1 Corinthians 6:18-20, "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 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.
In our culture today we seem to hold the opinion that in regards to sexual immorality things have never been worse. In my studies for my message on Sunday night from Genesis 38, it is clear that sexual immorality has been a problem for mankind for most of his existence. In Genesis 38 Judah, the son of Jacob, from whose line Jesus Christ will come, has an affair with a Canaanite woman from whom 3 children are born. The bible tells us these children were wicked in the sight of the Lord, and God Himself slays 2 of them. In the end the widow of one of these children deceives Judah by posing as a harlot and has him father the child she did not receive from her husband. It is a twisted tale of lust and selfishness, literally one of the worst chapters in the bible. But it is historical fact so God gives it to us uncensored. What it does illustrate is that sexual immorality has existed for a long time, and that it is never blessed by God.
So what is sexual immorality? According to the bible it is any form of intimate relations outside of the marital bonds of 1 husband and 1 wife. This would include any heterosexual relations outside of marriage and all homosexual relations as it is same sex, called an abomination and unnatural by God. In essence, it is all sin, except within the confines of marriage.
The world and it's views have long opposed the will and word of God. It is far easier to exist in the world without a strict adherence to God's will and word, and this is probably most true in regards to human sexual behavior. The world says it does no harm, as long as it's practiced safely. The world says as long as you love someone it is permissible and good. God says any sexual relations outside of marriage between 1 man and 1 woman is sin. A sin, that if not repented of, has serious consequences.
In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:1-7 and Revelation 22:15 the bible clearly teaches that anyone who practices(lives in and does not repent of) this sort of lifestyle(among many others) will not inherit the kingdom of God. That's a serious warning, but sadly, one that seems to be ignored today by many, including many who claim the name Christian.
I do not write this to condemn anyone who is currently engaged in a relationship that God Himself calls sin. I write this to encourage you to search your hearts and to seek the will of God in your life. This is a decision I personally had to make. When I was unsaved I engaged in many things that God calls sin, including sexual immorality. But once I claimed Jesus I had to acknowledge what the bible says of such things and repent, turn away from them. I could not be true to the God who saved me and the word He has given me to guide my life, and continue to live in sin, to continue in a sinful lifestyle as defined by God.
This most certainly does not mean that I do not sin, as we all do and will. What it means is that through salvation, the "new birth," and the change that comes when we become a "new creation" in Christ, I had the strength to say no. Paul through the Holy Spirit tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, that sexual sin is different from all others. All other sins are outside the body, but sexual sin is against our own body, that if we know Jesus, is the temple of the Holy Spirit. His command to us is to flee such behavior.
Their is perhaps no temptation that is before us that is more difficult to resist than that of sexual desire. It is an instinctual and natural part of life, given to us by God Himself. But God intends the very best for us, and according to Him the best relationship we will have is in a committed, God focused, relationship with a soul mate we have chosen to share our life with. The world says that's nonsense, that seeking to gratify ourselves is far easier and more important. God says I want you to be whole, not only in your sexual relationship, but also in your total relationship. This occurs best when 2 people are fully devoted to each other and honor God and His will first.
It's easy for us to reason in our minds that what we are doing is permissible, but we are called to put on the "mind of Christ." It is He who loved us unto death, and it is He who desires the very best for us. When confronted with our sexual sin, or any other sin, we have a choice to make. Will I honor my desires, or God's? God is not interested in our past, but He is most definitely interested in today and our future. His word tells us in 1 John 1:9, "If we are faithful to confess our sin, He is faithful to forgive and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." The world, your family, your friends and even yourself may say their is nothing wrong with the way I am living. But I ask you to ask yourself, what does God say?
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