So often Christians are called hateful for not accepting the sins of those we love, by both Christians and nonChristians. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Is quoted a lot, however nobody quoting that one passage ever goes any further into that scripture, to the part where Christ tells the adulterous woman to "go and sin no more." He didn't give her license to keep living a life of sin. He told her that what she was doing was sinful and she needed to stop. He wasn't hateful, he was loving and clear.
God doesn't want us to just accept our sins or the sins of our brothers and sisters, he wants us to be bold in the face of sin and stand up against it.
Galatians 6:1-2
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
James 5:19-20
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
2 Timothy 2:22Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
I feel like the bible is pretty clear on sexual immorality, it's mentioned many times and covers a myriad of sexual sins from adultery of the heart to homosexuality... In God's eyes, they are all equal sins.
Ephesians 5:5
"For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
Matthew 5:27-28
27"You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Just looking at someone lustfully is wrong! That means the new guy or girl at work that has been flirtatious, the spunky and charming server at your favorite restaurant, that good looking person in your favorite show or movie that you can't help but drool over, and porn. Porn is not a harmless thing, not from the stars in the films or pictures you're lusting over, not to your partner and not even to you, do research on what effects porn has on the viewer, they aren't good. Sexual immorality is a sin against our own bodies!
Jude 1:7
" In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire."
Let us not forget Sodom and Gomorrah or the fate they suffered!
Leviticus 20:13
"If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them."
In his letters to the Corinthians Paul didn't gloss over the hard stuff, he spoke boldly and did not mince words. He addressed immorality within the church in 1Corinthians 5:1-2
"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?"
Even pagans do not tolerate it! It seems like in our world now, so much sin isn't just tolerated, it's celebrated. Casual sex, adultery and homosexuality are all over movies, primetime TV, even teen and young adult books.
Paul goes on to say that he had told them not to associate with sexually immoral people; not meaning just the people of the world but of fellow Christians that claim to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. He told them to not even eat with such people. He is talking about Christians that claim to be brothers and sisters in Christ but are living in rebellion of Christ and His commandments. Paul mentions greed, idol worship, and the sexually immoral to name a few. We may not like it (because we have all fallen somewhere in there at some point in our lives), but that is what it says.
Sexual immorality has morphed a lot over the years; we have premarital sex, adultery, homosexuality and pornography running rampant even in our own Church families all over the world. We make excuses like, "He hasn't paid attention to me in so long and I just want to feel special." or, "Love is love" and "Porn doesn't hurt anyone, it's just a private thing I like to do to de-stress.". We tell ourselves these things as we sink deeper and deeper into our own depravity. The problem is, Paul calls us out in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
"Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God"
Ouch, that slaps us all in the face in one way or another doesn't it? Thankfully he goes on in
1 Corinthians 6:11
"And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
Did you read that? We've been washed in the blood of Christ, sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Praise the Lord! So does that give us license to do whatever we want? Well, let's keep reading in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 and finish out that chapter...
"12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
Our bodies are members of Christ himself. Did Christ defile his body with acts of sexual impurity? Certainly not! So why would we defile our bodies (which is one with Christ himself) with such acts?
In Matthew 18 we read about how we shouldn't allow ourselves to stumble...
"8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell."
Those are pretty great measures to avoid a sinful life. If every time you pick up your phone you are looking at porn or texting someone in an unwholesome way, get rid of the phone! Make it harder for yourself to fall prey to those temptations! We were bought at a high price, the blood of Christ himself! Not only are we sinning against our own bodies, we are sinning against God and his Holy and pure sacrifice. What a slap in the face to Him!
As Christians we aren't meant to be of this world and that can mean giving up earthly pleasures so our hearts can remain pure and our focus on walking in God's light.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Ephesians 5:11
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
This week try to take stock of what your priorities are and make an effort to align your priorities with God's will for your life. Pray for guidance and a willing spirit. Spend time in His Word. Make time to grow your relationship with our Creator.
Have a blessed week!
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