Sunday, June 5, 2016 am
NOTE: This outline includes material not presented in the audio sermon. Adultery and uncleanness will be addressed in another lesson to follow.
Sins of Society (4)
Sexual sins
Today we want to address sexual
sins. Our primary focus is
going to be to address fornication, but we also want to notice some
other words in scripture that deal with our sexuality.
I realize this is an
uncomfortable subject and will try to handle it as delicately and
respectful as possible.
But, even if what we are discussing makes you uncomfortable, it
is a subject that we CANNOT ignore.
It is no secret that we are
living in times where sex outside of marriage is common and even
encouraged. The
attitude of our society over the past several decades has changed to
think that cohabitation and fornication are perfectly acceptable
behaviors. And no
wonder considering the way we see it portrayed everywhere.
Much of what is said in our society has a sensual tone to it.
The media shows little to no regard for what God’s word says
about intimacy in relationships.
Everywhere we turn we see sexualized pictures.
Every show has to introduce someone that is in a non-traditional
relationship. In the
news we are hearing much about “gender confusion” and other related
subjects. I wonder how much
of this is the product of introducing such subjects to children too
young to understand the concepts.
But in many places it is being forced upon the public.
A CDC report
concerning youth risk behavior, noted that in 2013, 46.8% of students
had had sexual relations in their life.
34% were active.[1]
Among adults, recent studies have shown that more than half of
adults cohabit before marrying.
Further studies show that cohabitation before marriage increases
the likelihood of divorce and permanent separation.
Like our previous subjects,
fornication has done its damage – unwanted pregnancies (and abortions),
unstable homes, STDs, welfare dependency, destroyed homes, marriages,
and lives. It has also
destroyed many a reputation, one’s influence, at times churches, and
ultimately, precious souls. In
spite of Paul’s example in 1 Corinthians 5:1ff, churches have divided
over how to deal with fornicators – especially adultery.
But again, our concern is not so
much about the public’s perception of these issues, but what does God
have to say in His word? In this
lesson we will examine some of what the scriptures teach about these
topics.
a.
What is fornication?
The Greek word translated fornication (or “sexual immorality”) is
πορνεία, (porneia) the word from which we get our word pornography.
Defined, the term means, “illicit sexual intercourse.” (Vine’s)
It is a broad term that describes any form of
unlawful sexual relations, which is probably why any newer
translations (NKJV, ESV, etc.
The NASB in 1 Cor. 6:18 is even worse using only the word
“immorality”) often translate it as “sexual immorality” instead of
“fornication” (though the NKJV also uses that word), a term I am
concerned with because it is too vague (for example – one who exposes
himself is committing sexual immorality, but his has not committed
fornication. Viewing
pornography is sexual immorality, but is it fornication?).
IN preparing this lesson, I consulted several sources that seek
to justify premarital sex, and most of them are critical of the word
“fornication” because “sexual immorality” can be manipulated to include
only certain acts (of their choosing, of course) (i.e. prostitution –
maybe even only when associated with idolatry; adultery, or whatever
they feel like it includes).
HOWEVER, the word when properly defined means MORE than some say.
It includes homosexuality, bestiality, pre-marital or unmarried
relations, prostitution, incest, extra-marital sexual relations (aka –
adultery – Matthew 19:9, 1 Cor. 5:1), etc.
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary defines the word as, “Sexual intercourse performed outside of the bonds of marriage,
considered an immoral work of the flesh.”
b.
Fornication is a sin.
1 Corinthians 6:9 – fornicators will not inherit the kingdom of God.
In this list Paul also includes, adultery, as well as both
partners in a homosexual relationship.
Galatians 5:19-21 describes it as a work of the flesh.
Ephesians 5:3 – But fornication and all uncleanness, let it not even be
named among you
Colossians 3:5 – we are to put fornication, uncleanness, passion and
evil desires to death.
1 Thessalonians 4:3, abstain from sexual
immorality
Revelation 21:8 tells us that fornicators will have their part in the
lake which burns with fire and brimstone (and notice who their company
will be).
c.
Fornication is against God’s
intent.
Marriage is how God sanctioned that we satisfy our sexual desires. When
God determined that it was not good for man to be alone, He created
woman for him (Genesis 2:18, 21-24).
In this text we find the law of marriage, which Jesus would later
appeal to, to show that it is for life.
Everything in scripture points toward this - 1 Corinthians 7:1-2. This
comes after addressing fornication as a sin against one’s own body (1
Cor. 6:12-20), including the command to “flee fornication” (6:18)
Hebrews 13:4 tells us that the marriage bed is undefiled.
But fornicators and adulterers, God will judge!
NOTE: This passage implies that relations are good and even
honorable, when within their proper context.
d.
