Sexual Purity Matters

Sexual Purity Matters (Gen. 2:18, 21-25; Prov. 5:15-20; Rom. 13:11-14) The U.S. Supreme court has determined that sodomy between “consenting adults” is protected by a Constitutional right to privacy and that Nude dancing is a protected by a Constitutional right to “free speech”. "Our obligation is to define the liberty of all, not to mandate our own moral code." Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health (The Massachusetts Decision legalizing same sex marriage) November 18, 2003, quoting Lawrence v. Texas, 123 S.Ct. 2472, 2480 (2003) (The decision overturning anti-sodomy laws in Texas), quoting Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833, 850 (1992) (One of a line of cases legalizing abortion). From that same decision, “Whether and whom to marry, how to express sexual intimacy, and whether and how to establish a family--these are among the most basic of every individual's liberty and due process rights. See, e.g., Lawrence, supra at 2481; Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833, 851 (1992); Zablocki v. Redhail, 434 U.S. 374, 384 (1978); Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113, 152-153 (1973); Eisenstadt v. Baird, 405 U.S. 438, 453 (1972); Loving v. Virginia” Federal courts have also determined that putting anti-pornography filters on computers in public libraries is an illegal form of censorship. In some “progressive” countries, like Sweden, more children are born out-of-wedlock than to married couples. A minister was also prosecuted in that country for speaking out against homosexuality in a church setting because it was determined to have violated their “hate crimes” law. Similar prosecutions have taken place in Norway and Canada. 17 U.S. states have approved “gay civil rights” legislation, with Washington state being the most recent. Most states have moved to make the process of divorce easier and faster and in some states you can even book “divorce weekends” complete with champagne dinner celebrations. The typical adolescent now sees an average of 40,000 sexual incidents in one year on prime time TV. Porn is a $13 billion business. In 1999 revenues from porn web-sites was 1.2 billion dollars. There are 100,000 porn web sites and 200 new sites pop up everyday. There are more than 10,000 porn movies released every year and over 300 million videos are sold every year. There are more porn outlets than McDonald’s. Over 75% of all internet users on line after 10 o’clock are viewing pornography. Believers are not immune from sexual temptation. King David, a man “after God’s own heart” lost a son because of his sexual sin. King David’s son, King Solomon, supposedly a paragon of wisdom, had his walk with God ruined because of his sexual practices. A national ministry leader in a country outside the United States stated that over 50% of the pastors in his country have used Internet pornography. A confidential survey conducted among 350 “Christian” men found that 64% struggle with sexual addiction or sexual compulsion, including but not limited to using pornography, sexual self-gratification, or other secret sexual activity; 25% admit to having an affair at some point during their Christian life, and 14% admit to some other form of sexual activity outside of their marriage.

Half of all married people will commit adultery during their life time. The Good news: The level of adultery within the church is half what the national average is. The Bad news: 1 in 4 Christians has committed adultery. 1 in 10 pastors have committed adultery. While there is reported to be a drop in sexual intercourse among U.S. teens, there has been a meteoric rise in oral sex, because it is considered to be a “safe alternative”. While 84% of U.S. adults interviewed by George Barna called themselves Christian, many of these people termed the following actions "morally acceptable": • cohabitation (60%) • adultery (42%) • sexual relations between homosexuals (30%) • abortion (45%) • pornography (38%) • the use of profanity (36%) • gambling (61%) Liberty Eleutheros, Gk. Free: able to act, speak or think without externally imposed restraints (e.g. no longer under the restraints of Mosaic Law) Exousia, Gk. Liberty: freedom from arbitrary restraint; the power to do as one pleases The freedom bought for us by the blood of Jesus Christ is not a license for immoral conduct (Jude 1:4) As followers of Christ we can’t choose t live by our own moral standards (Rom 6: 13, 17-19; Contrast: Judges 21:25) We are committed to obey God’s teachings and to try an emulate the character of Jesus. An illiterate couple had just been saved. They met with a group of believers who dressed alike. The men wore red shirts while engaged in a certain project, so the woman made one for her husband. He came home after the meeting, however, with a look of disappointment on his face because the others had a message printed on their shirts but he did not. His wife, undaunted by her inability to read, sewed three words on his shirt which she copied from a sign in a store window across the street. He wore it to the next meeting and came home bubbling with joy. He said all of the men really liked the inscription because it so aptly described the wonderful change they had seen in his life. It turned out that his wife had written, ?UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT.? We should never exercise our freedom in a manner that may be a stumbling block to other, especially weaker or less mature Christians (1 Cor. 8:9-13; Rom. 14: 1-21; 1 Thess. 5:22) To do so would be a sin against them and against God (Matt. 18:6-7)

