THE CHRISTIAN AND SEXUAL
SINS
"Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body,
but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body" (1 Corinthians
6:18, NKJV).
Like the citizens of Corinth when the apostle Paul visited their city, many
people today believe sexual activity outside of marriage is normal and natural,
causing no violation of social norms or divine truth. Yet, the Bible is clear.
Fornication ("sexual immorality") is sin against God. (Fornication,
translated from the Greek word porneia, a general, inclusive term for all classifications
of immoral sexual conduct, whether premarital or extramarital intercourse, homosexuality,
bestiality, incest, pedophilia, etc.) God intends our bodies to be used for
holiness, not to fulfill sinful passions (1 Thess. 4:3-7; Col. 3:5-7). To commit
fornication is a sin against God, and against the purpose He has given our bodies
(2 Sam. 12:13; Psa. 51:4).
Every sin we commit begins in the mind ("outside the body"), as Jesus
taught in Mark 7:20-23 (Matt. 5:27-28). Therefore, control the mind; control
the body. Sexual immorality is antagonistic to the purpose God gave our bodies
- to give glory to God (1 Cor. 6:19-20). When sexual activity occurs outside
of God-endorsed marriage, it is not love; it is dishonorable in His sight. This
is God's judgment, since He said, "Marriage is honorable among all, and
the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Heb.
13:4). Christians are "joined to the Lord," therefore, we must not
join ourselves to a harlot (1 Cor. 6:16-18). Christ calls us to keep our minds
and our bodies pure, so that we may serve the Lord in holiness, not defilement.
"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who
is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought
at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are
God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NKJV)
We have been reared to consider ourselves as autonomous, in control of ourselves
and unfettered by the authority of others. It is true that we are free moral
agents - each one is morally responsible and accountable to God (and to others)
for his own actions. Yet, while we may choose to act without regard for others,
such choices are sinful and foolish. We must regard God and man in all our actions,
including the sexual activity of our bodies (1 Pet. 2:11-12).
Not only were our bodies given to us by God, we have been "bought at a
price" through the offering of the blood of Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:28; 10:10-12;
1 Pet. 1:18-19). Instead of using our bodies to fulfill sinful lusts through
sexual immorality, we are to offer our bodies to service the will of the Lord
(Rom 12:1-2). Only by coming out of the sinful defilement of the world, will
God dwell with us and we with Him (2 Cor. 6:16-7:1). Both our redemption and
our subsequent relation with God demands that we "flee fornication"
and "pursue righteousness" (1 Cor. 6:18; 2 Tim. 2:22).
"Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man
not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man
have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband." (1 Corinthians
7:1-2, NKJV)
The "present distress" of persecution facing the Corinthian Christians
made it advisable for them not to marry (1 Cor. 7:25-33). But, the temptation
of sexual sin was strong, just as it is today. The apostle had just warned Christians
to "flee fornication" (1 Cor. 6:18). Now, he reminds them that God
gave marriage as the only moral means of fulfilling their sexual appetite. The
bed is "undefiled" in marriage; not outside it (Heb. 13:4). This one
flesh uniting of husband and wife meets one of the Lord's purposes for marriage;
the prevention of sexual sin and the maintenance of moral purity. Thus, both
husband and wife are obliged to serve their mate in this matter (1 Cor. 7:3-4).
The marriage bed is not an exercise in selfish pleasure. Nor is it a bargaining
chip to hold power over one's spouse. Such selfish treatment of the marriage
bed shows shameful disrespect for what God deems to be a holy safeguard against
sin.
"Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators
and adulterers God will judge." (Hebrews 13:4, NKJV)
We reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7-8). Sexual sin disrespects God, and the pure and
exclusive marriage bed He arranged. Marriage is not a "Christian ordinance"
for which only Christians will be judged. God gave marriage to humanity "from
the beginning of the creation" (Mk. 10:6). On Judgment Day, all "fornicators"
(whether Christians or alien sinners) will be given "their part in the
lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Rev.
21:8). Those who practice fornication "will not inherit the kingdom of
God" (Gal. 5:19, 21).
God has given clear reasons why we must choose sexually purity. First, we have
a positive incentive to be sexually pure. We must keep our bodies holy so that
we can be living sacrifices that glorify God (1 Cor. 6:19-20; Rom. 12:1). Fornication
defiles the body, making it impossible for us to walk with God while it remains.
Second, we have a negative incentive to guard against fornication. It brings
eternal death, and we must not think otherwise (Eph. 5:3-7).
Adultery is a love affair with the flesh and with self; it is not true love
at all (Prov. 6:25-29). Fornication is the selfish indulgence of the flesh (Gal.
5:19). "Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren" (Jas. 1:16). No one
is exempt from sin's temptations. Guard yourself. Be sober and watchful. "Let
him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12).
By Joe R. Price
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