God’s Standard of Sexual Purity

Text: Hebrews 13:4
“Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”

One of the most horrible sins that have bedevilled the church today is that of sexual immorality. It is a sin that cuts across the clergy and the laity, married and unmarried, old and young, male and female, rich and poor etc. Everywhere you turn to, it is one form of scandal or the other most of which is centred on this heinous sin. We hear or see ministers impregnate their members and encourage same to abort such pregnancies. We have Church workers (including choir members) who sleep together and commit all sorts of unprintable atrocities. Sexual immorality has become so common and it’s almost a taboo to maintain sexual chastity among people who call themselves born again children of God. This is not only sad but pathetic.

The sin of sexual immorality includes not only intercourse or consummated acts, but also involves any act of sexual gratification with another person other than one’s husband or wife. It includes the touching of the intimate parts of the body or viewing another person’s unclothedness (pornography) and sensual conduct on one’s self (masturbation).

Adultery, sexual intercourse before marriage, forbidden sensual activity, homosexuality and degrading passions are considered grave sins in the sight of God. They are a transgression of God’s law and thus will place the practitioner outside God’s kingdom (Rom 1:24-32; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21).

The arousal of sinful lust in others through one’s appearance and mode of dressing can rightly be described as sensuality. A lot of women who profess to be believers and yet put on body hugging clothes and other odious dress styles and appearances in the name of modernity or civilisation are indulging in Biblically unjustifiable conduct as their actions arouse in others, especially men sexual desires that cannot be righteously fulfilled (Eph 4:19; 1 Pet 4:3; 2 Pet 2:2,18).

Be not deceived into believing that if you continually break fellowship with Christ by living in immorality your salvation and inheritance in the kingdom of God are still secure. No one can live for immoral gratification and still inherit the kingdom of God (Rom 6:16; James 1:15; 1 John 2:4). Brothers and sisters, salvation without the regenerating and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit has no place in the New Testament.

Approving the immoral and perverted practice of others is as serious as the practice itself (Rom 1:32). This includes many who have pleasure (agree with or consent to) in the immoral actions of others as dramatised in books, videos and TV entertainment. Let us remember that sin is intensified in any society whenever it meets with no inhibition from the disapproval of others. Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ and yet use the immoral action of others for entertainment and relaxation are directly contributing to public opinion favourable to immorality and therefore to the eternal damnation of an indefinite number of other people. Such sin will be exposed and judged at the day of final judgement (2 Thess 2:12).

Conclusion
Believers in Christ are called to be morally and sexually pure (Hosea 2:19; 2 Cor 11:2; Eph 5:25-27). Purity means that we are free from all taints of lewdness and all acts and thoughts that incite desires not in accordance with one’s virginity before marriage or one’s marriage covenant after marriage. It stresses restraint and avoidance of all sexual stimulation or activity that would defile one’s purity before God. This includes controlling one’s own body in a way that is holy and honourable (1 Thess 4:4) and not in passionate lust (1 Thess 4:5). This Scriptural instruction is for both those who are single and those who are married.

Think on these and it shall be well with you as you obey the voice of the Holy Spirit. Till we meet again on this platform, remain blessed in JESUS’ name, Amen.

Bro Mike Dike

I encourage you to watch these ministers on YouTube: Leonard Ravenhill; David Wilkerson; Zac Poonen; Gbile Akanni; Keith Daniel and Samson Jebutu.

If you have not given your life to the Lord Jesus Christ but desire to do so, please do the following for you to commit your life to the Lord.
A - Acknowledge that you are a sinner and has fallen short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23).
B - Believe that the blood of Jesus Christ is able to cleanse you from all unrighteousness and redeem you from all iniquity and purify you unto Himself (Romans 4:25; Galatians 1:4; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 9:14).
C - Confess your sins to God and ask for His forgiveness. Invite Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, while asking His Holy Spirit to come into you (1 John 1:8-9; Psalm 32:5; John 20:22).
D - Determine to live a holy life by asking the Lord for deliverance from sin and grace to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts. But to live soberly and righteously in this world because as He Who has called you is holy so you have to be holy (John 1:12-13; Titus 2:11-12; Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 4:24; 1 Peter 1: 14-16).