surrender during a Christian's life that bring deeper intimacy with God and greater power in service. The more areas of our lives we surrender to Him, the more room there is for the filling of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we exhibit traits of His character (Galatians 5:22). The more we surrender to God, the more our old self-worshiping nature is replaced with one that resembles Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Romans 6:13 says that God demands that we surrender the totality of our selves; He wants the whole, not a part: "Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness." Jesus said that His followers must deny themselves (Mark 8:34)—another call to surrender.

The goal of the Christian life can be summed up by Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Such a life of surrender is pleasing to God, results in the greatest human fulfillment, and will reap ultimate rewards in heaven (Luke 6:22-23).

IS HOLINESS EVEN POSSIBLE FOR LGBTQIA+ PEOPLE?

n 1 Peter 1:13-16, Peter writes to believers, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" Peter is quoting from Leviticus 11:44 and Leviticus 19:2.

First, let's look at God's holiness. What does it mean that God is holy? Passages like 1 Samuel 2:2 and Isaiah 6:3 are just two of many examples of passages about God's holiness. Another way to say it is absolute perfection. God is unlike any other (see Hosea 11:9), and His holiness is the essence of that "otherness." His very being is completely absent of even a trace of sin (James 1:13; Hebrews 6:18). He is high above any other, and no one can compare to Him (Psalm 40:5). God's holiness pervades His entire being and shapes all His attributes. His love is a holy love, His mercy is holy mercy, and even His anger and wrath are holy anger and holy wrath. These concepts are difficult for humans to grasp, just as God is difficult for us to understand in His entirety.

Next, what does it mean for us to be holy? When God told Israel to be holy in Leviticus 11 and 19, He was instructing them to be distinct from the other nations by giving them specific regulations to govern their lives. Israel is God's chosen nation and God has set them apart from all other people groups. They are His special people, and consequently they were given standards that God wanted them to live by so the world would know they belonged to Him. When Peter repeats the Lord's words in 1 Peter 1:16, he is talking specifically to believers. As believers, we need to be "set apart" from the world unto the Lord. We need to be living by God's standards, not the world's. God isn't calling us to be perfect, but to be distinct from the world. First Peter 2:9 describes believers as "a holy nation." It is a fact! We are separated from the world; we need to live out that reality in our day-to-day lives, which Peter tells us how to do in 1 Peter 1:13-16.

Finally, how can we become holy? Holiness only results from a right relationship with God by believing in Jesus Christ as Savior (accepting His gift of eternal life). If we have not placed our faith in God's Son alone to save us from our sins, then our pursuit of holiness is in vain. So, we must first make sure we are born-again believers (see John 3). If we truly are believers, then we recognize that our position in Christ automatically sets us apart from the world (1 Peter 2:9). After all, we have a relationship with the living God! Then we must daily live a set-apart life, not trying to "blend in" with the world, but instead living according to God's Word as we study the Bible and grow in it.

THE POWER SOURCE FOR AN LGBTQIA+ PERSON's COMPLETE SURRENDER = 7 KEYS TO EXPERIENCING ABSOLUTE HOLINESS FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT REALITY "IN CHRIST"..

#1 - Christ is "the standard" (of moral excellence, holy confidence, and righteous representation) for ALL of humanity's ability to appropriate HIS Life and to live righteously by faith through HIS Grace; to consistently agree, align and live with HIS Perfect Substitutionary Sacrifice, HIS Perfect Life, and HIS Perfect Righteousness as the foundation and source of "our" expectations, intentions, motivations, proclamations, and resignations to follow HIM for our whole lives. Christ is "holiness personified" and ultimately realized for the sake of all humanity.

#2 - Christ made holiness possible, by meeting every righteous requirement, and by faith allowing the "believing disciple" to appropriate HIS Finished Work.

#3 - All things are fulfilled or consummated in Christ, so all the believing disciple must do is appropriate, apply and apprehend - as the Spirit wills.

#4 - Christ Himself said, "Be ye holy, as I am holy." and this was a commandment for every believing disciple to enter in to the rest of HIS finished work. It was not a command to do work outside of believing upon the work HE accomplished; but to explicitly and implicitly believe upon what HE completed at Calvary. As long as the believer is "believing upon HIS Finished Work", we do not place and undue burden upon anyone to perform in their own strength, according to John 6:28-29; because it's not possible. The Law was our schoolmaster, but now grace is our equalizer; and we win, if we depend upon HIM!

#5 - The Finished Work is the completion of all righteousness - through Christ's Perfect Sacrifice. Although this does not give the believer "right or license to sin", it does diminish the mental anguish and struggle associated with "bearing burdens we weren't meant to carry"!

#6 - GRACE is the complete transfer of the Finished Work - in full manifestation, to the believing disciple of Christ who abides. "Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God." As we apply "what we know", we experience the expanding and increasing intensity of HIS amazing grace!

#7 - If we place the burden of holiness on any believer - outside of them explicitly appropriating God's grace, it is a form of Galatianism.

IS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS EVEN POSSIBLE FOR THE LGBTQIA+ PERSON?

