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Galatians 5:13-26 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:13-26 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Finally, brothers and sisters,* we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more.2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.3For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication;4that each one of you knows how to control your own body* in holiness and honour,5not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;6that no one wrongs or exploits a brother or sister* in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.7For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness.8Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Danger of Sexual Immorality Church of Christ at Medina August 26th, 2012
Definition of Terms • Fornication • Greek word: porneia. • Also translated as immorality and sexual immorality. • Unchastity, unlawful sexual intercourse of all kinds. • Impurity • Greek word: akatharsia. • Also translated as uncleanness. • “…lustful, luxurious and profligate living.” • Licentiousness • Greek word: aselgeai. • Also translated as sensuality and lewdness. • The thrust of the word is the unrestrained nature of the misconduct.
Danger of Sexual Immorality and Sensuality • Paul said that those who do such things “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21) • John says that those who practice these things will have “their portion in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8) • “But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints.4Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving.5Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Ephesians 5:3-5, NRSV)
How do we face and defeat this problem? • Recognize the greatness of God. • There is no one greater than God, and He is on our side. He has promised to help us. (1 John 4:4, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Luke 22:31-32, Hebrews 2:18) • Therefore, we must not… • …give up because we fall. (Hebrews 10:37-39, Galatians 6:9) • …make excuses or belittle the consequences of sin. • In other words, we also have a personal responsibility to live pure, upright and godly lives. • 1 John 2:15-17 • James 1:13-16 • 1 Peter 5:8-9 • Ephesians 6:10-18 • Genesis 4:1-7
How do we face and defeat this problem? • Recognize that sinful actions start with sinful thoughts and attitudes. • The heart must be protected. (Matthew 5:27-32, Philippians 4:8, Proverbs 4:20-27) • If we don’t protect our hearts, it will lead to problems with sensuality and immorality. (Ephesians 4:17-19) • In order to protect our children, we must start early in protecting their minds and hearts. • Protect our children from bad “electronic” influences. • Protect our children from bad “personal” influences. • Practical Way: Spend less time in front of the TV or computer and more time in the Word of God.
How do we face and defeat this problem? • Recognize that God provides pure ways to satisfy the desires that we have. • “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Hebrews 13:4) • If this is the way God designed it, then those who are married need to remember this. To avoid some of these problems, spend more time with your spouse. (1 Corinthians 7:1-5) • Proverbs 5:18-19 – “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful do. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.”
How do we face and defeat this problem? • Remind ourselves of the Great Day of Judgment. • 2 Corinthians 5:10 – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” • 1 Peter 4:1-5 • 2 Peter 2:9-10: “…then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment – especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust, and who despise authority.”
How do we face and defeat this problem? • Avoid Temptation. • 1 Corinthians 6:18 – “Flee from sexual immorality.” • Proverbs 7:10-27 • James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
