In last Sunday’s pastoral exhortation, I have briefly discussed the prevailing sexual immorality of our modern-day society. I would like to continue with the article by presenting to you some of the important Scriptural reasons and advice for avoiding sexual sins.
Sexual sins distort the purpose of God concerning Christians’ bodies: 1 Corinthians 6:13-14 says, “Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.”
Believers’ bodies, according to God’s design and purposes, are not just for biological functions. It is also for the Lord (cf. verse 13). Verse 14 reminds us that our bodies are not only for the service of the Lord in this world, but also for the heaven to come. God will raise our bodies one day as glorified or heavenly bodies to serve Him for ever and ever in that sinless world. Since our bodies are for the Lord forever, we must not pervert their purpose by polluting them with sexual sins.
Sexual sins desecrate the spiritual body of the Lord: 1 Corinthians 6:15- 17 records, “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”
Believers’ bodies are not only for the Lord’s service, but are also inseparable members of His own body. Romans 12:5 says, “So we, being many, are one body in Christ.” So, for Christians to commit sexual sins is to use a part of Christ’s body to commit immorality. Because sexual relationship involves a union, the Christian who commits adultery or fornication joins Christ’s members with the members of a harlot. What an abomination to corrupt the Lord’s holiness by such association!
Sexual sins damage Christians’ bodies: 1 Corinthians 6:18 warns, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” Paul is saying that sexual sins are more destructive to the body than any other sin. From the experiences of many, we know that sexual immorality not only brings horrendous diseases, but also can drive one to suicide.
Sexual sins desecrate the temple of the Spirit: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 admonishes, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” The bodies of Christians have been made the temple of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit rejoices in indwelling and sanctifying our bodies to be a glorious temple for Him. But sexual sins will instead desecrate the bodies that are consecrated. Sexual sins, in other words, are sacrilegious!
Refrain from flirtatious comments and gestures: Godly wisdom advises us to be kept and delivered “from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead” (Proverbs 2:16-18; cf. Proverbs 7:5, 21), as well as “from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids” (Proverbs 6:24-25).
Guard your eyes and ways: Scripture, in no uncertain terms, warns us in Proverbs 7:6-21 of the ruin that befalls an unrestrained man who allows himself to sink deep into sexual immorality. This description is given that we may avoid such situation at all costs. “For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, in the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: and, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves. For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: he hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.”
Avoid places of temptation. During courtship, young couples must not be alone in quiet places whereby they may be tempted to sin. Married people must be deliberate in not developing close or intimate friendships with people of the opposite sex.
Remind yourself of severe consequences: Scripture further warns us in Proverbs 7:22-23 of the serious consequences of sexual sins. “He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.” Finally, do not ever forget Scripture’s unequivocal warning against the unrepentant of eternal judgment (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; cf. Galatians 5:19-21)!
Dear Bible Witness team,
We have been richly blessed by the articles in the Bible Witness magazine, and we wish to express our heartfelt and sincere thanks with a small love gift (enclosed in this letter).
The Bible Witness magazine is a rare find. There are not many periodicals/magazines that we know of which provide readers with good, sound doctrine, based on fundamental interpretation of the Bible. The Bible Witness magazine is one of them - and it is our hope that this work will go on from strength to strength. I hope that my children will be able to also enjoy and benefit from reading it (when they grow up in about 10 years’ time), so it is my prayer that the Lord will sustain and prosper your ministry in the years ahead.
May the Lord bless you all!
In Christ,
Adrian & Carolyn Ho
Dear Pastor Koshy,
We must inform you that we are so thrilled to read the section devoted to children in your church weekly.
In the previous churches that we attended and visited, including our own church, this does not even exist. The emphasis on dedicating a section on Scripture for children could not be more important, for each child is as important and valuable as each adult member. We are sure the children in GBPC look forward to their Scripture section of your weekly. Like parents in GBPC, we are glad to see that children are not left out. Praise GOD.
We have decided to collect a year’s issues to bind into a booklet form, to present to our 2 grandchildren in Hong Kong. We are certain they will love to read and learn from your GBPC weeklies.
Thank you for your devotion to all the children.
With joy in Christ,
Church Visitors