Fighting Sexual Sin
Ten Commandments • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
When I am confronted with sexual sin, I should remember than sexual sin:
Concerns Both the Body and Mind
Concerns Both the Body and Mind
As we look at Exodus 20:14, we find that on the surface we are strictly forbidden from breaking our marriage vows and being sexually unfaithful to our spouses and if we aren’t careful, you might be thinking that this is something that you don’t really need to deal with since you’re not married yet. However, marital unfaithfulness isn’t the only thing that the Bible includes under the umbrella of adultery.
In Mark 7:21-23 we read,
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
As you look at this verse, I want you to notice the word, “fornications” right beside adulteries. The word that Jesus couples with adultery as fornication is the word, “Pornois” which is where we get the word “pornography” today. Now, that word doesn’t specifically mention pornography online, but branches out and means all sexual deviation of any kind.
Another passage that is helpful is
8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.
In this passage, Paul is running through sins that would align with the breaking of the ten commandments. In verse 10 he mentions sexual sins such as fornication and sodomy. Now, the word sodomy is interesting because it is a word that scholars believe that Paul actually put together and created himself. It is pronounced, “Arsenokoitais” and refers to homosexuality. Now, we live in a day where people try to say the Bible doesn’t forbid such sins, but it is extremely clear here that such behavior is a sin. So, so far we understand that being unfaithful to your spouse, partaking in any sexual deviation such as sex before marriage or porn, and that homosexuality are sins. However, there is one more I want us to look at.
In Matthew 5:27-30 Jesus says,
27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Notice that Jesus doesn’t stick with the actions of the body, but dives even deeper and confronts the thoughts of our very minds. Now, this doesn’t mean that you can’t look at a guy or a girl and think that they are attractive. However, it does mean that sexually impure thoughts are forbidden and that they themselves are adulterous. Just like we saw two weeks ago with murder, these are serious sins that start in small places, meaning our minds.
So, after exploring these texts, it is fairly clear that breaking the 7th commandment is a sin that people are regularly committing. That impure thought, that pornographic video, meeting up with a boyfriend or girlfriend in private, and yes, cheating on a spouse are all sins against God. But why? Well, when we are confronted with sexual sin, we should remember that it:
Corrupts God’s Created Order
Corrupts God’s Created Order
As we go through this lesson tonight, we will find that this isn’t the only reason it is sin, but this is certain a large portion of it. When it comes to sexual activity, God has made it clear that this is something that belongs to married people alone. Now, we need to understand what the Biblical definition of marriage is.
In Genesis 1:26-28 we read,
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
and in Genesis 2:18-25
18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Now, after reading these two passages, the definition that I think we should have of marriage is that:
Marriage is an exclusive and committed relationship between a man and a woman instituted by God to provide children through marital intimacy and to picture Christ and His Church in their commitment to each other.
In Ephesians 5:22-25, Ephesians 5:31-32
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
So, what Paul is revealing to us is that God created this covenantal relationship in the beginning to picture the beautiful union that is found between Christ and the Church. Now, let’s ask this: Does perverting marriage give a beautiful picture of Christ and the Church? Do actions of unfaithfulness or corrupting a gift meant for marriage honor the picture of the Lord and His Church? Of course not!
So, when we think of sexual sin, we should think of an action that destroys a beautiful picture, defies the wisdom of God, and exalts our passions over the commands of God Himself. In short, it is a serious sin which leads us to our third point which is that when we think of sexual sin, we should remember that sexual sin:
Calls Us to Be Vigilant
Calls Us to Be Vigilant
In Matthew 5:27-30 Jesus says,
27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Now, it is important for us to understand that Jesus is not really saying we should harm our bodies. However, by highlighting the right eye and right hand, which were thought to be superior at the time, Jesus is saying that it would be better for you to destroy these important things that cause you to sin that it would be for you to fall into the sin itself. Or we could put it this way, take no shortcuts in waging war against sexual temptation. We must be vigilant! Why?
Because sexual sin is deceptive.
3 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil; 4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.
Because sexual sin is destructive. 1 Cor. 6:18
18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
Because sexual sin is damning. Hebrews 13:4
4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
However, if you have fallen into these sins, there is forgiveness in Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:8-11
8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! 9 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 homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
So, if you are struggling with temptation, Jesus can sympathize and strengthen you by His grace.
If you are troubled with your past sins, Jesus offers freedom and forgiveness. Hebrews 8:12
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
If you are currently bound and committing such sins, this lesson is a warning to you by God and if you realize your sin, Christ welcomes you with open arms.