Identity Before God’s Eyes – Gender Transitions
Everything in this world including the universe, all things on earth and in the entire universe are created by God. It is very clear in the Bible that God created everything in existence – the heavens, the earth, and all that is in them:
Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Nehemiah 9:6 – “You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.”
God created all things through His word:
Psalm 33:6, 9 – “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host… For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm.”
John 1:3 – “All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.”
Everything in the heavens, the earth, and the entire universe was created by God, is sustained by God, and belongs to God. God owns all that He created including us human beings. This is why the Bible calls us not only His creation but also His possession, and why we are accountable to Him. We are God’s property, God’s servants, and God’s children. So God owns us because He created us: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it, for He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers” (Psalm 24:1). God is the creator, therefore, He has absolute rights over His creation (Isaiah 45:9–12).
Colossians 1:16 – “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things were created through Him and for Him.”
When sin entered the world through Adam, the human heart became darkened, proud, and rebellious against God’s authority. Sin entered the world and corrupted the human heart. Through Adam and Eve’s disobedience, sin entered the human experience (Genesis 3:1-7). Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned (Romans 5:12). Adam and Eve was created by God fit for eternity; but since they disobeyed God and sinned, spiritual and physical death came to all men. Spiritual death is separation from God’s presence, banishment from His kingdom, and physical death is the deceased of human body.
Bible clearly teaches that sin blinds people to the truth of God, causes them to forget they are God’s creation and property. They forgot that God is the creator and the owner. Psalm 100:3 – “Know that the LORD, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” Sin makes them rebel and claim self-rule, and results in the proud declaration: “This is my life; I decide.” It transforms their heart, becoming deceitful and desperately sick, so they don’t understand (Jeremiah 17:9). Declaring “this is my life, I decide” is the error of self rule – the same rebellion that began with the downfall of Lucifer, known as the fallen angel, (Isaiah 14:13–14) and Adam & Eve (Genesis 3:5). Rebellion, rejection, among others is simply a direct disobedience to God. Adam and Eve rebelled against God by disobeying His command not to eat the forbidden fruit. Lucifer was created by God as a glorious angel, and Scripture strongly suggests he held one of the highest positions in God’s heavenly order. After his rebellion, he became what we now call “the fallen angel.” Ezekiel 28:12–15 (speaking of the “king of Tyre” but widely understood to describe Lucifer in his pre-fall glory) says he was “the anointed cherub who covers” and “perfect in beauty” from the day he was created until iniquity was found in him. This “covering cherub” role likely placed him very near God’s throne — a position of extreme honor and authority. Isaiah 14:12 calls him “Lucifer” (meaning “light-bearer” or “morning star”), a title of great dignity before his rebellion. Biblical descriptions of Lucifer suggest that the fallen angel may have been the chief of the cherubim — possibly the highest-ranking angel under God’s direct authority. His beauty, wisdom, and position over “the holy mountain of God” indicate a level of glory and influence unparalleled except by God Himself. The fall and new identity of Lucifer comes after pride entered his heart: “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13–14). This rebellion caused his downfall, and Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18). After his fall, he was no longer called “Lucifer” the light-bearer, but Satan (“adversary”) — the enemy of God and man.
Revelation 12:9 describes him as “the great dragon… the ancient serpent… who was thrown down to the earth, and his angels with him.” Because of this, both Scripture and Christian teaching refer to him as the fallen angel, and the leader of the other fallen angels (demons). Before his rebellion, Lucifer held an exalted position, likely the highest angelic rank under God. After his pride-driven rebellion, he became the archetype of a fallen angel, eternally opposed to his Creator.
The Bible clearly emphasized that pride comes before a fall as written in Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall”. This principle applies to Lucifer’s fall (Isaiah 14:13–15) and applies equally to mankind. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). “Resist” here means to set Himself against — pride puts a person in direct opposition to God. Pride Is the root of rebellion. And rebellion is a direct obedience to God. Lucifer’s rebellion began with self-exaltation: “I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14). In the Garden, Satan tempted Eve with the same pride: “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5).
