-=|Sexual Immorality|=-

INTRODUCTION

 1. As we begin addressing specific moral issues confronting the Christian,
perhaps a proper starting place is with the issue of sexual immorality...

   a. A moral issue faced by every Christian

   b. One about which the Bible has much to say, in 1Th 4:3 the bible declares:

 3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.

 It also declares in 1Co 6:18:

 18 Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one
does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body

 2. The admonition to "Flee sexual immorality" is needed just as much today...

   a. Sexual immorality is rampant in our culture

   b. Morality is being loosely defined (and redefined), encouraging many to
engage in sinful behavior.

 [Those who follow Christ must have a clear understanding of sexual Immorality
and its dangers.  So let us first begin with...]

 I. THE DEFINITION OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY

 A. THE BASIC CONCEPT...

      1. The Greek word porneia was translated in the (NKJV) as sexual
immorality and in the (KJV) the word fornication is used.

      2. "Used generally to refer to any sexual sin" - The Complete Word Study
Dictionary.

      3. Thus, according to Thayer, it includes any form of "illicit sexual
intercourse, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with
animals, etc."

 B. THE PROBLEM THEN AND NOW...

      1. Porneia became synonymous with life in the 1st century, reflected by
their attitudes toward different scenarios in their daily living.

According to the philosopher Demosthenes this was their line of though in
regards to adultery.

"We keep mistresses for pleasure, concubines for day-to-day needs of the body,
but we have wives in order to produce children legitimately and to have a
trustworthy guardian of our homes"

According to the philosopher Seneca, this was their attitude toward divorce: 


"Roman women were married to be divorced and were divorced to be married. Some
of them distinguished the years, not by the names of the consuls, but by the
names of their husbands."



According to the writings of Suetonius this was their attitude toward family: 


"Caligula lived in incest with his sister Drusilla, and the lust of Nero did not
even spare his mother Agrippina."

The writings of Lucian stated their attitude toward homosexuality:

"It was better not to need marriage, but to follow Plato and Socrates and to be
content with the love of boys."

Gibbons wrote:

"Of the first fifteen emperors, Claudius was the only one whose taste in love
was entirely correct."

God's disdain for sexual immorality is seen in the fact that there are seven
lists of evil in the writings of Paul, and the word Porneia is listed in five of
them, and is the first in each of them.

In 1Co 5:9-11 Paul declares:

9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who
indulge in sexual sin. 10 but, I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in
sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to
leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to
associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or
is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people.
Don’t even eat with such people.

Look at 1Co 6:9-10 the apostle also declares:

9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God?
Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or
commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are
thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of
these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 

Again in Ga 5:19-21 Paul stated:

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very
clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery,
hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition,
dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like
these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of
life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

In Ep 5:3-5:

3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins
have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse
jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You
can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom
of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things
of this world.

Let’s finish with Col 3:5 where the apostle declares:

5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to
do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy,
for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world

Does it require much insight to see that porneia or how we call it in our days
“Pornography” is rampant in our time as well? Pre-marital sex has become rampant
among many, including teenagers.

Adultery is considered inevitable, even acceptable by many, divorce has been
made easy through "no-fault" laws, families have been torn asunder by incest,
adultery, and divorce, homosexuality has become an "acceptable alternative
lifestyle"

[Porneia or Pornography is thus a general term for sexual immorality; For
example: sexual behavior between unmarried people that rightly belongs only to
husbands and wives, look what is written in He 13:4:

4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God
will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.

Prohibitions against sexual immorality can be appreciated when we understand...]

 II. THE DEVASTATION OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY

A. DESTROYS THE BODY...

Through bacterial STDs (e.g., Chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea) through viral STDs
(e.g., genital herpes, Hepatitis B, AIDS), which are incurable.

Many people have learned the hard way, what Solomon warned his son in Pro
5:11-12:

11  In the end you will groan in anguish when disease consumes your body.

12  You will say, “How I hated discipline! If only I had not ignored all the
warnings!

B. DEMOLISHES THE HOME...

Marriages intended for life are broken, often beyond repair; look at what is
written in Mt 19:4-6 Jesus declares:

4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the
beginning ‘God made them male and female.’* 5 And he said, ‘This explains why
a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are
united into one.’* 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split
apart what God has joined together.”

Children are devastated, with emotional effects lasting into their adult lives
look at Mal 2:16:

16 “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife
is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard
your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”

Potential for future marriages is lessened (who desires "damaged goods" due to
STDs?)

C. DESOLATES THE SOUL...

It will be hard to forgive oneself, there will be self-recrimination the bible
declares in Pr 5:12-13:

12 You will say, “How I hated discipline! If only I had not ignored all the
warnings!

13 Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to my
instructors?

Your soul will be deprived of good friends, whose trust you violated, look at Pr
6:30-35:

30 Excuses might be found for a thief who steals because he is starving.

31 But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole, even if he
has to sell everything in his house.

32 But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys himself.

33 He will be wounded and disgraced. His shame will never be erased.

34 For the woman’s jealous husband will be furious, and he will show no mercy
when he takes revenge.

35 He will accept no compensation, nor be satisfied with a payoff of any size.

[We can see why Paul wrote "Flee sexual immorality." (1Co 6:18)  It is not to be
taken lightly!  That we might succeed in fleeing sexual immorality, here are
some thoughts regarding the...]

