SUNDAY July 11, 2021
A Fitting Behavior
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints....
Ephesians 5:3
Paul the Apostle was speaking to saints––Christians. He addressed a list of sins that are no longer fitting for a Christian to do. One of the sins mentioned relates to fornication. The sin of fornication happens when couples decide just to live together instead of getting married or be intimate before marriage. God intended sex to be between a husband and wife. Fornication is a sin against God and your own body (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). We cannot get caught up in the sins of our past.
In society there is so much sexual perversion––uncleanness. The word uncleanness means “in a moral sense, impurity of lustful, luxurious, corrupt living.” People who are living these lifestyles risk getting venereal diseases which are rampant in the world. Vast populations are not obeying God’s Word. Individuals who mess around with sexual encounters risk contracting these diseases. Many people fail to realize they are playing Russian Roulette. I knew a young man who lost his life from just one sexual encounter. He contracted AIDS and died. Syphilis, if left untreated, can damage the brain, eyes, heart, nerves, bones, joints and liver.
A Christian’s life should be completely different from those in the world. They can no longer live a life practicing sin; to do so would cause the Holy Spirit to be grieved. The Holy Spirit is like an alarm. He will let you know what is right and wrong. Every person has a free will to obey or disobey, but there are consequences for those practicing sin. Whatever a man sows that is what he shall reap. The Word of God teaches that if a person does not repent, they can be thrust out of the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Of course we are human. At times we fall short and sin, but as we confess our sins and repent, we are cleansed and forgiven (1 John 1:9), but we are not to make a willful practice of sin.
Sexual desire is natural and marriage is provided for its fulfillment.
~Norman Hillyer~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
