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“Flee Fornication”
Thoughts on Moral Purity
We live in a day when couples seem to think little of living together before marriage, if they think of marriage at all. And now we’re even being told to consider homosexuality a tolerable lifestyle, no longer a wrong by current standards. The evil of our ways cries from our land like the blood of righteous Abel, calling for God to deal with us. This little book is a simple call back to moral purity and integrity. It is the God of heaven who has said in His eternal words;
“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” (I Corinthians 6:18)
“Flee fornication” is a command from God. The old word “fornication” means sexual impurity of any and every kind. God’s command here is RUN! Get away from every pressure tending to stir mind and body to sins of the flesh! His command is not to be strong or to endure such pressures. The Lord says to get away, and to get away with all haste! Obviously we are just not able to be strong when facing fleshly intrigues. Our strength is in flight. Don’t consider it weakness or cowardly to run from that place where temptation is strong. Don’t stay close. Don’t keep it in your mind or before your eyes. Don’t miss the urgency in that word “flee”. This is no laid-back approach to handling temptation. Shed your coat, as Joseph of old, and escape with all speed from the clutches of the temptress to sin. The power of your burning desire will soon fade if you can just put distance between and turn your thoughts to other things, purer things. By all means we are not to delay our flight when faced with temptation to sexual sin.
We find a reason for our flight there in I Corinthians 6:18.
“He that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.”
Sins of immorality are somehow different from other sins. There is some personally destructive sense in which such sins of the flesh are a deadly blow “against his own body”, permanently marking and shaming one.
Then we read further in I Cor. 6:19-20;
“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.”
“For ye are bought with a price”. The word here is for believers in Jesus Christ. In Christ we’ve been purchased from bondage to sin with the price of the precious blood of our Saviour, shed for us in His death. We do not have the right to defile what has become the Lord’s. It is ours to use what belongs to Him in ways that bring Him glory, and that’s not going to happen in the bed of Miss Immorality.
My “body is the temple of the Holy Spirit”. Say those words to yourself believer. Now say them again. When properly understood that truth is the answer to every question of right and wrong. Don’t go, don’t do, don’t participate in what will shame the Holy Spirit dwelling within. Let a man at last completely intend to please God in all of his actions and thoughts and there will be an end to carnality’s hold on his life. It is this intention that leads a man to no longer ask the borderland questions of what’s allowable or where the line of right/ wrong is crossed. It is this intention that leads a man to live only what is completely worthy of praise before God, no longer dabbling with the edges of decency, but living in the centre beam of God’s brilliant light. Show me a believer with sincerest intent to be pleasing to God in every detail of his life and we’ll be admiring one who is valiant for the Lord, making a mark on his generation, bearing fruit, worrying hell, and rejoicing heaven. We who belong to the Lord are to be a people of distinction, separate from the filth of this world.
Enticing to Fornication
Thoughts on Christian Dress
We’ve considered the grave dangers involved in fornication or immorality and God’s command in I Corinthians 6 to run from it. Worry not that the world looking on thinks you stupid and fanatical to do so. Make the decision out of a love of righteousness and the God of righteousness. Don’t feed and follow fleshly passions, leading to the practice of perversion when God’s command is RUN!
When I was a little boy some of us were playing in a car parked on our sloped driveway. Some bright spark in the front seat, pretending to be driving, took the car out of gear and released the handbrake. As the car began to roll down the driveway everybody scattered like a fleeting thought and I was left to climb over the seat and hold down the footbrake as best I could while screaming for help. In mimicking their parents, children have little understanding of the magnitude for harm of what they do. Even so for us, in our tendency to follow what others do we must not be children without understanding of the potential for harm, both for ourselves and others, in what we may consider innocent activities.
In Luke 17:1 Jesus told His disciples;
“It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!”
In referring to “offences” Jesus points to things causing people to stumble into wrong, someone or something leading another to sin. It is of the very nature of men, women, boys, and girls to be an offence to God, “impossible” for us not to be, for sinners we are. Though this be true, still that does not in the least excuse us from our evil. Indeed, “Woe unto him, through whom [offences] come!” The Lord warns that He will judge a man for his sin, especially for leading others to evil! People bring temptation to wrong upon others in many ways. Perhaps a man is strong to drink alcohol with control, yet thoughtless of the weak one he leads to drink, drunkenness, and destruction. Perhaps a woman is determined to dress as she pleases, yet thoughtless of the men she leads to think and desire what is wrong by her revealing display, and emboldening others to follow her ways to the harm of still others. Who knows the extent of that ripple effect! We are wise to keep the most careful watch over our ways, for the Lord has pronounced His woe over one by whom offences or occasions to sin should come.
Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount;
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Mat. 5:27-28).
The Lord says even to look on a woman in lust is to commit adultery with her in the heart. And don’t miss where the point is directed here. It’s aimed at the man, the one looking “upon a woman”, for it is the nature of men that their lust is fed by looking. It is godlessness in boys that likes to look with lust. It is godlessness in girls that likes to give them something to look at. And that looking and showing story has all of the power to move men and boys to evil in thought and deed. I believe God would have His children deny this whole look/show thing. A Christian woman who sincerely desires to please God in every aspect of her life must recognize this visual way in which men are stirred to lust. She must be wise to not inappropriately display flesh or form. Oh I know such thoughts run entirely against the grain of our back-to-front society. I understand that such a view likely stirs the world to laughter. I know that, you know that. O.K. it’s settled! We know that! So what?! Let’s get back to the real concern for the child of God. What is pleasing to the Lord?! What is sound practice in His sight? What does He require of us in this regard? The answer is evident. Don’t you dare put any cause to stumble into wrong before those God loves. Indeed woe to the one thoughtlessly, stubbornly doing so. And men are moved to wrong by what you let them see, ladies. Knowing the nature of men, a woman is wrong to present a tease to the society in which she lives! The low-cut tops, pinched and peeking cleavage, exposed thighs and stomach, shrink-wrap shorts, pants, tops, etc. Tight and form-hugging, or vital materials missing altogether. These are for the world, not for you my sister in Christ. These are not for a woman who loves God and man. Perhaps you want to say “but it’s fashion, it’s what everybody’s wearing”. Yes, we’re all aware of that. But “woe unto that one through whom offences come”. Fashion is utterly insane and no wise guide for thinking believers in the holy Lord Jesus Christ. Our society foolishly jerks us in opposing directions at the same time. While clamouring against abuse of women, clamping down on every slightest hint of “sexual harassment”, demanding a man keep a complete reign over his lust, yet at the same time we allow fashion to promote fullest exposure of female flesh and form, beckoning men to lust and worse. While women demand to be more than sex symbols, respected for their minds and creative talents and such, yet at the same time they clothe themselves like sex symbols. It is utterly nonsensical! It is the typically thoughtless, back-to-front way of our godless world. “Professing themselves to be wise they became fools!” So why do you join them my sister in Christ? Why do you let your daughters do so? Why else but because you have never intended not to stir men in the wrong way. And let me assure you that that wrong purpose, or lack of right purpose, is sin in you! Agreed, it is sin in a man to look on a woman in lust! But it is equally sin in a woman to lead a man to look in lust!
A Man for a Woman
Thoughts on Homosexuality
A homosexual, whether male or female, is one who is or desires to be sexually involved with another of the same gender. The term stems from the Greek word homos meaning “same”, as opposed to heteros meaning “another” or “different”. Thus a homosexual is interested in the same gender, as opposed to a heterosexual’s interest in the other gender.
Now what do homosexuals say concerning their lifestyle? Well, they tend to say that “homosexuality is as much a gift of God as heterosexuality”, as a minister of the gospel declared years ago. Or “homosexuality is no more deplorable than left-handedness”, as a church report stated years ago. The homosexual community has fought to redefine their leaning as a genetic issue, a natural preference. Not a learned or behavioural thing but a state of being, like the colour of my skin. On this basis they have relentlessly pressed to be considered a recognized group within society, demanding the same rights, privileges, and protections as any other minority group. They brand all who disagree with their views “homophobes”, or those who are afraid of homosexuality. Well I for one despise the evil of homosexuality! Not because I suffer from “homophobia”, but because I rejoice in “theophobia” (fear of God), for “the fear of the Lord tendeth to life”. By a loose and devious handling of the Bible the “gay” community make God out to be in support of homosexual love.
I believe it is our duty as believers in the true God of the Bible to stand against every effort to make any sin acceptable. I believe it our duty to hate what God hates, to hate homosexuality as a practice because the Lord has told us “the fear of the LORD is to hate evil”. Yet it is ever ours to love the individuals taken and consumed by such sin, as we would any sinner. We who are in Christ were once “dead in trespasses and sins” as well. We must never forget how very patient the Lord was with us in bringing us to the light. God loves people, fallen people! He loved me when I was unlovely. Many involved in this evil have been saved and delivered by God’s grace. There is hope in God’s promise that “if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. Praise God there is cleansing in Jesus Christ!
