Is being gay a sin?

from the old testament

• Before sin entered the world, God created humankind as male and female (Genesis 1:26–27) to populate the earth (Genesis 1:28) and provide the companionship of the two genders together through marriage (Genesis 2:18–24). This creation order defines gender, relationships, and human sexuality.
• These were all defined before sin, meaning that the original creation order is God’s “very good” design for humanity (Genesis 1:31). Anything that deviates from that is either sin (willful rebellion against God’s design) or the result of the corruption our natures underwent as God’s judgment against our sin (Genesis 2:17; 3:19; cf. Romans 5:12). One such deviation from God’s design is same-sex attraction, feeling "born gay."
• Because God designed men and women as sexual counterparts, deviation is a sin. God makes this clear in Leviticus: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination” (Leviticus 18:22) and “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them” (Leviticus 20:13).
• We are all born sinful (Psalm 51:5). Same-sex attraction, like any other sin, deviates from God’s design and command, so it is sinful—as are other sexual behaviors mentioned in Scripture. God also condemns practices like adultery (Exodus 20:14; Proverbs 5:15–19) and incest (Leviticus 18:6–23).

from the new testament

• Jesus grounded His teaching of sexual ethics in God’s original creation design. Referencing Genesis 2, He said, “from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” (Mark 10:6–8; cf. Matthew 19:4–6). God's creation order had not changed then, and it has not changed today.
• Jesus also showed that sexual immorality is about desires, not just behavior. He noted that "everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27–28). Even what might feel “natural” to us is sinful if it is contrary to God’s design. That is a ramification of the fall and our corrupted nature.
• The New Testament treats homosexuality as a sin and judgment for sin. In his letter to the Romans about the effects of people rebelling against God, Paul wrote that "God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error" (Romans 1:26-27). God judged us by allowing us to do what our sinful hearts desired, leading all of us to sin (Romans 3:10–12).
• Paul wrote elsewhere, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10; cf. Luke 12:15).
• However, Paul continued by giving great hope for anyone struggling: “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11; cf. Colossians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Being same-sex attracted or an adulterer or a liar does not make one incapable of being redeemed.
• A Christian's identity is in Christ, not in sin. Second Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." Even a Christian with same-sex attraction should never identify themselves as "gay," which would be identifying one's self with sin.
• All desires or actions that deviate from God’s design and commands are sin (Exodus 20:14; Proverbs 11:1; Luke 12:15; Hebrews 13:4; Colossians 3:9). That’s true whether or not we feel like that’s who we are. However, in Christ, forgiveness is available to all who turn from their sin and repent (Romans 10:9–10; 1 John 1:8–10).

implications for today

If humanity had a theme song, it would probably have the lyric, “if it feels so good, then how can it be so wrong?” But feelings are a terrible guide to right and wrong.

That's because everything about us is tainted with sin, so even “who we are” is sinful. For some, the sin could be perpetually lying. For others, it might be gossip. In yet others, it could be constate grumbling/complaining or being a ladies’ man. In still others, it’s homosexuality. In each case, the sin expresses who we are: rebellious enemies of God.

Whether we feel justified or not in feeling a certain way or living a certain way, homosexuality is a sin. It goes against God's design for human flourishing. Someone who identifies as homosexual or who believes the homosexual lifestyle is a choice is not going to agree that homosexuality is a sin. However, Scripture—not our feelings, culture, or personal preferences—defines what is right and wrong. The good news is that the same Bible that exposes our sin also offers our rescue: through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, anyone can be forgiven, transformed, and given a new identity that is no longer defined by sin but by the grace of God.