We live in a culture of lies, fascades, deception and selfishness, and misinterpretations of biblical truths abound, particularly regarding definitions of liberty. Just as what became the norm in the declining era or ancient Greece, Rome, and Corinth, the jewel in the crown of this dark and Godless philosophy is what is called "sexual freedom". It is, however, nothing more than what the Bible warns us against perhaps more than any other sin: sexual immorality.
"Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. "
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
HE WHO REJECTS THIS INSTRUCTION REJECTS GOD. IF THIS DOESN'T GET YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE SEEK COUNSELING AND PRAYER IMMEDIATELY.
There is something particularly insidious about sexual immorality, for a couple reasons that come to my mind in particular:(a) the loss of self control that in itself opens the flood gates to a whole host of other sins, and (b) because of the spiritual and emotional mechanisms that God has engineered to be beneficial to us in the act of marriage. Sex apart from marriage creates and maintains bonds between partners that were never intended of any relationship outside of marriage.
We are to be sanctified, set apart from the world for holy purposes, not joined to it! These ties are hard to break, with good reason, and so as people move about in promiscuity, disobeying God, they heap disaster on themselves, tie themselves to sinful relationships, unequal yokes...the end results are tremendous damages- physically(diseases), emotionally, and spiritually.
"But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self‑control."
1 Corinthians 7:2-5
The Word tells us that those of us who are married are not to be selfish, but to put the needs of their spouse above their own; we are not to use our bodies or sex as a weapon against the other, and we are not to deprive their spouses. When sex is withheld as punishment or as manipulation, or for whatever reason, this causes emotional distancing from one another, insecurity, anger, suspicion, jealousy, and opens the door to a variety of temptations, which can lead to sexual immorality-adultery.
“Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything. “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”–but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 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! 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.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Beloved, let us remember who we belong to, having been bought and paid for at an extremely high cost, His mark of ownership is on us... be sanctified and walk in holiness, love, giving thanks to Him who is worthy and has the best plan for each of us-as we obey Him.
This is where we find real freedom, liberty, and truth.
"Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. "
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
HE WHO REJECTS THIS INSTRUCTION REJECTS GOD. IF THIS DOESN'T GET YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE SEEK COUNSELING AND PRAYER IMMEDIATELY.
There is something particularly insidious about sexual immorality, for a couple reasons that come to my mind in particular:(a) the loss of self control that in itself opens the flood gates to a whole host of other sins, and (b) because of the spiritual and emotional mechanisms that God has engineered to be beneficial to us in the act of marriage. Sex apart from marriage creates and maintains bonds between partners that were never intended of any relationship outside of marriage.
We are to be sanctified, set apart from the world for holy purposes, not joined to it! These ties are hard to break, with good reason, and so as people move about in promiscuity, disobeying God, they heap disaster on themselves, tie themselves to sinful relationships, unequal yokes...the end results are tremendous damages- physically(diseases), emotionally, and spiritually.
"But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self‑control."
1 Corinthians 7:2-5
The Word tells us that those of us who are married are not to be selfish, but to put the needs of their spouse above their own; we are not to use our bodies or sex as a weapon against the other, and we are not to deprive their spouses. When sex is withheld as punishment or as manipulation, or for whatever reason, this causes emotional distancing from one another, insecurity, anger, suspicion, jealousy, and opens the door to a variety of temptations, which can lead to sexual immorality-adultery.
“Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything. “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”–but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 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! 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.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
Beloved, let us remember who we belong to, having been bought and paid for at an extremely high cost, His mark of ownership is on us... be sanctified and walk in holiness, love, giving thanks to Him who is worthy and has the best plan for each of us-as we obey Him.
This is where we find real freedom, liberty, and truth.
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