Fornication …

A Biblical Study Of Fornication

Fornication What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  If society wasn’t so “sensual,” concern over this sin wouldn’t seem as prevalent  Any sin is bad Ù separates us from God  We don’t seem to be as concerned with gambling, theft, etc. as we appear to be with unlawful sexual activity What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  If society wasn’t so “sensual,” concern over this sin wouldn’t seem as prevalent  Any sin is bad Ù separates us from God  We don’t seem to be as concerned with gambling, theft, etc. as we appear to be with unlawful sexual activity

Fornication What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  If society wasn’t so “sensual,” concern over this sin wouldn’t seem as prevalent  Any sin is bad Ù separates us from God  We don’t seem to be as concerned with gambling, theft, etc. as we appear to be with unlawful sexual activity What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  If society wasn’t so “sensual,” concern over this sin wouldn’t seem as prevalent  Any sin is bad Ù separates us from God  We don’t seem to be as concerned with gambling, theft, etc. as we appear to be with unlawful sexual activity Basic definition

Fornication What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  1st Century Culture  Wrought with hedonism (pursuit of pleasure)  Yet, ordinary people heard the gospel call and came out of that lifestyle; lived holy  Can we not see their challenge to refrain from that which they had practiced for years? What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  1st Century Culture  Wrought with hedonism (pursuit of pleasure)  Yet, ordinary people heard the gospel call and came out of that lifestyle; lived holy  Can we not see their challenge to refrain from that which they had practiced for years?

Fornication What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  1st Century Culture  Thus, inspired writers constantly warned re: returning to “their former lusts”  Major cities were grossly immoral [Corinth]  In Roman times, a place known for wealth and indulgence Ù “To Live As A Corinthian…” What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  1st Century Culture  Thus, inspired writers constantly warned re: returning to “their former lusts”  Major cities were grossly immoral [Corinth]  In Roman times, a place known for wealth and indulgence Ù “To Live As A Corinthian…”

Fornication What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  1st Century Culture  Major cities were grossly immoral [Corinth]  As “modern” a city as NY City or L.A. today  Home to Temple of Aphrodite (Venus)… goddess of beauty  1,000 “priestesses” who were nothing more than prostitutes offering sex as “worship” What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  1st Century Culture  Major cities were grossly immoral [Corinth]  As “modern” a city as NY City or L.A. today  Home to Temple of Aphrodite (Venus)… goddess of beauty  1,000 “priestesses” who were nothing more than prostitutes offering sex as “worship”

Fornication

What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  21st Century Culture  Though more advanced, we are no better… maybe even worse  We’ve invented more ways to promote lust and pleasure  Fornication has become as commonplace as marriage What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  21st Century Culture  Though more advanced, we are no better… maybe even worse  We’ve invented more ways to promote lust and pleasure  Fornication has become as commonplace as marriage

Fornication What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  21st Century Culture  Indicators of fornication’s general acceptance  High # of multiple marriages w/o thought of being guilty of being adulterous  Most remarriages = not “lawful” (not for the cause of fornication as taught by Jesus)  Millions cohabit (live together w/o marriage) What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  21st Century Culture  Indicators of fornication’s general acceptance  High # of multiple marriages w/o thought of being guilty of being adulterous  Most remarriages = not “lawful” (not for the cause of fornication as taught by Jesus)  Millions cohabit (live together w/o marriage)

Fornication What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  21st Century Culture  Indicators of fornication’s general acceptance  Public schools with condom machines for our children certainly encourage fornication (the assumption is teenagers are already engaging in pre-marital sex)  The rejection of teaching abstinence What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  21st Century Culture  Indicators of fornication’s general acceptance  Public schools with condom machines for our children certainly encourage fornication (the assumption is teenagers are already engaging in pre-marital sex)  The rejection of teaching abstinence

Fornication What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  This is our “world”  We cannot escape the strong influence of sensuality (emphasis on physical pleasure)  Fornication has been somewhat “legitimized”  1st century Ù Aphrodite’s “priestesses”  21st century Ù overall acceptance What Our Culture Promotes & Practices  This is our “world”  We cannot escape the strong influence of sensuality (emphasis on physical pleasure)  Fornication has been somewhat “legitimized”  1st century Ù Aphrodite’s “priestesses”  21st century Ù overall acceptance