We need to exercise our freedom in a loving manner (Rom. 12:10; Gal. 5:13; Phil. 2:18;1 Pe. 2:16-17) We need to be willing to sacrifice aspects of our freedom to help achieve the higher purpose of bringing others to salvation. (1 Cor. 9:19-23; 1 Tim. 4:16) We live in a nation and time that seems to be supremely devoted to the promotion and protection of individual liberty (2 Tim. 3:1-5) But as Christians we are not only free from various limitations, we are free to demonstrate sacrificial love The purpose of sex God created sex as an act of physical, emotional and spiritual union between a husband and a wife (Gen. 2:24) and for the purpose of procreation (Gen. 1:26-28). This is intended to be a special, unique (Prov. 5:15), and enduring (Prov. 5:18-19) relationship. To maintain such a relationship involves self-sacrifice, forgiveness and forbearance. A husband and wife are called to “cleave” with one another Heb. dabaq {daw-bak'}: cleave to, stick close to, hold on to, bond with A woman is God’s gift to man, to be loved and cherished partner/companion (Gen. 2:18, 22, Eph. 5:22-33) Our fleshly nature Gk. Sarx, flesh– represents our old, fallen, sinful nature Sexual Immorality (Col. 3:5, Ex. 20:14, Prov. 6:32, Acts 15:28-29, 1 Cor. 6:13 & 18, 1 Thes. 4:3-7) Gk. Porneia. That word refers to all forms of sexual intercourse outside of marriage (e.g. fornication or adultery). Impurity/Uncleanness (Col. 3:5, Rom. 1:22-32, 6:19, Eph. 4:17-19) Gk. Akatharsia. Lewdness, Perversion, Debauchery, Unnatural Sexual Behavior (e.g. homosexuality). Lust/Passion (Col. 3:5, 1 John 2:16) Gk. Pathos. Erotic passions which are aroused by visual things (e.g. pornography). Evil Desires (Col. 3:5, Mt. 5:27-28, James 1:13-15) Mental uncleanness.

Sexual Sin Sexual sin corrupts God’s purpose. Sexual sin defiles our “spiritual union” with God (Matt. 5:27-30, 1 Cor. 6:18-20, Eph. 5:3-5) Lust (Prov. 6:25, 1 John 2:15-16) Often called the “hidden sin” Impulsive, perverted, passionate desire for that which is forbidden (Rom 1:25-27) Wars against the soul (Matt. 6:22-23, Rom. 13:12-14, Gal. 5:16-21, Col. 3:5, 1 Pe.2:11, 4:2-3) Characterizes another as “a piece of bread” (Prov. 6:26) = something to be consumed Lust views sex as an end rather than a means Love bonds together, lust drives a wedge between The Hunter of Precious Life Characteristics of the seductress (Prov. 6:10-27) The Ultimate Hunter of Precious Life: Satan We are called to sanctification (to be pure, set apart, holy) (Lev. 11:44; 1 Thess. 4:3 & 7; Rom. 12:1; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pe. 1:13-16) and to “put off” the “deeds of darkness”, including sexual impurity and promiscuity (Rom. 13:11-14) The word “holy” itself is used at least 549 times in the Scriptures. In the Hebrew (Old Testament) the word for holy is Qadash (kaw-dash’) and in the Greek (New Testament) the word for holy is Hagiazo (hag-ee-ad’-zo). It means “set apart for a sacred purpose”. Set your hearts and minds on things above and not on earthly things (Col. 3:1-3, Deut. 6:5, Mk. 7:20-23, Rom. 6:6, 8:5-6, 12:2, Gal. 5:16-25, Eph. 4:22-24, 5:1-5, Phil. 4:8, James 3:13-18) This is an affirmative command calling us to act. Sanctification is a theological term that describes the ongoing process of the Holy Spirit rooting out sin from our hearts. Sanctification is both an event and a process. We can say with confidence that we have been sanctified and we are being sanctified. Holiness is the end result of sanctifying grace at work in our hearts.