When a person does not know God or rejects Him, they replace God’s rightful place in their life with themselves (Romans 1:21–23), living a self centered life rather than God-centered. The result is living by one’s own will instead of God’s — a declaration of self-rule that ignores God’s laws (Judges 21:25). Faithlessness leads to disobedience, for without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Faithlessness often manifests as rejecting God’s authority, which is the heart of sin (Romans 8:7). So biblically, pride is not just a personality flaw — it’s the spiritual disease that makes a person their own “god,” dethroning the true Master and enthroning self. That’s why God opposes it so fiercely, because pride is the root of all rebellion against God. And “pride” is the starting point of men’s downfall in this present world where they live, and eventually a future spiritual downfall of eternal consequences like Lucifer; and this eternal downfall will send them directly to Lucifer’s dark and horrifying kingdom in hell after death.
True freedom is not doing whatever we want, but being free to live as God designed — in obedience and fellowship with Him (John 8:31–36). Since God is our rightful Master, our lives are to be lived for His glory, not for our own will (Romans 12:1–2, Colossians 3:17). We should live not for our own glory, and should live not to gratify our own will, but to live according to God’s will, since God is our ultimate and rightful Master. That is why the Bible is very specific in Acts 5:29, “we ought to obey God rather than men. This principle applies to any authority — even our own desires — if they contradict God’s commands.
When there’s a conflict between principles, commands, or pressures in life, the deciding factor must always be what God says in His Word. God’s word should be the Standard. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105), meaning, God’s word are flashlight to light the path ahead of me that guides my step, a light that shows the path I should take to keep me from stumbling. Decisions should be tested against Scripture because God’s word is truth (John 17:17). God’s authority is supreme, for “there is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30). If human reasoning, tradition, or cultural trends oppose God’s commands, they must be rejected. Choosing God’s way merited His blessing as written in Isaiah 1:19: “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land” meaning, if you will listen to what I say, you will get the good things from this land, then I will make you rich. Obedience to God’s word brings blessings as well as spiritual life, peace, and protection from sin’s consequences. So when faced with a difficult decision, the safe, wise, and godly choice is always to align with what God says which is God’s Word Itself; the Bible should be our reference even if it’s unpopular or costly.
Jesus Himself modeled perfect obedience to the Father’s will (John 6:38). We can’t rightfully claim absolute independence without falling into the same sin of pride that leads to ruin, as in the case of Lucifer. God owns us twice over in Christ. Because all of us are sinners, we should be consumed by God. But because God loves us so much, instead of consuming, He saved us. So not only did God create us, but for believers, He also redeemed us through Jesus’ sacrifice. For this reason we are indebted to God. Thus, God owns us twice in Christ Jesus our Lord: “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). Therefore, we are servants and children of God. Jesus is called “Lord” (meaning Master), and His followers are called servants (Luke 6:46). In the same breath, God is also our Father — but a Father whose commands are to be obeyed (1 John 5:3).
When sin entered, the truth about God becomes obscured: Romans 1:21 – “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Due to their hardness of heart, they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the truth of spiritual and eternal life in God (Ephesians 4:18).
God can take life at any time. As the sovereign Creator and sustainer of life, He has the authority to give
and take life as He wills. Deuteronomy 32:39 – “I put to death and I bring to life…” The Bible teaches that God holds power over life and death. Job 1:21 – “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” He has the power to end life at any moment.
God’s design for gender and sexuality is fixed at creation. He determines gender from the beginning of the creation in the Book of Genesis. In Genesis 1:27, it tells us that God created them “male and female” in His own image. God intentionally created woman from man, establishing distinct sexes by His design (Genesis 2:22–23).