Fornication What The Scripture Proclaims  The N.T. word = “porneia” (pornography)  39 references  Consider the writings of Paul  He wrote 7 “lists” of sins Rom 1 1 Cor 5 1 Cor 6 Gal 5 Eph 5 Col 3 1 Tim 1  Fornication listed in 6 of these 7 What The Scripture Proclaims  The N.T. word = “porneia” (pornography)  39 references  Consider the writings of Paul  He wrote 7 “lists” of sins Rom 1 1 Cor 5 1 Cor 6 Gal 5 Eph 5 Col 3 1 Tim 1  Fornication listed in 6 of these 7

Fornication What The Scripture Proclaims  The N.T. word = “porneia” (pornography)  39 references  Consider the writings of Paul  He wrote 7 “lists” of sins Rom 1 1 Cor 5 1 Cor 6 Gal 5 Eph 5 Col 3 1 Tim 1  Fornication listed in 6 of these 7  Where it is listed, listed 1st in 5 of the 7 What The Scripture Proclaims  The N.T. word = “porneia” (pornography)  39 references  Consider the writings of Paul  He wrote 7 “lists” of sins Rom 1 1 Cor 5 1 Cor 6 Gal 5 Eph 5 Col 3 1 Tim 1  Fornication listed in 6 of these 7  Where it is listed, listed 1st in 5 of the 7

Fornication What The Scripture Proclaims  It is behavior that carries eternal consequences 1 Cor 6:9-10 Gal 5:19-21  Referring to fornication not repented of (impenitent fornicator won’t see heaven)  Paul’s words to the Corinthians points to the change they made in this conduct What The Scripture Proclaims  It is behavior that carries eternal consequences 1 Cor 6:9-10 Gal 5:19-21  Referring to fornication not repented of (impenitent fornicator won’t see heaven)  Paul’s words to the Corinthians points to the change they made in this conduct

Fornication What The Scripture Proclaims  It is behavior that God will “avenge” 1 Thess 4:1-8  Saints are to abstain from fornication v. 3  Each one is to possess his “vessel” (body) in sanctification & honor v. 4  Saints are not to live as the Gentiles (lost) do in “lustful passions” v. 5 What The Scripture Proclaims  It is behavior that God will “avenge” 1 Thess 4:1-8  Saints are to abstain from fornication v. 3  Each one is to possess his “vessel” (body) in sanctification & honor v. 4  Saints are not to live as the Gentiles (lost) do in “lustful passions” v. 5

Fornication What The Scripture Proclaims  It is behavior that God will “avenge” 1 Thess 4:1-8  We must not “transgress” or “defraud” our brother in this regard v. 6a Ex 20:17  God will “avenge” the one defrauded v. 6b  God has not called us to impurity v. 7  To reject this = to reject God v. 8 What The Scripture Proclaims  It is behavior that God will “avenge” 1 Thess 4:1-8  We must not “transgress” or “defraud” our brother in this regard v. 6a Ex 20:17  God will “avenge” the one defrauded v. 6b  God has not called us to impurity v. 7  To reject this = to reject God v. 8

Fornication What The Scripture Proclaims  God provides the way to avoid it 1 Cor 7  “To avoid fornication…” v. 2a [KJV]  “Because of the temptation to sexual immorality…” v. 2a [ESV]  God ordained marriage to be where sexual appetites can be legitimately fulfilled v. 2b Heb 13:4 What The Scripture Proclaims  God provides the way to avoid it 1 Cor 7  “To avoid fornication…” v. 2a [KJV]  “Because of the temptation to sexual immorality…” v. 2a [ESV]  God ordained marriage to be where sexual appetites can be legitimately fulfilled v. 2b Heb 13:4

Fornication What The Scripture Proclaims  God provides the way to avoid it 1 Cor 7  This must be honored to prevent unlawful sex (fornication) vv. 3-5  There is affection (sex) “due” each spouse  Conclusion Ù it is sinful for one spouse to withhold this from his/her mate What The Scripture Proclaims  God provides the way to avoid it 1 Cor 7  This must be honored to prevent unlawful sex (fornication) vv. 3-5  There is affection (sex) “due” each spouse  Conclusion Ù it is sinful for one spouse to withhold this from his/her mate

