Playing House Pt. 1

1. Playing House Pt. 1 Text: II Cor. 12:19-21 Scripture Reading: Mt. 19:4-6

2. Intro Our culture has changed the order of the “next level” in dating relationships! • A woman’s question on fornication on a CoC website: • “Hi! I’m a 21 year old girl from Iceland, and I found this site by accident as I was looking for answers on the Internet about ... contraception. I found the answer here and want to thank you for a good explanation. I have a boyfriend and we are having sex without being married. I want to ask: Why do you say that it is a sin? We love each other and we only have sex with each other so we are not infecting each other with STD’s. Isn’t what we feel for each other what matters? Marriage is only a ritual performed by humans. God knows we love each other. Is that not enough?” I Pet. 3:15 (Answer from the word of God – I Pet. 4:11) 15. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense (G627 apologiah: answer; to clear one’s self; defense) to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; Those who live in fornication are “playing house” and are outside the blessings from God in marriage! Playing House Pt. 1

3. Why is Fornication a Sin? Ancient Israel had a problem following God’s teachings, those very teachings that were to keep them from harm (Deut. 6:24) – Isaiah 5:20-21 Fornication is a sin because God said so – Hebrews 13:4: Heb. 13:4 4. Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. • Definitions: • “Sin” means breaking a law or acting as if there was no law – I John 3:4 • “Fornication” is an older English word for sex outside of marriage. • I Cor. 6:18: KJV: “fornication;” NAS: “immorality” • G4202 porneia: illicit sexual intercourse [including adultery and incest]; figuratively idolatry; fornication (Vines). Playing House Pt. 1

4. Why is Fornication a Sin? • What God has said about fornication • It is unrighteousness – I Cor. 6:9-10 • It is sin – II Cor. 12:20-21 • It is a work of the flesh – Gal. 5:19-21 • It should not be associated with Christians – Eph. 5:3 • It is disobedience – Col. 3:5-7 II Cor. 12:19-21 (NKJ) 19. Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20. For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21. lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced. God has said it is sin and those who practice it will be judged and condemned! Playing House Pt. 1

5. The Harm of Fornication • It can keep you out of heaven (I Cor. 6:9-10) • II Cor. 5:10; Is. 29:16 • Is. 40:8; I Pet. 1:24-25 • Rom. 2:5-11; Rom. 11:22 I Cor. 6:9-10 9. Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10. nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. • It is degrading • Rom. 1:24 • II Pet. 2:12 • Mt. 19:3-5 • Mal. 2:14 • Eph. 5:22-33 Rom. 1:24 24. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. • It doesn’t last • Song of Solomon 8:6-7 • Proverbs 5:6 Playing House Pt. 1

6. The Harm of Fornication • It prevents love from developing • I Cor. 6:15-18 • I Cor. 13:4-8 I Cor. 13:4-8 4. Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5. does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6. does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7. bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8. Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. • It is physically harmful • I Cor. 6:18-20 • It is selfish • Psalm 127:3 • Eccl. 4:9-12 Fornication is sin and harmful physically and eternally! Ps. 127:3 3. Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Playing House Pt. 1

7. Conclusion • Fornication is sin, and so is “living together” or • “Co-habitation” before marriage • Fornication – sex between unmarried partners. • Adultery – sex between partners where at least one is married. • One cannot participate in these acts and be a part of God’s kingdom – • I Cor. 6:9-10 • Other sins, such as thievery or lying are committed against other people, but sexual sin is one that is committed against your own body – I Cor. 6:18-20 • I Thess. 4:3-8: Bodies to be used in honor and holiness! • Prov. 6:27-33: Fornication destroys both body and soul! Playing House Pt. 1

8. Conclusion • God has given man a desire for sexual intimacy: • God has stated that sex is designed for pleasure in a committed, covenant relationship called marriage – Mt. 19:4-5; Heb. 13:4 • The satisfaction of sex is for a husband and wife – Gen. 2:24 (Mt. 19:4-5) The world justifies fornication in a number of ways, but God has made it clear: sex outside of marriage is sin and will keep one from Heaven! (I Cor. 6:9-10; II Cor. 12:21) Let us not “play house” but “Flee sexual immorality” (NKJ: I Cor. 6:18) and forge the relationships God wants us to have! Playing House Pt. 1

9. “What Must I Do To Be Saved?” Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)