The Sin of Fornication

What is Fornication? πόρνος (pornos), “sexual relationships outside the bonds of marriage.” Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary A broad term describing any relations other than that of a husband and wife. Homosexuality, cohabitation, casual relations, prostitution, adultery, beastiality, etc.

What is Fornication? Heb. 13:4 “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

What is Fornication? Gal. 5:19-23, a work of the flesh Eph. 5:3-7, not named among you 1 Thess. 4:3-8, abstain from sexual immorality

Social – Eroded standards Physical – disease, etc. Mental – guilt, regret, etc. Family – stress, divorce Spiritual – against God Consequences

Congregational – withdrawn from Hermeneutical – reinterpretation of words & texts, fellowship issues, etc. Consequences

The Sin of Fornication Types of fornication

Promiscuity Living together, premarital relations, casual encounters, etc. Some say “sexual immorality” does not include this. NOWHERE in NT is such approved of!

Promiscuity Heb. 13:5, relations intended for husband and wife

Promiscuity 1 Cor. 7:2, “Because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.”

Promiscuity 1 Cor. 7:8-9, “But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self- control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”

Promiscuity Matt. 5:27-28, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Jas. 1:12- 15, 1 John 2:15-16

Prostitution 1 Cor. 6:13-17, “… Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body… Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?

Prostitution 1 Cor. 6:13-17, “…Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”

Prostitution Prov. 6:23-29, “…Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.”

Homosexuality To engage in sexual relations with one of the same sex, whether male or female. Capital crime under Old Law Lev. 18:22-23, 20:13

Homosexuality Jude 7, (Gen. 19:5-8) Sodom and Gomorrah Romans 1:26-27 – against nature 1 Cor. 6:9-10 – both roles homosexuals, sodomites, etc.

Homosexuality IF homosexuality is condemned, then so is same-sex marriage! 1 Cor. 7:2, Gen. 2:24, Matt. 19:4-6 1 Cor. 6:9-10 – such were some of you!

What is Fornication? 1 Thess. 4:3-8, “…that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness....”

Adultery Heb. 13:4, 1 Cor. 7:1-5 Relations are reserved for and an expected part of a marriage.

Adultery When one breaks the bond of marriage by having relations with another, or when one has relations with one who is married to another 1 Cor. 5:1 – adultery IS fornication!

Adultery Clearly condemned – Gal. 5:19, 1 Cor. 6:9-11 Why is adultery mentioned along with fornication? BECAUSE it involves special circumstances

Adultery The only cause that permits the innocent party to divorce the guilty party and marry again. Guilty party cannot marry Matt. 19:9, 5:32

Adultery WE live in a society with high divorce rates. MANY churches are complicit in this by ignoring adultery or reinterpreting scripture to provide loopholes.

Fornication not the end 1 Cor. 6:11, “…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.” Col. 3:7 BUT, it requires repentance!

“Satan may use the world in all its influential means and media to portray fornication as a most beautiful passion that leads to fulfilling oneself as a person and living "happily ever after." It may be portrayed as glamour and romantic, natural and even innocent…. Fruits of fornication, Phil T. Arnold, July 15, 1993 GOT, XXXVII 15, P Consequences

“…He may suggest that it can be done in secret, no one will ever know, everybody is doing it, and just one time won’t hurt. (All the general appeals of the wolf in sheep’s clothing.) He may try to convince us that it is our body, our business and others will not be affected….” Fruits of fornication, Phil T. Arnold, July 15, 1993 GOT, XXXVII 15, P Consequences

“…Yes, fornication may be advertised as being as sweet as honey, but in the end its fruit is as bitter as wormwood (Prov. 5:3-4). In spite of Satan’s romantic camouflage, the reality is that fornication is sin; sin that can beget a multitude of other sins from deception even to murder (as in the case of David in 2 Sam. 11);… Fruits of fornication, Phil T. Arnold, July 15, 1993 GOT, XXXVII 15, P Consequences

“…sin that can destroy nations, families, congregations, lives and even souls. If David could have only stopped to consider the consequences that his relationship with Bathsheba might possibly bring, I cannot conceive that this man after Gods own heart would have chosen to taste of this most bitter fruit… Fruits of fornication, Phil T. Arnold, July 15, 1993 GOT, XXXVII 15, P Consequences

“…The bitter fruit of fornication can bring an abundant harvest of rottenness beyond description, and it can all be avoided by simply heeding the warning of God "flee fornication!" Fruits of fornication, Phil T. Arnold, July 15, 1993 GOT, XXXVII 15, P Consequences

Keep yourself pure! Flee Fornication!