Biblically speaking, when God forms each person in the womb, He alone determines a person’s identity as male or female from the moment of creation in the womb. Gender is part of God’s sovereign creation, established from the womb by His will. Psalm 139:13–14 “For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…” God formed each person in the womb according to His plan. This verse is clearly and directly saying that even before the actual conception, God knew from the very beginning a person’s identity as well as a person’s eternal destiny, because God is omniscient, He is all-knowing having absolute and infinite knowledge of all things.
All that matter is a person’s repentance in the future whether he will repent and turn to God or not, because God gave us free will to choose between good and evil (Deuteronomy 30:19). That is why He did not stop Eve from committing sin when Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit offered by Satan in disguise of a serpent, for God gave us free will and He will not stop us if we choose evil. He allowed Adam and Eve to disobey because He created humans not as robots, but as beings capable of love; and true love requires the freedom to choose. Even though God is sovereign and knows the future, He still holds us responsible for our choices, thus, each of us shall give account of himself to God (Romans 14:12).
In Romans 9:20–23, The Apostle Paul uses the image of the potter and the clay to show God’s absolute right to shape people for His purposes. God created man and woman with their identity that God predestined. Some vessels are for honorable use, others for dishonorable. This is not about God taking pleasure in making someone evil, but about Him being just in using people, even rebellious ones for His purposes. Like the Apostle Paul himself, God fashioned him in a dishonorable creation at first, then eventually turned him into honorable vessel aligning with His sovereign will, as a chosen vessel of His own for His divine purpose. This is because the Apostle Paul was formerly a persecutor, a blasphemer, and he is guilty of murder before his conversion. His own admission In Acts 22:4, Paul says, “I persecuted this way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women.” In Acts 26:10, he admits, “When they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.” In God’s eyes, actively approving and enabling the killing of the innocent makes someone guilty of murder. In Acts 7:58–8:1, Paul was present at the stoning of Stephen and “consenting to his death.” The Old Testament principle (Deuteronomy 19:10, Exodus 23:7) holds that even indirect participation in shedding innocent blood is murder. By seeking the destruction of Christians, Paul aligned himself with those who physically executed them, he is guilty of murder, thus, making him accountable before God. Despite this guilt, Paul became the perfect example of God’s mercy, as he declared in 1 Timothy 1:15: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the foremost”. During his time, Paul went from the church’s most feared enemy to one of Christ’s most faithful servants, and by God’s grace, his impact continues to shape Christianity worldwide. In 1 Timothy 1:13, Paul calls himself a “blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” before God saved him after Paul’s conversion. Still, Scripture shows that repentance is open to anyone who humbles themselves before God (Ezekiel 18:23, 2 Peter 3:9).
So in Romans 9:20-23, it is very clear that there are good vessels (honorable) God created, and there are bad vessels (dishonorable). God is the Potter (the Creator), we are the clay (His creation). The clay have no right to say to the potter “why have you made me like this”, the clay cannot complain. The thing that was created cannot argue to the one who created it. And so when you are created a dishonorable vessel, God will surely give you the chance to change and eventually transformed like the Apostle Paul who became one of the greatest apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is up to you to accept or disregard God’s offer. But if you will reject God, if you will not repent and turn to God, He will surely punish you, even unto death.
Changing one’s biological sex does not change God’s original design; it alters the body but not the created identity. No human action, surgery, or medical procedure can truly undo what God has made. Human attempts cannot change God’s design. Surgery can alter anatomy, but it cannot change the God-given identity written into a person’s DNA and established by His will. Ecclesiastes 7:13 – “Consider the work of God: who can make straight what He has made crooked?” Meaning, who can undo what God has set? Job 42:2 – “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” No surgery or human decision can truly undo or override the work of the Almighty. Even if someone changes their outward appearance, before God they remain the man or woman He created. His/her soul and spirit remains the identity that God has created them to be.