Fornication What The Scripture Proclaims  God provides the way to avoid it 1 Cor 7  The unmarried must restrain the desire to be sexually active…if they cannot, they need to marry vv. 8-9  Though fornication is not mentioned here, it is obviously the implied danger to avoid What The Scripture Proclaims  God provides the way to avoid it 1 Cor 7  The unmarried must restrain the desire to be sexually active…if they cannot, they need to marry vv. 8-9  Though fornication is not mentioned here, it is obviously the implied danger to avoid

Fornication What The Scripture Proclaims  It is the only reason to put a spouse away in divorce Mt 19  The “rule” Ù man is not to divorce vv. 3-8  It is something God hates Mal 2:16  Yet, He also recognizes the heartache caused by 1 spouse’s unfaithfulness What The Scripture Proclaims  It is the only reason to put a spouse away in divorce Mt 19  The “rule” Ù man is not to divorce vv. 3-8  It is something God hates Mal 2:16  Yet, He also recognizes the heartache caused by 1 spouse’s unfaithfulness

Fornication What The Scripture Proclaims  It is the only reason to put a spouse away in divorce Mt 19  For that reason, He allows an “exception” to His “rule”…a divorce for the cause of fornication v. 9  He knows the wounds caused may be too much to force the couple to stay married What The Scripture Proclaims  It is the only reason to put a spouse away in divorce Mt 19  For that reason, He allows an “exception” to His “rule”…a divorce for the cause of fornication v. 9  He knows the wounds caused may be too much to force the couple to stay married

Fornication What The Scripture Proclaims  It is the only reason to put a spouse away in divorce Mt 19  Important to remember…  God does not “command” a divorce  It is only in His mercy toward the faithful spouse that He allows an exception on the grounds of previous fornication What The Scripture Proclaims  It is the only reason to put a spouse away in divorce Mt 19  Important to remember…  God does not “command” a divorce  It is only in His mercy toward the faithful spouse that He allows an exception on the grounds of previous fornication

Fornication Closing Thoughts…  Most saddening…more & more brethren are becoming guilty of this sin  “Intellectual sins” must be guarded against Prov 6:17 Rom 12:3, 16 1 Pet 5:5  “Fleshly sins” may be harder to conquer  They appeal to lust, excitement, pleasure Closing Thoughts…  Most saddening…more & more brethren are becoming guilty of this sin  “Intellectual sins” must be guarded against Prov 6:17 Rom 12:3, 16 1 Pet 5:5  “Fleshly sins” may be harder to conquer  They appeal to lust, excitement, pleasure

Fornication Closing Thoughts…  The N.T. Christian must understand…  …the violation of trust if he/she is married and commits this sin  …the “cheapening” of one’s self if he/she is unmarried and commits this sin Closing Thoughts…  The N.T. Christian must understand…  …the violation of trust if he/she is married and commits this sin  …the “cheapening” of one’s self if he/she is unmarried and commits this sin

Fornication Closing Thoughts…  How can N.T. Christians avoid this sin? Ê Arm ourselves with the mind of Christ 1 Pet 4:1-5  Fornication = lasciviousness gone too far  Consciously choose the “will of God” over the “lusts of men”  Remember God will judge the guilty Closing Thoughts…  How can N.T. Christians avoid this sin? Ê Arm ourselves with the mind of Christ 1 Pet 4:1-5  Fornication = lasciviousness gone too far  Consciously choose the “will of God” over the “lusts of men”  Remember God will judge the guilty

Fornication Closing Thoughts…  How can N.T. Christians avoid this sin? Ë Avoid situations that will lead to fornication 1 Cor 6:18 2 Tim 2:22  Joseph comes to mind Gen 39:7-12 Ì Be diligent to…  …remaining sexually pure for marriage  …making your marriage “fornication-proof” Closing Thoughts…  How can N.T. Christians avoid this sin? Ë Avoid situations that will lead to fornication 1 Cor 6:18 2 Tim 2:22  Joseph comes to mind Gen 39:7-12 Ì Be diligent to…  …remaining sexually pure for marriage  …making your marriage “fornication-proof”

Fornication …