As far back as the Mosaic books we find some interesting references to sexual immorality and nakedness.
The first recorded human curse was over nakedness (Genesis 9:20-23).
Nearly two entire chapters along with many other references were a code of ethics on nakedness and sexual immorality (See Leviticus 18 and 20).
Exposed genitalia or nakedness were common in Canaanite demonic worship. Instructions and prohibitions to Moses were so Israel’s altars would not be like the Canaanites’ (Exodus 28:41-43; 20:26).
When Moses returned from the mountain, Aaron had lost control of the people as they worshiped a golden calf, “unrestrained” (Exodus 32:25), as the New King James says it. The Old King James says “naked,” and the Living Bible says “committing adultery.” And all this happened shortly after a move of God.
One of the keys to overcoming sexual sin lies in the meditation of the Word of God concerning it. This will nurture the fear of the Lord in you. For example, in Galatians 5:19-21 the works of the flesh are divided into four basic categories:
1) sexual sins
2) sins connected with pagan religion and the occult
3) sins of the temper, and
4) sins of drunkenness.
It is interesting that sexual sin is listed first, not only here, but also in several other scriptural references in the New Testament.
Romans 1:24, 6:19 – Uncleanness is singled out.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – Sexual sins listed first.
Galatians 5:19-21 – Sexual sins listed first.
Ephesians 4:19 – Lewdness and uncleanness singled out.
Ephesians 5:3 – Fornication and uncleanness singled out; let it not once be named among you.
Colossians 3:5 – Fornication and uncleanness listed first.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 – Sexual immorality singled out in our walk of sanctification.
1 Peter 4:3 – Lewdness listed first from our past life.
There are at least four primary sexual sins the Word of God speaks of: adultery, fornication, uncleanness and lewdness.
Here are the definitions of these four sexual sins:
Adultery : Unlawful sexual intercourse involving at least one married person. Adultery is incompatible with the harmonious laws of family life in God’s kingdom, and is under God’s judgment since it violates God’s original purpose.
Fornication : Pornography, illicit sexual intercourse including prostitution, whoredom, incest, licentiousness (lack of moral restraint), and habitual immorality (would include sexual fantasies that lead to masturbation).
Uncleanness : Often refers to homosexuality and lesbianism.
Lewdness : unashamed indecency, unbridled lust, unrestrained depravity (a disposition or settled tendency to evil, the innate corruption of unregenerate man), the person with this characteristic has an insolent defiance of public opinion, sinning in broad daylight with arrogance and contempt. Again, this often refers to sexual sin.
Here’s where many people err in their understanding of their sexuality. Notice the following verses.
“Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power” (1 Corinthians 6:13-14).
Paul is correcting the dangerous misconception among the Corinthians who believed, “as the stomach is designed for food, the genitals are created for sexual experience.” This mind-set is not only common among unregenerate human beings but also among Christians who justify sexual immorality. Paul shows how this analogy is false because your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost and belongs to Christ.
Eating food is a secondary and temporal arrangement, but sexuality reaches into the eternal and metaphysical depths of one’s being. An essential identity exists between the present physical body and the future glorified body (v 14). Sexual intercourse is more than a biological experience; it involves a communion of life. Since Jesus is one with the born-again believer’s spirit, it is unthinkable to involve Him with immorality; thus the strong admonition not to let the sin of fornication and all uncleanness “even be named among you” (Ephesians 5:3; emphasis added).
Sexuality is a uniquely profound aspect of the personality involving one’s entire being. Sexual immorality has far-reaching effects, with great spiritual significance and social implications (v18). Such immorality is not only a sin against the body but against the Holy Spirit, who dwells in the body. It is one of the ways we are to discern the Lord’s body, which when consistently neglected, as I stated earlier, often brings weakness, sickness, and even premature death.
Regardless of how satisfying and fulfilling sex is in its rightful place within the marriage, it is still a temporal arrangement and not a part of our eternal existence. And yet by it we procreate and give birth to eternal spirits. Sexual immorality messes with the power of procreation with someone to whom you are not married. The sexual drive is not sinful, but it is hurtful if not kept in its proper place. Scripture forbids sexual immorality in order to protect you.
Politicians, businesses, schools and our public institutions are not qualified to handle the subject of sexual immorality and deviate sex problems we have in our culture. They are a part of the problem, not the solution. Sadly though, the church has fallen so short of addressing this problem from a strong scriptural perspective. Some churches no longer even believe what the Bible says about sexual immorality is pertinent. One high-ranking church official said that the church is going to have to come to an understanding of homosexuality according to the changing culture. That is one of the biggest problems in the church today. Many of us are conforming to the standards of the culture around us.
Another well-known charismatic television preacher told his audience that homosexuality is not sin but brokenness. “What do you think David and Jonathan were doing? What do you think Ruth and Naomi were doing?” implying that they were involved in homosexual and lesbian relationships. I had to shake my head at that one. And yet this preacher is considered one of the greatest preachers in America with a very large following. It turns out that one of his own children is a homosexual. Although this is a very crushing trial for any godly parent to have to face, one cannot be loyal to his family at the expense of betraying God’s holy Word.
When influential preachers say erroneous things like that, it opens the door for deception and compromise among masses of people who respect these preachers. This will lead to a flood of evil, immorality, and all kinds of perversion among the hearers of such.
It is sad to see the dilution of sound doctrine in much of the church today. It is grievous to the Holy Spirit to see such cowardice and compromise among preachers who have either departed from the true faith or who are afraid to teach sound doctrine in the area of sexual morality. As a result, our children and young people are getting educated by the reprobate minds of the world.
Let the preachers of righteousness speak up with strength and conviction, for the time is here when many are not enduring sound doctrine, but with itching ears are heaping up teachers unto themselves.
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