Sexual relationships outside God’s design are sin. God’s pattern for sexual intimacy is always between one man and one woman within marriage (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4–6). Even if a woman transitions to a man in body but then engages in sexual relations with women, God will not count them the original intimacy He designed between man and woman, it is still same-sex behavior according to God’s created order, regardless of surgical changes. 1 Corinthians 6:9–11 speaks to practicing homosexuality with unfavorable and undesirable consequence attached to this, it is written in:
Verse 9 – “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites.”
Verse 10 – “Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Verse 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 and by the Spirit of God.”
Practicing homosexuality is not about temptation alone, but about persistent practice without repentance. A change of outward anatomy through surgery does not redefine the act in God’s eyes. Surgery does not erase moral accountability. Transitioning physically does not remove the biblical standard. From God’s viewpoint, the person is still the sex He created them to be and will be judged accordingly. Therefore, if a biological woman engages in homosexual relations (even after transitioning), Scripture counts it as sin. Biblically, homosexual actions for both man and woman is a rejection of God’s design for gender and a continuation of homosexual practice. This is considered unrighteous before God (verse 9), and without repentance, Scripture says it excludes one from inheriting God’s kingdom. From a biblical standpoint, even without undergoing gender transition surgery, a man or woman who lives in a way that deliberately embraces and expresses homosexuality is still practicing something God calls it as an unrighteous act as written in verse 9, and it is counted as homosexuals. Unless repented as stated in verse 11, it becomes and stays unrighteous in God’s eyes. God’s Word addresses both actions and heart. The Apostle Paul speaks of both men and women engaging in same-sex relations as “contrary to nature” and dishonoring God, as what was clarified in Romans 1:26–27. It focuses on the practice of homosexuality, on a person’s lifestyle choice, with consent of the heart and mind, not just a momentary slip. Persistent, unrepentant behavior is what Paul says excludes someone from inheriting the kingdom of God.
Cross-dressing is addressed separately in the Old Testament particularly in Deuteronomy 22:5 – “A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.” This speaks to blurring the God-given distinction between male and female, even in inside appearance (heart and mind) and outside appearance (dressing and actions). Jesus taught in Matthew 5:28 that sin begins in the heart. Wrong desire is already sin before God, even before the physical act. Acting in mannerisms, dress, and speech to signal or live out a homosexual identity reveals a heart in agreement with that sin, and therefore becomes sin, meriting unrighteousness even if no sexual act takes place. Without repentance and discontinuance of homosexual behavior, it remains an act of unrighteousness. If a man or woman adopts the speech, dress, and mannerisms that intentionally express homosexuality, and they persist in it without repentance, Scripture treats that as unrighteousness before God. Even without physical gender transition, the heart and lifestyle are in rebellion to God’s design. In Scripture, “unrighteous” means living in opposition to God’s moral standards. Persistent, unrepentant identification with sin, even through lifestyle and self-expression — is part of what Paul warns about in 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 and Ephesians 5:3–6. This repetitive cycle of persistency accompanied by unrepentant actions will merit unrighteousness resulting in non inheritance of God’s kingdom. It’s not just a loss of blessings — it’s a warning of non inheritance of God’s kingdom which is tantamount to eternal separation from God. And in Scripture, eternal separation is described as hell (also called the “lake of fire” in Revelation), or literally when an individual dies, the person’s soul and spirit goes into everlasting destination in hell, characterized by eternal torments in fire burning with brimstones. In Matthew 25:41, 46 – Jesus speaks of the unrighteous being sent “into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” and going “away into eternal punishment.” Revelation 21:8 – The “cowardly, unbelieving, vile, murderers, sexually immoral…” are cast into “the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” And homosexuality belongs to sexually immoral as described in this verse. Galatians 5:19–21 – Lists the works of the flesh (e.g. homosexuality) and ends with: “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
What does “inherit” means here? The link between “not inheriting the kingdom” and hell has a scriptural reference. In the Bible, “inheriting the kingdom” means being part of God’s eternal family and living in His presence in His heavenly kingdom forever. Not to inherit means exclusion — and there is no neutral middle ground after death. A soul is either with God in eternal life, or apart from Him in eternal punishment (John 3:18, 36), an everlasting sufferings/torments in hell
Many people think “unrighteous acts” are only the big, obvious crimes like murder, theft, or kidnapping, but God’s definition of unrighteousness goes much deeper. From Scripture’s point of view, unrighteousness begins in the heart (Matthew 5:28, Matthew 15:19). It includes any willful rejection of God’s design, not just violent crimes. Even without the physical act of same-sex intercourse, deliberately adopting the appearance, mannerisms, and clothing that express a homosexual identity is still rebellion against God’s created order for male and female. Outward appearance matters to God, and behavior reflects the heart.
