Immorality A Biblical Study Pasig Region Singles Devotional

Immorality: A Biblical Study Pasig Region Singles Devotional (monthly special topics)

What the world thinks of immorality Most people don’t mind it n Many think it’s part of life n Many consider it a stage in life n Many think it’s necessary in a single relationship n Many flaunt it n Many praise it n 2

What the Bible says (Basic texts) Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. - 1 co 6. 18 -20 3

Basic Texts Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"--but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. - 1 Co 6. 13 4

Basic texts It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. - 1 Th 4: 3 -7 5

Basic Texts See that no one is sexually immoral… – Heb 12. 16 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. - Heb 13. 4 6

From the NT texts There at least 19 sober warnings against immorality in the New Testament alone. More than half of the books in the New Testamention something against immorality! 7

From the NT texts It is holy and honorable to completely avoid sexual immorality, and if you entice others to it, Jesus has something against you! Clearly immorality is not God’s plan for us. His will is that every Christian be sexually pure. 8

Analogies/images of immorality Many times, mental images help us to understand biblical or universal truths. There are many images that can help us grasp what immorality is. 9

Analogies/images of immorality Taken from Biblical suggestion n Taken from experiences of others n 10

Images of immorality n Cheating 11

Images of immorality n Stealing 12

Images of immorality n Hurting yourself 13

Images of immorality n Recklessness 14

Images of immorality n Falling for a trap 15

Images of immorality n Immaturity/ juvenile outlook 16

Images of immorality n Mocking God 17

Getting to our heads It’s probable that the reason why there are so many verses on immorality in the Bible, is because God wants its ‘avoidance’ to be firmly in our minds. 18

What about necking & petting? So you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when in Egypt your bosom was caressed and your young breasts fondled. – Ez 23. 21 God views foreplay outside of marriage as wrong. In Ezekiel, God uses petting as a picture of the apostasy and rebelliousness of his people. 19

The bottom line God wants to tell us, firmly and lovingly, that sexually purity as marrieds and sexually purity as singles is much better than: Fornication Adultery Prostitution Pornography Homosexuality Pedophilia Orgies and wild parties All forms of promiscuity and immorality 20

Effects of immorality Loss of confidence n Spiritual dullness, weirdness n Hurt relationships n Missed opportunities n Barriers in connecting n Possible health hazards n God’s dismay n 21

E. g. effect on relationships No one isolated. Everyone affects someone. 22

E. g. effect on relationships Any person one is immoral with is not isolated. That person has friends, family, and influences. Most of all, that person is loved by God. 23

E. g. effect on relationships 24

The church: A contrast to the world …do not be conformed to the mold of the world… Rom 12. 1 -2 (paraphrase) …treat…younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. 1 Tim 5. 1 -2 25

Becoming what God wants Be close to God first n Focus on the spiritual, not the physical n Consider relationships as blessing n Make dating truly special n 26

Conclusions Let’s not be confused n Let’s not be pulled by the world n Let’s hold to the standard n 27

Conclusions n Let’s be grateful for what we have n Let’s enjoy life to the full 28