Holiness is an ongoing process of growing in grace throughout our Christian life. God will never stop calling us into holiness. One of His deepest desires for our lives is that we embrace the call to holiness, and by His grace live a holy life. The Old Testament speaks about "the beauty of holiness" (1 Chron. 16:29, 2 Chron. 20:21, Ps. 29:2, 96:9), the inner attractiveness that is apparent when someone begins to function inwardly as he or she was intended. Not through our own power (Rom.7:15-20), but by the power of His Holy Spirit at work within us (1 Thess. 5:23) Including abstaining from sexual immorality (Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5; Titus 2:11-14) A Christian cannot play around in these areas and not get burned. As Solomon said in Proverbs 6:27-28, “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbor’s wife: whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.” To reject this is to reject God (1 Thess. 4:8; 1 Sam. 8:7) We can stand fast against sin with the aid of God’s Holy Spirit We can live a new life NOW, not just in the future or after our physical death and resurrection. (Rom. 6:4; 8:11) The baptism of the Holy Spirit does the work in our inner being and water symbolizes or pictures what is done (Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:35; 3:16; John 1:33; 14:26; Eph 3:16) He is energizing and creating in us the power and desire to accomplish His will. (Phil. 2:13,14) We must ask for the help of God’s Holy Spirit to do this. (2 Pe. 2:9-10) Constant reliance on God’s grace is necessary because our sinful nature continually resists the Spirit. (Gal. 5:17; 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Rom. 7-14-8:4) God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Cor. 10:13) Give your body parts to Christ in prayer to be used as instruments of righteousness (Eyes, Mouth, Ears, Hands, Stomach, Sexual Organs, Feet, etc.) (Rom. 6:11-14) We are called to “keep on living by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16) Walking in the Spirit is a lifelong process of submission to the will of God. When we purpose in our hearts on a moment-to-moment basis to do God’s will, He empowers us to do that will. The Spirit of God like a fountain inside, continually filling.

Avoiding Sexual Sin What are you looking at and dwelling upon? (2 Sam. 11:2, David sees Bathsheba bathing and notices that she is very beautiful, Prov. 6:25-29, The cost of desire, Matt. 5:27, to keep on looking at another with lust = adultery in the heart, Ro.13:11-14, “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”, Phil. 4:8, Focus your thoughts on what is pure and right, 2 Pe 2:14, eyes full of adultery unable to desist from sin.) Do you think of your spouse as God’s gift to you? Do you appreciate that gift? (Prov. 5:1520, "Drink water from your own cistern...rejoice in the wife of your youth." See also: 1 Cor. 7:1-5)) Was not a great part of David’s sin a lack of appreciation for what God had given him? (1 Sam. 12:7-9) What key aspect of a marriage is lost in committing adultery? Trust: it takes a long time to build, but only seconds to destroy, and once ruined, may never be fully regained. F.A.M.I.L.Y. = Forget about me, I love you. (Eph. 5:22-33) Our lives have a purpose, so we ought not act aimlessly or carelessly (1 Cor. 9:26)