Sin without the physical act is emphasized in the Bible. Jesus says lust is adultery in the heart before the physical act happens (Matthew 5:28). Likewise, expressing homosexual identity in behavior, speech, or clothing is already identifying with the sin in heart and mind. The Apostle Paul condemns not only the acts but the “dishonorable passions” and exchange of God’s design for something contrary to nature in Romans 1:26-27. So before God, unrighteousness is not just extreme crimes. A man or woman who openly expresses homosexuality in mannerisms, dress, and lifestyle is still counted as walking in unrighteousness, even if there’s no sexual act, because the heart and identity are aligned with sin rather than God’s order.
Many lawmakers and much of society today define unrighteousness by human standards instead of God’s standards. In their thinking, they considered wrongdoings constitutes only extreme or harmful crimes like murder, theft, kidnapping, terrorism, or fraud. Anything that seems consensual, nonviolent, or “harmless,” such as homosexuality or gender expression are considered not wrong. This is because, as the Bible says, when people reject God’s truth, (ignored Bible doctrines) their moral compass gets redefined. And their rejection of God leads to moral blindness. Romans 1:21–22, 25 – “Although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God… Claiming to be wise, they became fools… they exchanged the truth about God for a lie…” Isaiah 5:20 – “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness…” Human laws enacted and approved by lawmakers and higher authorities, often reflect human opinion, not God’s law. Psalm 2:2–3 – “The kings of the earth set themselves… against the LORD and against His Anointed.” Judges 21:25 – “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” When lawmakers don’t recognize God’s moral authority, it is imperative that governments of such countries will endorse what God forbids. They base legislation on majority opinion or cultural trends, not God’s Word. They see “morality” as simply avoiding harm, without regards for God’s laws, not obeying God’s design. This allows them to approve what Scripture calls sin; not out of pure malice, but because their definition of unrighteousness is incomplete, not based on what the word of God (the Bible) defines. Many countries approve and promote homosexuality because their leaders and societies define unrighteousness only in terms of obvious, extreme crimes. Without God’s moral standard as the foundation, they see no reason to reject it, and in fact, they believe they are being fair and progressive. But biblically, this is exactly the moral blindness that Romans 1 describes — a society exchanging God’s truth for lies and legislating sin as normal.
The principle is that being an accomplice to sin is itself sin in God’s eyes, even if you are not the one physically committing the act. Scripture shows this clearly in the Book of Acts – The Apostle Paul as an accomplice before his conversion, Acts 8:1 says: “And Saul (the Apostle Paul’s name prior to his conversion) approved of his execution.” Paul didn’t throw the stones, but by approving and guarding the executioners’ garments, he shared in the guilt. God holds those who approve of sin equally guilty. Romans 1:32 states: “Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” This applies directly to lawmakers who approve or legislate laws tantamount to sins such as homosexual practice — they become accountable before God as participants. In the Old Testament, the principle of shared guilt was defined in Proverbs 17:15: “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.” Isaiah 10:1 – “What sorrow awaits the unjust judges and those who issue unfair laws.” When rulers make laws that endorse what God calls sin, they are not neutral — they are legislating unrighteousness and thus becoming partakers in it. By biblical standards, congressmen and senators who create or approve laws that promote what God has declared unrighteous (including homosexual practice) become accomplices to sin. Just as Saul was guilty by approving Stephen’s death, these lawmakers are guilty before God for enacting laws that institutionalize sin.