 III. THE DETERRENCE OF SEXUALITY IMMORALITY

 A. FORM PROPER DISCERNMENT...

      1. Remember God's will for you

a. Joseph understood that sexual immorality was a sin against God, look at Gen
39:6b-9 where Joseph stated:

 

Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, 7 and Potiphar’s wife soon
began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.

8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything
in his entire household. 9 No one here has more authority than I do. He has held
back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a
wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”

b. Paul taught that abstinence was God's will, in 1Th 4:3 Paul Teaches this by
saying:

 3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.

2. Remember God's will for your body

         a. To control your body in holiness and honor - 1Th 4:4-8

         b. To glorify God in your body, as a temple of the Holy Spirit - 1Co
6:13-20

         c. To present your bodies as living sacrifices, holy to God - Ro 12:1-2

      3. Remember the consequences

         a. Self-recrimination - Pr 5:12-13

         b. Lost friendships - Pr 6:30-35

         c. Judgment against the impenitent - 1Co 6:9-10; He 13:4

         d. David's sin with Bathsheba serves as an object lesson, in 2Sam
11-12, we see how David try and try and try to have Uriah go home to his wife
and have sex with her so no one will know what he has done with her, and still
he refuse, at the end King David had Uriah Killed, because of the guilt for the
sin he committed.

B. FLEE EVERY OPPORTUNITY...

      1. Remember Joseph's example! - Gen 39:10-12

      2. Remember the wisdom of Solomon! - Pr 5:1-23; 6:23-35; 7:1-27

      3. Remember Paul's admonitions!

         a. Flee youthful lusts, pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, look
at 2Ti 2:22:

22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous
living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call
on the Lord with pure hearts.

b. Make no provision for the lusts of the flesh in Ro 13:13-14 Paul teaches that
love fulfills God’s requirements:

13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t
participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual
promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead,
clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let
yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

C. FIND A SUITABLE SPOUSE...

      1. Paul counsels marriage between man and woman to counter sexual
immorality, look at 1Co 7:1-2 Paul teaches

7 Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to live
a celibate life. 2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man
should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

  2. Sexual conduct within the framework of marriage is appropriate look at 1Co
7:3-5:

3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should
fulfill her husband’s needs. 4 The wife gives authority over her body to her
husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife. 5 Do not
deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from
sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to
prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to
tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

3. Singleness is good, if one has self-control; otherwise, marriage is the only
option look further down in verses 6 through 9:

6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7But I wish everyone were
single, just as I am. But God gives to some the gift of marriage, and to others
the gift of singleness. 8 So I say to those who aren’t married and to
widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am. 9 but if theycan’t control
themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It’s better to marry than to burn
with lust.

D. FORGE AHEAD WITH STRENGTH FROM GOD...

      1. United with Christ in baptism, consider yourself dead to sin, look at
Ro 6:1-15, Paul ask the question:

6 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of
his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we
continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with
Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were
buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by
the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to
life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ
so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.
7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And
since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of
this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death
no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the
power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you
also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God
through Christ Jesus.

12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.
13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin.
Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have
new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the
glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the
requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we
can go on sinning? Of course not!

2. By the Spirit, put to death the sinful deeds of the body, look at Ro 8:12-14:

12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your
sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die.
But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful
nature, you will live.14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children
of God.

Also look what he said in Col 3:5-7

5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to
do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy,
for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these
things when your life was still part of this world.

a. The Spirit is God's instrumental agent by He strengthens the Christian, look
at Ep 3:16,20 Paul prays as follows:

16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with
inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your
hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep
you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people
should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you
experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then
you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes
from God. 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work
within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

b. The fruit of the Spirit in our lives includes self-control, look at Ga
5:16-25:

16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what
your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just
the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are
the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly
fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the
law of Moses.

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very
clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery,
hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition,
dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like
these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of
life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and
self-control. There is no law against these things!

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of
their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are
living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our
lives.26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of
one another.

3. In Christ, we can do all that God desires of us, Php 4:13 states:

13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength

Ep 6:10-13 declares:

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of
God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the
devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against
evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this
dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put
on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the
time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

4. Utilize the tools of prayer and the Word of God, Paul also tells us in Ep
3:16:

16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with
inner strength through his Spirit.

And in Ep 6:17 he tells us to:

17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God.

CONCLUSION

1. To prevent the devastating effects of sexual immorality, we need to
remember...

   a. God's will for us:  "abstain from sexual immorality"

   b. Paul's admonition:  "flee sexual immorality"

2. Sexual immorality is too serious to take lightly...

   a. It can destroy your body, home, and soul

   b. Forgiveness is possible, but physical consequences of sin (STDs) often
remain

3. To flee sexual immorality, we need to have...

   a. The rectitude of Joseph

   b. The wisdom of Solomon

   c. The penitence of David (when necessary)

Let these words of Paul encourage us to abstain from sexual immorality, and to
repent if need be...  - 1Co 6:9-11

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not
be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some
of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in
the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.