Sex for Christians: Adultery & Fornication

Everywhere we look there are images that play on our sexual desires. Our society says that if our sexual desires are fulfilled we are happy. It doesn't matter how many we have sex with either, or if we are married, as long as it feels good. Even small children are dressed to look sexy. We have sexy toothpaste, shampoo and clothes. Let's face it, sex grabs our attention, it sells.

God told man and woman to have sex and plenty of it. He made it and made it to be enjoyed.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created He them.

1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Sexual relations are restricted to those that are married.

Mark 10:6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

10:7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife..

10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Sex outside of marriage is sin.

Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17

One of God's commandments.

Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints…

Adultery

Voluntary sexual intercourse on the part of a married person with any person of the opposite sex other than the lawful spouse.

Idolatry, covetousness, and apostasy are spoken of as adultery spiritually (Jer. 3:6, 8, 9; Ezek. 16:32; Hos. 1:2:3; Rev. 2:22). An apostate church is an adulteress (Isa. 1:21; Ezek.23:4, 7, 37), and the Jews are styled "an adulterous generation" (Matt. 12:39). (Comp. Rev. 12.)

Fornication

Voluntary sexual intercourse on the part of an unmarried person with a person of the opposite sex.

But this word is more frequently used in a symbolical than in its ordinary sense. It frequently means a forsaking of God or a following after idols (Isa. 1:2; Jer. 2:20; Ezek. 16; Hos. 1:2;

2:1-5; Jer. 3:8,9).

Greek word for fornication

4203 porneuo {porn-yoo'-o}

from 4204; TDNT - 6:579,918; v

AV - commit fornication 7, commit 1; 8



to prostitute one's body to the lust of another 2) to give one's self to unlawful sexual intercourse 2a) to commit fornication 3) metaph. to be given to idolatry, to worship idols 3a) to permit one's self to be drawn away by another into idolatry

Our word pornography is related to this word.

We would be astonished at how much money is spent on this expression of sex alone.

Proverbs 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

One does not have to have sexual intercourse to commit adultery or fornication.

Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Also see Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 18 & 19; Acts 15:20; Romans 1, 13:13; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:4-5

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

It is better to have self-control.

1Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

1Corinthians 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

1Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind….

1Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Our thoughts need to be brought under the control of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

2Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy…

It all began with a look.

2Samuell 11:2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

11:3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

11:4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

David tried to cover his sin hoping that Uriah would sleep with his wife Bathsheba, but Uriah would not.

2Sa 11:13 And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.

11:11 And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.

David caused Uriah's death by sending him up front in battle.

11:15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.

11:26 And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.

11:27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

There are always consequences for sin. David's child born from adultery died.

2 Samuel12: 15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

12:18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?

12:19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, he is dead.

Psalm 51 is a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

David is broken.

Psalm 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

51:2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

51:4 Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that thou mightiest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

51:9 Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

51:11 Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

51:12 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit.

51:13 Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.

God said that David was a man after His own heart because he was repentive.

Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all My will.

Couples many times live together with no real commitment.

This is a sexual relationship, not a committed relationship.

1Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication

If one is committed to Jesus Christ and the other is not.

Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

What about homosexual relations?

The Bible is quite clear on homosexuality.

Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

18:24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:

18:25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.

Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was met.

Some have sex to fill loneliness.

The bars are full of lonely people looking for love. Surround yourself with Christian friends who are devoted to Christ who will fill your loneliness and encourage you.

Proverbs18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Those who continue in immorality after receiving the knowledge of sin will have no place in the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

1Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God

6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

Sexual immorality is a sign of the last days.

2Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

If you have found yourself in sins of immorality. Or if you have been sexually abused.

Our sexuality involves not just our bodies, but our hearts, minds and spirits. When we go outside the boundaries of God's perfect plan for our sexuality it hurts us as a person. We need to come to God daily with our sin, guilt and temptations with brokedness. God will restore us to fellowship with Him for He loves us no matter what. He takes away the dirtiness and the hurt. He heals us.

He will help us deal with our past or when we have been abused in childhood and take away that hurt. He can take all that pain and turn it into something good.

God can even restore our broken relationships that have resulted from misused sexuality.

1John1: 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 25:11 For Thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

Proverb 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Psalm 32:5 I acknowledge my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.