Chastity,
Adultery, and Eternity
What
does the seventh commandment teach us?
That all unchastity is condemned by God, and that we should therefore
detest it from the heart, and live chaste and disciplined lives, whether in holy
wedlock or in single life.
Does
God forbid nothing more than adultery and such gross sins in this commandment?
Since both our body and soul are a temple of the Holy Spirit, it is His
will that we keep both pure and holy. Therefore
He forbids all unchaste actions, gestures, words, thoughts, desires, and what
ever may excite another person to them.
I.
Chastity Matters to God
A. God rejects all unchastity - These Are Not Victimless
Crimes of No Eternal Substance . Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft,
hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before,
as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not
inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians
5:19-21)
B. Believers must fight these sins and the conditions which promote
them. And others save with
fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the
flesh. (Jude 23)
C. And we must start with our own hearts.
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should
abstain from fornication: That
every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and
honour; (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4)
D. Christian marriage is the alternative to these destructive
practices. Marriage is
honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God
will judge. (Hebrews 13:4)
II.
Godly Chastity Begins in the Heart
A. The vulgar climate of the age is incompatible with normal Christian
living. But fornication, and
all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as
becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are
not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
(Ephesians 5:3-4)
B. Would the Christ Who went to the cross to pay for sin be
comfortable in your heart? Flee
fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that
committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 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.
(1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
C. Jesus removed the ambiguities behind which we hide our sins
and enable us to lie to ourselves about the seriousness of what we are doing.
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. And if thy right eye
offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee
that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be
cast into hell. (Matthew 5:27-29)
III.
Protect Your Heart
A. When the heart is fixed on the right things it will not have much
room for the wrong things. And
be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
(Ephesians 5:18)
B. Do not accept the easy excuses which betray sinners.
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
(1 Corinthians 15:33)
