Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage is honourable in all, all the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
GOD CALLS US TO PURITY
Believers, first and foremost must be morally and sexually pure (2Cor 11:2; Titus 2:5; 1Pet 3:2. The word “Pure” or “chaste” means to be free from all taint of that which is lewd. It suggests refraining from all acts and thoughts that incite desire not in accordance with one’s virginity or one’s marriage vows. It stresses restraint and avoidance of all sexual actions and excitements that would defile, debase or cheapen one’s purity before God.
1. Sexual Intimacy Reserved for Marriage
Sexual intimacy is reserve for the marriage relationship and is approved and blessed by God only in that state. Through marriage the husband and wife become one flesh according to God’s will. The physical and emotional pleasures resulting from a faithful marriage relationship are ordained by
God and held in honour by Him (Heb.13:4).
2. Sexual Sins are Severely Condemned
Adultery, fornication, homosexuality, sensuality, impure desire and degrading passions are considered grave sins in the sight of God. They are a transgression of the law of love and a defiling of the marriage relationship. Such sins are severely condemned in scripture marketing a practice of these sins’ places one outside the Kingdom of God (Rom 1:24-32; 1Cor 6:9,10; Gal 5:19-21.
3. Sexual Sins Occur outside Marriage
Sexual immorality and impurity are defined as sexual intercourse or consummated acts outside marriage. Any act of sexual gratification with another person other than one’s marriage partner is immoral. Uncovering or exploring the nakedness of any one other than your spouse invites God’s judgement.
4. Believers must Exercise Self-control
The believer must exercise self-control and steadfast restrain with reference to all sexual matters before marriage. To justify premarital intimacy on the grounds of a real or a felt “commitment” to another flagrantly compromise God’s holy standards. The world’s impure justify immorality. As believers, we dare not. After marriage sexual intimacy must be confined to one’s marriage partner. The Bible names self-control as an aspect of the Spirit’s fruit. This evidence itself in our life by the positive and pure behaviour that is in contrast to immoral sexual acts. Gratification, fornication, adultery and impurity must never be acceptable among believers. One’s commitment to God’s will opens the way to receive this gift of self-control (Gal 5:22-24).
5. Biblical terms for Sexual Immorality
Biblical terms used for sexual immorality, describing the breath of its evil are as follows:
a. Fornication
Fornication described a wide variety of sexual activity before or outside of marriage. Any intimate sexual activity or play outside the marriage relationship including the touching of the intimate parts of the body or viewing the nakedness of another person is included in this term and is clearly a transgression of God’s moral standards for His people. Lev 18:6-30, 20:11,12,17. 1Cor 6:18.
b. Lasciviousness
Lasciviousness denotes the absence of clear moral principles specially, disregard of sexual reserve and restraint that maintains pure and chaste behaviour (1Tim 2:9) it includes the inclination toward indulging in or arousing sinful lust, and thus many leads one to participate in unbiblical conduct. (Gal 5:1; Eph. 4:19, 1Pet 4:3.
c. Lust
Lust is having an immoral desire which one would fulfil if the opportunity arose (Matt 5:28, Eph. 4:19,22; 1Pet 4:3, 2Pet 2:18. True immorality is maintaining righteous standards when no one but God will know what we are doing.
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