As always we are wise to begin with the Word of God, to ground our attitude and actions there in regard to this question, as with every question. It’s a subject that begins in the very first book of the Bible, as early as Genesis 13. It’s there that we first learn of the way of the city of Sodom. Even as Lot cast his eyes to those cities of the plain the Lord made notation that things were not well there;
“But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly” (Gen. 13:13).
It was particularly “the men of Sodom” who were involved. And it was wickedness, confirming them especially as “sinners . . . exceedingly”.
Then in chapter 19 of Genesis we’re confronted with a graphic example of how their desperate wickedness was expressed. There of course we see the lust of the men of Sodom for the strangers who had come to lodge at Lot’s house. The men of Sodom came knocking at Lot’s door demanding the opportunity to sexually abuse or “sodomize” those men, to deal with them in a wicked way first characteristic of the city of Sodom. As the record reveals God’s fiery judgment fell on those who were “wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly”. None can effectively argue against the Lord’s hatred of what those men had given themselves over to. They were condemned by God as a city given to homosexuality.
There are many passages in the Bible expressing God’s attitude toward homosexual sin. In Leviticus 18:22 we see God’s direct command that a man not lie with a man as with a woman. Thus saith the Lord, “Thou shalt not”! This is no suggestion! Perhaps one of the clearest statements can be found in Leviticus 20:3;
“If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
Simple, vivid, clear terms, allowing no uncertainty as to what’s referred to here. Sexual contact is the obvious point. A man must not be involved in this way with a man as he would naturally with a woman. And just as there can be no question of the Lord’s meaning with the straightforward terms He uses here, even so there can be no question about His attitude toward the practice of such evil. It is abomination! Simple! All confusion, uncertainties, arguments, and doubts are put to silence by such a blunt and simple word from God.
Let’s turn to the New Testament now, to Romans chapter 1. In vs. 24 of this chapter we find that because of man’s conscious rejection of God and refusal to acknowledge or honour Him (vs. 19-21), and because of foolish man’s resolve to replace true God with false (vs. 23), “wherefore” the result is a righteous repayment from God. “God also gave them over”, abandoning them to “uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts”. The Lord’s first step in judgment is to cease to hold folks back from their lusts any longer. There comes a point when the Lord just drops the fence before the determined sinner, turning from the one who has turned from Him.
Then in vs. 26 the Lord again hands such folks over to “vile affections” or passions of dishonour. There then follows the most obvious description of homosexuality between both men and women such that none can fairly deny that it is indeed homosexual sin the Lord describes as “vile affections” here. He explains that the practice of such is the exchange of what is natural for “that which is against nature”. It is God Himself who proclaims this evil way not only against Him (“vile”) but “against nature” (cf. vs. 27, “leaving the natural use”). Homosexuality is just as unnatural as it is unrighteous. It is rebellion against God’s clear command. “It is abomination” and “vile affections”!
Our approach to sin and sinners must be the same as our God’s. In love we point without compromise to evil, that those involved might see how very desperate is their condition before the Holy God of judgment, that they might recognize and hate their evil as much as God does, that they might turn to the true God as their only hope of escape from both eternal destruction and from the terrible bondage of their sin.
There was a day when the Jewish leaders brought to Jesus a woman taken in adultery (Jn. 8). They essentially had rocks in their hands already with which to stone her. But of course they sought to use the incident against Jesus first if they could. Jesus went quiet. With their noisy demands for an opinion from Him He at last responded that the one without sin must cast the first stone. The men quietly dropped their rocks and drifted away until only the woman was left with Jesus. To her He said, “Neither do I condemn thee: Go, and sin no more”. In dealing with those taken by evil we must remember that we are not without sin. Though we are wise to stand with all firmness upon the commands of our God, yet we must drop our rocks. We must patiently, lovingly lead others from their darkness to the light of God’s truth. God’s love, real love, never affirms people in their sin, but earnestly seeks to lead them out.
And when a soul at last turns to the Lord he finds what this sinner found – the gracious God of pardons!
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Lord, I confess myself a sinner who deserves no mercy, but only Your judgment
I believe Jesus died in my place for my sin
I ask you now to forgive me
I now receive Jesus as my own Saviour!