Can a gay or lesbian person go to heaven? 同志能上天堂吗？

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Letter
来信：

I know the Bible says it's a sin, but it also says that the only unforgivable sin is not accepting Jesus. If a gay person accepts Jesus but does not change his lifestyle, can he go to heaven? I have a cousin who's gay. —Lucy
我知道圣经教导，同志是罪，但圣经也说，不信主耶稣才是唯一不得赦免的罪。如果同志接受了主耶稣，却不改变他的生活方式，那么他能不能上天堂呢？我的表弟是同志。——露西


You've asked a very important question—and a very hard one.
你问了一个很重要的问题——非常的关键。

And you are exactly right: there is only one sin that is unforgivable. That is the sin of not believing and not receiving Jesus Christ into your life.
你很正确：唯一不得赦免的罪，就是不信、不接受耶稣基督进入你的生命来。

A gay or homosexual person can accept Christ, just as an alcoholic, a drug addict, or a mass-murderer can accept Christ. Jesus' offer of salvation is open to everyone.
一个同志，或称同性恋者能接受基督，就像是一个酗酒、嗑药的人，或是一个杀人王也能接受基督一样。主耶稣提供的救恩是恩及万人的。

Your question is whether someone can accept Christ, not change his lifestyle, and still go to heaven. The Bible teaches that if someone has truly accepted Christ into his life, nothing can keep him out of heaven. In John 10:28, Christ says of Christians,
你的问题是：一个人能够接受基督，却不去改变他的生活方式，他是否能上天堂。圣经教导：如果每个人真心接受基督进入他的生命，那么没有一件事是能使他与天国无份的。在约翰福音10章28节里，基督对门徒们说：

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.”
“我又赐给他们永生，他们永不灭亡，谁也不能从我手里把他们夺去。”

So, Lucy the real question, I believe, is whether your cousin had a life-changing experience with Christ. Jesus said in Luke,
所以露西，我相信，真实的问题是：你的表弟是否有过被基督改变生命的经历。主耶稣在路加福音里说：

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?”
“你们为什么称呼我主阿，主阿，却不遵我的话行呢？”（路6：46）

Someone once put it this way:
有些人曾经这样说：

“No Jesus, no change. Know Jesus, know change.”
“不认识主，就没有改变；认识了主，就认识到要改变。”

Is your cousin trying to overcome his homosexuality? If he is, that's a good sign that Christ is working in his life.
你表弟想要克胜他的同性恋心态吗？如果是，那就把基督对他生命的改变给活出来。

God is the only one who truly knows our hearts. He's the only one who truly knows your cousin's heart. But if Christ has become the Lord of your cousin's life, then the Holy Spirit will begin to deal with the sin of homosexuality in his life.
上帝是真正了解我们内心的唯一道路。唯有他才真正知道你表弟的心。但如果基督成为了你表弟生命的主，那么圣灵就会开始在他生命里对付他同性恋的罪。

I would encourage you to pray daily for your cousin. And I'd encourage you to tell your cousin you are praying for him. God may use you in his life. Thanks for being there and thanks for caring for him.
我鼓励你每天为你的表弟祷告，我也鼓励你去告诉你表弟说，你在为他祷告，上帝会在他的生命里使用他的。感谢上帝的引导和保守。