Audio commentary on this verse

Note 4 at Rom. 1:27: This is speaking of the emotional and physical consequences of homosexuality. Paul here says these consequences are "meet." The word that Paul used (Gk.-"dei") is found in 100 verses, but it is only translated "meet" one other time in the New Testament (Lk. 15:32). All other times the translation clearly denotes something that is necessary (behoved; must; need; needful; ought; oughtest; should).

This implies that these consequences (such as disease) are prescribed payment for such acts. Add to this the use of the word "recompense" (meaning "payment or compensation for an act") in this same verse and it clearly looks as if physical and emotional scars are God's judgement upon this sin.

These natural consequences of sin are not necessarily God's direct punishment on the individuals who commit these acts. Anyone who participates in homosexuality, which is expressly forbidden by God, is bringing punishment on himself. It's like the law of gravity. Many people are killed when they violate this God-given law but it is not accurate to say God killed them. They killed themselves. There was no malice on God's part.

Likewise, God established natural laws governing sexual behavior. Marriage was given while man was still in a perfect state (Gen. 2) and it is very possible that God never imagined man perverting such a beautiful gift (Jer. 7:31). When someone violates God's sexual order, he is destroying himmself just as surely as someone who tries to breathe under water or walk off a cliff.

This verse is saying that the devastation that many homosexuals experience in their bodies is an appropriate payment for someone who has willfully perverted the perfect gift of marriage that God gave to us before the Fall. But this does not mean that God hates all homosexuals and is personally punishing them. If that were so, some of the diseases we see would not be selective. All homosexuals would contract these diseases.

No, these maladies occur naturally when God's perfect order is perverted. God hates homosexuality, but loves the individuals who are homosexuals. If homosexuals will turn to God and put faith in Jesus as their Savior, they can be saved just the same as anyone else.