Thoughts about fornication –
1)
It originates in the heart
– Matthew 15:19. Jesus earlier had warned that men looking at women to
lust were committing adultery in their hearts (Matthew 5:27-30).
Most fornication begins with lust.
2)
It is described as a sin against
one’s own body – 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.
The idea is that this act is reserved for a sacred bond (namely
marriage) and when one fornicates, he has made himself impure (not
unpardonable, but he has sacrificed a part of himself).
Paul illustrates this by describing one who has relations with a harlot
the way he would his wife.
He is taking what is intended to be a pure act of love and sacred
lifelong union and making it nothing more than an act of passionate
lust.
3)
It is described as a sin against
God – cf. Genesis 39:9 – Joseph realized this when Potiphar’s
wife tried to seduce him.
Also 1 Cor. 6:19-20 – our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit in us.
We are to glorify God in our bodies, which means honoring Him
through obedience.
4)
It can be resisted – like
Joseph, we must run away from it!
Gen. 39:12-13
e.
If you are involved in this
behavior, you are influencing others.
By its very definition you are involved in a sin with someone else.
In addition to that, your moral influence is damaged.
Consider 1 Cor. 5:1 – the sin described was such that it was not
even named among the Gentiles (and that in a city whose name was known
for loose morals).
f.
Some argue that as long as
it is consensual and/or a loving relationship, it is acceptable.
1) It STILL violates what is said about the marriage bed.
2) 1 Corinthians 7:2 clearly identifies fornication in contrast to
marriage. Also vs. 8-9.
This text alone shows that fornication is sinful.
a.
There are passages that make a
distinction between fornication and adultery (Matthew 19:9, 1
Corinthians 7:2, Heb. 13:4, 1 Cor. 6:9, Galatians 5:19, etc.).
Adultery is a type of fornication which involves illicit sexual
relations with one other than your spouse.
But it receives special attention because of the sacredness of
marriage vows, the bond intended to be present in marriage and the
violence it does to that relationship.
b.
Under the Old Law, adultery carried the penalty of death!
(Leviticus 20:10). It
was one of the 10 commandments (Exodus 20:14).
c.
It is the terms of adultery and
fornication that God used to describe the unfaithfulness of Israel (His
people) to idolatry that caused Him to put them away (cf. Jeremiah 3:8).
d.
Matthew 5:32, Matthew 19:8-9 - Jesus excepted the lifelong covenant of
marriage with fornication as the only cause for putting away one’s
spouse and remarriage.
e.
He also noted that for one to
divorce and remarry for any other cause, was to commit adultery.
This demonstrates that unless God severs the marriage, it is binding for
life. We cannot make up our
own rules and interpretations and reason that all is fine and we are the
exception.
f.
Think of the damage that is done
by adultery in a marriage.
Truly, it is a sin to be avoided.
a.
The final sexual sin I want to
briefly address is lust in the heart.
It deserves greater attention as it is AT THE HEART of sexual
sin.
b.
In Galatians 5:19 – uncleanness, lewdness…
(Colossians 3:5, Ephesians 5:3) – the term uncleanness is defined
as the state of moral impurity, especially sexual sins.
We sometimes use the word “filthiness”.
As we began this lesson we noted one reason our society is so
corrupt in these matters is because we see the filth everywhere.
Television and movies treat filth as the norm and even
prestigious. And it’s not
just in their works, but in their lives as well.
The lives of many celebrities are a cesspool.
Yet these starts are worshipped by the masses, with their filthy,
unclean behavior addressed with only a passing concern, if at all.
Friends, this is WHERE fornication and adultery begin!
c.
Pornography is a scourge upon our
society. It too is sinful behavior.
Jesus in Matthew 5:27-30 warned men not to look upon women with lust.
He described it as committing adultery in the heart.
One of the description Peter gives for the conduct of false teachers who
prey on others is, “having eyes
full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls.”
(2 Peter 2:14)
d.
Christians are to live pure lives – that is what it means to be holy!
Matthew 5:8 says the pure in heart will see God! What does that say of
the impure of heart?
1 Peter 1:15-16 calls for us to be holy following the example of the
Father. We cannot do
this if we are living lustful lives.
Job 31:1, like Job, let us make a covenant with our eyes not to look
upon a young woman.
Truly, we must be concerned about
sexual sins and ALL sins that we are tempted by.
And just because something has become accepted without our
society and culture, does not make it something that we can participate
in. As noted in the
introduction, there are many other sins we could address.
In the sins we have studied today and the past few weeks, let it
be clearly understood that what we do has an influence on others, for
good or bad. Let us choose
to be lights for Christ and not manifesting the darkness of Satan.
Think about it!