According to the Bible’s standard of righteousness, God’s judgment is not only on those who commit the act, but also on those who approve, promote, or enable it (Romans 1:32). Those who vote “yes” to legalize or promote what God calls sin — like homosexual practice — are approving and endorsing the act, and will be held liable and accountable before God when they face God during judgment. Those who vote “no” against such laws are not participating in approving sin, and therefore are not guilty of that particular unrighteousness — although, of course, they will still be judged for their own personal lives and choices outside of their duty as lawmakers before God (2 Corinthians 5:10). The Bible makes this distinction very clear in Ezekiel 18:20: “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” Proverbs 17:15 – “He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.” In short, those who vote yes are accountable to God, they are an accomplice to sin. Whereas those who voted no will not be guilty of sin, although they may still be personally responsible before God for one’s own life and obedience to Him.
God is the Supreme Lawgiver: Isaiah 33:22 – “For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; He will save us.” Every human law is judged against the unchanging standard of God’s law. No congress, senate, or parliament has the right to overrule what God has decreed righteous or unrighteous. No vote, no signature, no decision is hidden from Him. Every “YES” or “NO” will be remembered and brought before Him on the final day of judgment. God sees every lawmaker’s decisions: Proverbs 15:3 – “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Approving sin is equal to doing it – Romans 1:32: “Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” Passing laws that protect or promote sin is not just political, it is spiritual rebellion and an abomination in the sight of God. Whether you like it or not, there will be personal accountability before God when you face God on judgment day, when your days are over here on earth. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” Ezekiel 18:20 – “The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” On Judgment Day, lawmakers will stand alone before God. He will not honor and give credit if they are famous and outstanding politician during their time. They cannot hide behind the crowd or the majority vote. As for judgment day warning for lawmakers, every decision will be weighed and produce an eternal consequence; thus, their eternal destiny is at stake here. To approve or promote laws contrary to God’s laws of righteousness, particularly God’s laws on homosexuality, is tantamount to rejecting God’s authority, that brings forth sin. There will be an eternal accountability. And the Bible warns of eternal judgment for those found guilty: Revelation 21:8 – “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” The word “faithless” (or “unbelieving” in some translations) comes from the Greek apistos, which literally means “without faith, untrustworthy, refusing to believe, rejecting God’s truth.” This isn’t just about atheism or denying God’s existence — it includes anyone who knowingly rejects or disregards God’s commands and chooses to follow human opinion or worldly standards instead. So lawmakers who know that God’s word calls homosexuality sin (Romans 1:26–27; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10), yet disregard His command and pass laws that affirm it and side with public opinion instead of God’s moral standard, would indeed fall under the “faithless” category in the sense of Revelation 21:8. They are not trusting or obeying God’s moral law, but rejecting it. In short, faithless is tantamount to rejecting God’s authority. That rejection, when applied to God’s moral laws (including His laws on sexuality), is a serious spiritual offense that carries abominable eternal consequences of hell as clearly stated in the said verse. The door of mercy is always open even if lawmakers approved sinful laws particularly pertaining to God’s supreme and absolute laws on homosexuality. With absolute certainty, they can still be forgiven — but only if they repent, turn from their sin, and believe in Jesus Christ. As a final call: Lawmakers, your power is temporary — but your soul is eternal. One day, you will face the Supreme Judge who gave you your life and your position. If you have voted to legalize sin, repent before it is too late. Use your influence to uphold righteousness, so that on the Day of Judgment you may hear the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21)
Bible speaks so plainly as a warning that is meant to lead people to repentance while there is still time:
1 Corinthians 6:11 – After warning of those who won’t inherit, Paul says, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ…”God’s goal is salvation, that comes from repentance to turn from sin – turn from unrighteousness deeds. The reality and plain truth is that rejecting God’s way leaves only to harsh judgment. In God’s eyes, unrepentant unrighteousness acts including homosexuality means no place in His kingdom, (will not inherit God’s kingdom), and that ultimately means hell after death. The Bible doesn’t soften that reality, because it’s the very reason Jesus came — to save us from that fate. Bible is crystal clear when it comes to the definition of repentance. It is not just feeling sorry for sin; it is a change of heart, mind, and behavior resulting in turning away from sin, and it is only complete when it is joined with faith in Jesus Christ, accepting Him as Lord God, and Personal Savior. Without Him, turning from sin alone cannot save. Jesus came to save us from the penalty of sin:
Luke 19:10 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
1 Timothy 1:15 – “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
John 3:17 – “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”
Repentance means turning from sin as defined clearly in Acts 3:19: “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.”