Righteousness and holiness are two words that describe states of moral excellence. There is a slight difference between the two concepts. Oxford Dictionary's definition of holiness is "the state of being holy," and the definition of holy is "dedicated or consecrated to God or a religious purpose; sacred" or "morally and spiritually excellent." The Oxford definition of righteousness is "the quality of being morally right or justifiable," and the definition of righteous is "morally right or justifiable; virtuous." So, righteousness is the condition of being proven or declared morally excellent, while holiness is the condition of being consecrated or dedicated to moral excellence.

Think of it this way: a ballerina who dances for the New York City Ballet has been declared good enough to be part of that company. From a young age, she has set herself apart to that purpose, to honing her skills, and she continues to practice and improve as she dances. In this analogy, righteousness is the ballerina's position in the ballet company. She has been given a position, her talents have been approved, and she belongs to the company. Holiness is the ballerina's dedication and devotion to her art. Everything in her life—what she eats, whom she knows, how she spends her time and money—bows to this purpose.

To some, terms like righteousness and holiness can be a bit daunting. We think, "But that's not how I am," or we wonder how we can be sinful and also holy or righteous. Many people experience fear and doubt that stem from the idea that we need to "clean ourselves up" or be "good enough" before we come to God. This confusion is natural, considering the strict definition of righteousness and holiness. We want to be approved and included, but we often feel like our spiritual "dancing skills" are just not up to par—and never will be.

The Bible provides hope. We are not left to achieve righteousness and holiness on our own. Quite the opposite. In fact, left to ourselves, we would never achieve those states. Let's look at righteousness first, and then holiness.

The story of righteousness really starts with a man named Abram in the ancient city of Ur in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). God called Abram to leave his country, his people, and his father's household and go to the land God would show him. God promised to make Abram into a great nation and bless the nations of the world through him (Genesis 12:1–3). In faith, Abram gathered up his household and left. Several years later, God told Abram, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward" (Genesis 15:1). Abram asked what God could give him since Abram still had no children. God again promised him an heir and offspring as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:2–5). "Abram believed the LORD, and he credited to him as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6).

What was "morally excellent" or righteous about Abram believing God? He had not sacrificed anything to God. He had not done some mighty work in God's name. He had not even perfectly trusted God in the journey so far (see Genesis 12:11–20). He hadn't done anything except listen to God's words and accept them as true. And for that Abram was counted righteous in God's eyes. If we look at the definition of righteousness again, "the quality of being morally right or justifiable," it is clear that this incident set the foundation of justification by faith, a concept explored many more times throughout Scripture (Romans 4; Galatians 3; James 2:23).

Galatians 3:7–9 links all who have faith in Christ to their predecessor in faith, Abraham: "Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.' So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." All who have faith in Christ are righteous in God's sight, regardless of their nationality (Galatians 3:26–29). "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8–9). Paul explains, "God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). It is by Jesus' work on the cross that we are made righteous, and by faith we are justified, or declared righteous, before God.

Now, what about holiness? The Bible says that "without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, praised God for sending the Messiah, saying, in part, that Jesus would "enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days" (Luke 1:74). The apostle Peter wrote, "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:15–16). Ephesians 4 explains that we are to put off our old, sinful self, "which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:22–24).

Like righteousness, holiness is a gift from God. The process of becoming holy is called sanctification, and God promises to complete His sanctification in us because of Christ's work on the cross. The writer of Hebrews explains positional sanctification: "By [God's] will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," and also alludes to progressive sanctification, speaking of "those who are being made holy" (Hebrews 10:10, 14). We are perfected and sanctified by one event: Christ's substitutionary atonement on the cross for our sin. As we live our lives in Christ, our holiness increases as we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit within us and follow this command: "Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose" (Philippians 2:12–13; see also Romans 12:1–2; Hebrews 12:1–2).

HERE ARE MORE VERSES FROM SCRIPTURE FOR THE LGBTQIA+ PERSON TO RENEW THEIR MIND ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD..

"SURRENDER" SCRIPTURES

James 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Mark 14:35-36

And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

1 Peter 5:6-10

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

James 4:10

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Proverbs 23:26

My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

Romans 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Luke 9:23-24

And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Jeremiah 10:23

I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

Philippians 2:5-8

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Matthew 26:39

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

Psalm 50:15

And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.

Mark 8:34-35

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it."

Psalm 46:10

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Psalm 9:10

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Matthew 7:21

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

"HOLINESS" SCRIPTURES

Hebrews 12:14

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

2 Corinthians 7:1

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 1:15-16

But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

1 Samuel 2:2

There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

Romans 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

1 Thessalonians 4:7

For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

Leviticus 19:2

Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

Isaiah 35:8

And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.

Romans 6:22

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Isaiah 57:15

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite."

Leviticus 20:26

You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.

Matthew 5:48

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

2 Timothy 1:9

Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Romans 12:1-2

Psalm 119:9

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

Ezekiel 36:23

And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.

Philippians 2:5

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Amos 5:14

Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said.

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Walter L. Smith III

Founder/President

Pure In Heart Int'l Ministries, Inc./

The Center For Kingdom Advancement

Corporate Line: (424) 359-9180

www.PIHIM.org

www.AskPastorWalter.com

California Office

Walter L. Smith III

1732 Aviation Blvd #945

Redondo Beach, CA 90278-2810

**Leadership Greater Rochester, Class of 2018!

**Gallup Strengths: Positivity, Learner, Connectedness, Responsibility, & Activator

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