FORNICATION “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness…” Galatians 5:19

2 Sexual Immorality in the Roman Empire Sexual purity was viewed as repugnant “Chastity is simply a proof of ugliness.” Seneca, On Benefits, Flesh and Spirit, Barclay, p. 25 Sexual purity was viewed as repugnant “Chastity is simply a proof of ugliness.” Seneca, On Benefits, Flesh and Spirit, Barclay, p. 25

3 Sexual Immorality in the Roman Empire Absence of moral shame Legalized brothels; idolatry incorporated fornication into its rituals (Acts 15:28-29) 2 nd Century: “…an age when shame seems to have vanished from the earth.” (J. J. Chapman) Absence of moral shame Legalized brothels; idolatry incorporated fornication into its rituals (Acts 15:28-29) 2 nd Century: “…an age when shame seems to have vanished from the earth.” (J. J. Chapman)

4 Sexual Immorality in the Roman Empire Absence of moral shame “In Greece there had never been any shame in relationships before marriage or outside marriage.” (Barclay) Absence of moral shame “In Greece there had never been any shame in relationships before marriage or outside marriage.” (Barclay)

5 Sexual Immorality in the Roman Empire Adultery was commonplace “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.” (Seneca) Adultery was commonplace “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.” (Seneca)

6 Sexual Immorality in the Roman Empire Homosexuality widely practiced and accepted “Of the first 15 Emperors, Claudius was the only one whose taste in love was entirely correct.” (Gibbon, cited by Barclay) Homosexuality widely practiced and accepted “Of the first 15 Emperors, Claudius was the only one whose taste in love was entirely correct.” (Gibbon, cited by Barclay)

7 Sexual Immorality in the Roman Empire Homosexuality widely practiced and accepted Julius Caesar was notoriously the lover of king Nicomedes of Bithynia, while Nero “married” a youth called Sporus and had a marriage procession through the streets of Rome (Ibid. 27) Homosexuality widely practiced and accepted Julius Caesar was notoriously the lover of king Nicomedes of Bithynia, while Nero “married” a youth called Sporus and had a marriage procession through the streets of Rome (Ibid. 27)

8 Christians Must Beware! 1 Corinthians 10:6, 8 America in the 21 st century Normal to live together without marriage “Same-sex” unions (marriage) Homosexuals are “mainstreaming” Opposition is a proof of “ugliness” America in the 21 st century Normal to live together without marriage “Same-sex” unions (marriage) Homosexuals are “mainstreaming” Opposition is a proof of “ugliness”

9 Christians Must Beware! 1 Corinthians 10:6, 8 America in the 21 st century Fornication produces unwanted pregnancies, leading to abortion, unstable homes; STDs Contributes to welfare dependency and social ills Destroys homes, lives, reputations, influences, souls and churches America in the 21 st century Fornication produces unwanted pregnancies, leading to abortion, unstable homes; STDs Contributes to welfare dependency and social ills Destroys homes, lives, reputations, influences, souls and churches

10 Christians Must Beware! 1 Corinthians 10:6, 8 America in the 21st century Churches of Christ increasingly accept those in adulterous remarriages False doctrines that excuse adultery and harbor sin (Rev. 2:20) America in the 21st century Churches of Christ increasingly accept those in adulterous remarriages False doctrines that excuse adultery and harbor sin (Rev. 2:20)

11 Bible Words Fornication (porneia) “Illicit sexual intercourse in general” (Thayer, 532) Gal. 5:19; Matt. 19:9 Specific terms: Adultery: defilement of the marriage bed by illicit sexual intercourse, Hebrews 13:4 Romans 7:2-3 Fornication (porneia) “Illicit sexual intercourse in general” (Thayer, 532) Gal. 5:19; Matt. 19:9 Specific terms: Adultery: defilement of the marriage bed by illicit sexual intercourse, Hebrews 13:4 Romans 7:2-3

12 Bible Words Homosexuality: “one who lies with a male as with a female, sodomite, homosexual” (Thayer, 75) 1 Cor. 6:9 (1 Tim. 1:10) Bestiality: Lev. 18:23; Exo. 22:19 Sin against the holy God and offensive to his holy people! Rom. 1:24-27, 29; Eph. 5:3 Homosexuality: “one who lies with a male as with a female, sodomite, homosexual” (Thayer, 75) 1 Cor. 6:9 (1 Tim. 1:10) Bestiality: Lev. 18:23; Exo. 22:19 Sin against the holy God and offensive to his holy people! Rom. 1:24-27, 29; Eph. 5:3

13 Fornication is… LOVELESS It is lust, not love, Colossians 3:5 Begins in a lustful heart, Mark 7:21; Proverbs 6:24-29 Self-centered, seeking always and only its own advantage and fulfillment, James 4:1-3 (Exo. 20:14, 17) LOVELESS It is lust, not love, Colossians 3:5 Begins in a lustful heart, Mark 7:21; Proverbs 6:24-29 Self-centered, seeking always and only its own advantage and fulfillment, James 4:1-3 (Exo. 20:14, 17)

14 Fornication is… LAWLESS (1 John 3:4) Violates God’s established order for the purity, propriety and permanency of marriage, Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 7:2 Violates God’s will for our moral purity, 1 Peter 1:15-16 LAWLESS (1 John 3:4) Violates God’s established order for the purity, propriety and permanency of marriage, Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 7:2 Violates God’s will for our moral purity, 1 Peter 1:15-16