Faith in Jesus is essential as what was explicitly stated in the following verses:
Acts 16:31– “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9 – “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
John 14:6 – “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Stop sinning, stop thinking evil, turn to God, receive His mercy, be transformed by His Spirit, in order to live eternally with Him. Isaiah 55:7 says: “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion on him…” The verse will bring salvation to a person who will accomplish what the verse is telling. This means a person must abandon sinful actions, stop walking in rebellion against God (Proverbs 28:13). True repentance isn’t just about outward behavior; it also involves rejecting sinful thinking, motives, and attitudes (2 Corinthians 10:5). God requires an inward change, not just an external one. Turning to God means seeking Him, submitting to His authority, and trusting in His mercy (Zechariah 1:3). It’s not enough to “stop doing bad”; one must actively return to God in faith through our Lord Jesus Christ. And with these actions are fulfilled, God will do His part, He will have compassion on him. God’s compassion here means He will forgive, restore, and not treat the person as their sins deserve (Psalm 103:8–10). This is entirely based on the Bible teaching about God’s grace, not human merit including good deeds done, for it is only by God’s grace can a man be saved, not any human effort. Then, after God’s grace is poured out, He will act on the person, God will give the Holy Spirit to the person so the Holy Spirit will flow through in that person. It is only by the Holy Spirit that God’s grace is carried out. This is the transformative work of the Holy Spirit. When a person truly repents and turns to God, the Holy Spirit regenerates the heart (Ezekiel 36:26–27, Titus 3:5). This produces a new mind, a transformed character, and the desire to obey God. Finally, salvation is accomplished. Those who are forgiven and transformed will persevere in faith through our Lord Jesus Christ, and after death, be welcomed into God’s presence in heaven (John 14:2–3, Revelation 21:27). No sin — even murder — is beyond God’s forgiveness if there is true repentance and faith in Christ. The Apostle Paul’s life is a living testimony that God can take the worst sinner and turn them into a chosen instrument for His glory.
Genuine repentance is proven by a turning away from sin and is inseparably linked to trusting Jesus Christ as Lord God, and Personal Savior. The Bible doesn’t soften the reality of hell, because that’s exactly why Jesus came — to save us from it. The good news is that Jesus came to save sinners. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Salvation requires repentance and faith in Jesus. Repentance means turning from sin to God: “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). Faith means trusting Jesus as your Lord God and Personal Savior: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
Without repentance, sin ends in eternal separation from God. And when you repent and believe, God forgives you, changes your heart, and gives you new life through the Holy Spirit that saves you, and eventually ends in union with God in heaven. So without both repentance and faith in Christ, there is no salvation, and when there is no salvation, this will surely ends in eternal separation from God in hell.
If you truly want to turn from sin and follow Jesus, you can pray a simple sinners prayer:
“Lord God, I confess that I am a sinner and have gone my own way. I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again. I repent of my sins and turn to You. I receive Jesus as my Lord, my God, and my Personal Savior. I surrender my life to You, guide me — I am Yours from this day onward. Amen.”
