Sexual Immorality

Fornication

for·ni·ca·tion

/fȯr-nə-ˈkā-shən/

Greek: porneia /por-ni'-ah/

noun

Definition

1. Consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fornication

2. One of many sins listed in the Bible.

Translated: “fornication” (KJV, ASV); “immorality” (NASB); “sexual immorality” (NKJV; ESV; NIV); “sexual sin” (NLT; NCV)

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Heb. 13:4

In many circles of our current American society, the concept of sexual purity before marriage is often seen as something old, out-dated, conservative, and in a word, Puritan. While the old word “fornication” usually carries with it a negative connotation, its current synonyms of free sex, casual sex, happy sex, friends with benefits, or hooking up give many the impression that what was once wrong has now become the new, permissible, and acceptable right. These newer terms bring with them the mindset of, “Don’t we have the right to express our sexual desires in any way, at any time, and with whomever we want?”

The trouble with this new approach is that it simply spins and sugar coats a sin that is clearly not according to God’s will, desire, or design. The common excuses of “but it feels good,” “but everyone’s doing it,” “but I love him/her,” and the ever popular, “but we plan on getting married soon” are simply not acceptable reasons to commit a sin that greatly offends our Almighty God. Really, when you think about it, is there ever a good excuse to commit a sin?

According to the Scriptures, God’s design for the expression of sexual oneness, love, release, fulfillment, and enjoyment is in and exclusively reserved for a man and a woman who are married to each other. There is no allowance for sexual activity outside of marriage. None. As unpopular as it may sound, any consensual sex between two people who are not married to each other is a sin.

While today’s media and society pressures and even encourages those who are not married to engage in a host of sexual sins outside of a marriage relationship (with fornication being at the top of the list), Christians can easily find themselves drawn into these sexual sins, not understanding that engaging in

any sexual promiscuity is a far cry from living a holy and righteous life.

Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 Cor. 15:33

We’re known for the type of company we keep. If you’re wondering what type of company the sexually immoral keep, all you need to do is to read through six lists of sins in the New Testament. While the things in those lists it may shock and even disgust you, and might even you feel uncomfortable or convicted, you’ll most likely come away with the impression and realization that sexual immorality doesn’t associate itself with good company.

.

• For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. Mark 7:21-22 (See Matt. 15:19)

• Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. Rom. 13:13

• Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal. 5:19-21

• 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 Cor. 6:9-10

• Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Col. 3:5

• Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. 1 Tim.1:8-11

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Ps. 139:23 24

It should come as no surprise to a Christian that the crowd of people that these verses associate fornicators with will not make anyone’s mother or father proud. In reality, anyone committing any of the evil behaviors on these lists totally disappoints God as well. In case you want to double-check the lists to see the type of reputation that a fornicator is making for him/herself, simply check all the boxes on the below comprehensive list of actions and behaviors, none of which would be approved of by one’s parents, friends, church, or community.

□     Adultery

□     Coveting

□     Cowardice

□     Deceit

□     Dissensions

□     Divisions

□     Drunkenness

□     Evil Desires

□     Enslavers

□     Envy

□     False Witness

□     Fits of anger

□     Foolishness

□     Greed

□     Idolatry

□     Impurity

□     Jealousy

□     Liars

□     Murder

□     Orgies

□     Perjurers

□     Practice of homosexuality

□     Pride

□     Revilers

□     Rivalries

□     Quarreling

□     Sexual Immorality

□     Slander

□     Sorcery

□     Strife

□     Striking your father and mother

□     Swindlers

□     Theft

□     Wickedness

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Rom. 6:12-14

The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. Nah. 1:3

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Heb. 12:5-6

Sexual Immorality has its consequences. Let’s not think that God is winking his eye and turning his head whenever someone engages in sexually promiscuous behaviors. While it may feel right at the time, and even be approved by one’s friends, know for sure that it’s absolutely against the will and express commandments of God. God is holy and won’t put up with anything to do sexual immorality. While he does show great patience in hopes that the sexually impure would repent of their sins, he’ll ultimately be moved to action to make sure that his honor and name won’t be mocked. Look at what happened or will happen to those who engaged in sexual immorality:

• I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 1 Cor. 5:9-11

• Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. Heb. 13:4

• 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 Cor. 6:9-10

• For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Eph. 5:5

• Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. Jude 1:7

To those who willing engage in sexual immorality, there’s usually little thought to the consequences of their actions. They either ignore or dismiss what might happen to them and go right ahead with their sin. But they shouldn’t. The fact is that they will be judged by God and suffer his severe temporal and eternal punishments. If that doesn’t make them overcome with the fear of God, then nothing will.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Rom. 12:1-2

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Eph. 5:3

It’s clear from the Scriptures that Christians are to have nothing at all to do with sexual immorality. Nothing. At. All. In the clearest and strongest of language, we are firmly and repeatedly admonished, cautioned, and challenged to treat fornication like every other sin that offends God. Instead of suffering the discipline of God, why not just follow his counsel to begin with? Not sure where to start? The following five commands should help you figure it all out.

• For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God. 1 Thess. 4:3-5

• For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell." Acts 15:28-29

• We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 1 Cor .10:8

• Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. Rom. 13:13

• Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Col .3:5

• Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 1 Cor. 6:18

What shall we say then? Are we to continue to sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Rom. 6:1-2

There is always hope when someone come to Jesus with a repentant and contrite heart. If you are presently involved in sexual immorality of any type, you can make the decision to get right with God today. Aside from gaining a restored and closer relationship with God, your guilt, sorrow, and remorse will fly away once you have properly repented and been forgiven of your sins. Remember, as a Christian, your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. You’re supposed to be glorifying

God with it, not using it in any fashion your lusts and desires take you. Jesus Christ died on a cross and bought you for his own with a price – his own life. Know for certain that you are valuable, loved, and precious to him.

• The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 1 Cor. 6:13

• Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed, away, the new has come. 2 Cor. 5:17

Don’t delay any longer – why test the patience of God? Stop participating in sexual immorality today and covenant with God to not engage in it again. Confess it to God as sin and accept his ready and free forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Remember, your integrity, holiness, and walk with God depend on it.

• I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced. 2 Cor. 12:21

• Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 1 Pet 4:1-3

• If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

• 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. 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. And such were some of you. 1 Cor. 6:9-11

• But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 1 Cor. 7:2

• To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. 1 Cor. 7:8