FACING GIANTS SEXUAL IMMORALITY

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). Sex is not a giant; it is not evil. In fact, it is a God-ordained part of the marriage relationship. The first thing we have on record of God saying to man deals with the sexual relationship (Genesis 1:28). However, sexual immorality is one of the giants in Satan’s army. Notice the latter part of Hebrews 13:4. God will hold fornicators and adulterers accountable for their sin. As we think of facing the giant of sexual immorality, there are three aspects I would like to discuss: fornication, adultery, and homosexuality.

Fornication is defined by Vine as “illicit sexual intercourse.” It is the broader term, compared with adultery, referring to all sexual sin. However, for the sake of this article, I will use it synonymously with premarital sex. Sex is sacred in marriage, but sinful before marriage. You would not know this from looking at our society. For instance, when young adults ages 18-29 were asked if they believed premarital sex to be wrong, only 1 in 4 said they considered it to be wrong. One poll showed 50% of the American population does not believe it is wrong to have a child out of wedlock. Another study states that more than 9 out of 10 adults have engaged in premarital sex. Sex outside of marriage is wrong even if no one finds out, even if no unwanted pregnancy occurs, and even if no one gets a sexually transmitted disease. “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18).

Adultery is sexual activity with someone other than a spouse. As stated earlier, fornication is the broader term. Adultery is the more narrow term, indicating sexual sin where at least one person is married. If someone 100 years from now were to take a sampling of our entertainment (television, magazines, movies, music) and examine them, they would likely come to the conclusion that adultery is commonly accepted in our society. They would not be too far off. While it is still one of the leading causes of divorce, adultery is becoming more and more common. What does the Bible say? Included in the list of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God are adulterers (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Regardless of what man and society say, God says it is a sin.

Homosexuality is sexual activity between members of the same sex. We live in a society where the “gay rights movement” is getting stronger. Recently, a member of the music industry admitted to being homosexual and received praise from many. A 2003 Gallup poll found that six out of teen Americans believe that homosexual relations between consenting adults should be legal and 54% believe homosexuality should be considered an acceptable lifestyle. It has even reached the point where we see Christian people joking about it. “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due” (Romans 1:26-27).

The time to make a decision in regard to any aspect of sexual immorality is long before the tempting situation arises. I am confident that it helped Joseph that he had already decided that it was a “great wickedness and sin against God” (Genesis 39:9). Be careful of the situations you put yourself in. Understand the power of physical contact. Don’t just feel; use your mind and think. Exercise self control and win your battles against this giant.
--Lamar