15 Fornication is… A MISUSE OF THE BODY Body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, 1 Cor. 6:13 Body belongs to Christ, 1 Cor. 6:15 Against the body’s purpose, 1 Cor. 6:18 A MISUSE OF THE BODY Body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, 1 Cor. 6:13 Body belongs to Christ, 1 Cor. 6:15 Against the body’s purpose, 1 Cor. 6:18

16 Fornication is… DESTRUCTIVE Destroys souls, Prov. 6:32; Hosea 4:11 (Gal. 5:19, 21) Destroys families, Matthew 19:6 Destroys social fabric (Rom. 1:27) Destroys nations (Prov. 14:34) DESTRUCTIVE Destroys souls, Prov. 6:32; Hosea 4:11 (Gal. 5:19, 21) Destroys families, Matthew 19:6 Destroys social fabric (Rom. 1:27) Destroys nations (Prov. 14:34)

17 Fornication is… SHAMEFUL, DISHONORING… The participants, Prov. 6:26, 33 One’s body, 1 Ths. 4:3-5 (1 Co. 6:18-20) One’s spouse (marriage), Heb. 13:4 God’s covenant (forgotten), Prov. 2:16- 17; Mal. 2:14 SHAMEFUL, DISHONORING… The participants, Prov. 6:26, 33 One’s body, 1 Ths. 4:3-5 (1 Co. 6:18-20) One’s spouse (marriage), Heb. 13:4 God’s covenant (forgotten), Prov. 2:16- 17; Mal. 2:14

18 Fornication is… SHAMEFUL, DISHONORING… One’s neighbor (defrauded and deceived), 1 Ths. 4:6 (Matt. 22:39) The church, 1 Cor. 5:1 (Eph. 5:3, 12) God, 1 Ths. 4:8 (Gen. 39:9; Psa. 51:4) God will judge and punish fornicators! (Heb. 13:4; 1 Ths. 4:6; Gal. 5:21; Rev. 21:8) SHAMEFUL, DISHONORING… One’s neighbor (defrauded and deceived), 1 Ths. 4:6 (Matt. 22:39) The church, 1 Cor. 5:1 (Eph. 5:3, 12) God, 1 Ths. 4:8 (Gen. 39:9; Psa. 51:4) God will judge and punish fornicators! (Heb. 13:4; 1 Ths. 4:6; Gal. 5:21; Rev. 21:8)

19 God’s Protection from and Remedy for Sin of Fornication SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE 1 Cor. 7:2 Give due benevolence, 1 Cor. 7:3-4 Do not deprive one another, 1 Cor. 7:5 Nurture the blessings of your marriage, Prov. 5:15-20 (1 Pet. 3:7) Wait until you are married! Gen. 2:25 (Heb. 13:4) SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE 1 Cor. 7:2 Give due benevolence, 1 Cor. 7:3-4 Do not deprive one another, 1 Cor. 7:5 Nurture the blessings of your marriage, Prov. 5:15-20 (1 Pet. 3:7) Wait until you are married! Gen. 2:25 (Heb. 13:4)

20 God’s Protection from and Remedy for Sin of Fornication WAYS OF ESCAPE 1 Cor. 10:12-13 Do not be arrogant, Prov. 7:24-26 Flee! 1 Cor. 6:18; 2 Tim. 2:22 Hold on to God’s word, Prov. 7:1-5 Guard your heart, Phil. 4:8 WAYS OF ESCAPE 1 Cor. 10:12-13 Do not be arrogant, Prov. 7:24-26 Flee! 1 Cor. 6:18; 2 Tim. 2:22 Hold on to God’s word, Prov. 7:1-5 Guard your heart, Phil. 4:8

21 God’s Protection from and Remedy for Sin of Fornication WAYS OF ESCAPE 1 Cor. 10:12-13 Use wisdom and discretion, Proverbs 2:10-16 Know process that leads to adultery: Resentment (toward your spouse) Rationalization (someone else) Rendezvous (time with another) WAYS OF ESCAPE 1 Cor. 10:12-13 Use wisdom and discretion, Proverbs 2:10-16 Know process that leads to adultery: Resentment (toward your spouse) Rationalization (someone else) Rendezvous (time with another)

22 God’s Protection from and Remedy for Sin of Fornication REMEDY 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 2 Cor. 12:21 Repent, Acts 17:30; 2 Cor. 7:10 Stop your sin, Rev. 9:20-21 (1 Ths. 4:3) REMEDY 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 2 Cor. 12:21 Repent, Acts 17:30; 2 Cor. 7:10 Stop your sin, Rev. 9:20-21 (1 Ths. 4:3)

23 God’s Protection from and Remedy for Sin of Fornication REMEDY 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 2 Cor. 12:21 Be baptized to be saved, Acts 18:8 Christian: Confess & pray, 1 Jno. 1:9 Rejoice! Rom. 6:4; 2 Cor. 2:6-7; 7:10 Let go of the past and press forward REMEDY 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 2 Cor. 12:21 Be baptized to be saved, Acts 18:8 Christian: Confess & pray, 1 Jno. 1:9 Rejoice! Rom. 6:4; 2 Cor. 2:6-7; 7:10 Let go of the past and press forward

24 Flee Fornication! The flesh presents powerful desires we must bring under control of the gospel Must serve righteousness (Rom. 6:17-18) Fornication offers fleeting pleasures that never fulfill and assures eternal sorrow! Proverbs 5:3-6; 9:17-18 The flesh presents powerful desires we must bring under control of the gospel Must serve righteousness (Rom. 6:17-18) Fornication offers fleeting pleasures that never fulfill and assures eternal sorrow! Proverbs 5:3-6; 9:17-18