Sexual sin, nature of

Any transgression of the limits that God has set for the enjoyment of sex. Such sins are often life-dominating, but may be broken through the power and grace of Jesus Christ.

The origin of sexual sin

Fallen human nature

Galatians 5:19 See also Romans 13:12–14; Colossians 3:5–6

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;

The heart

Matthew 15:19 parallel Mark 7:21–22

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

The offensiveness of sexual sin

It defiles the sinner

Matthew 15:20 parallel Mark 7:23 See also Romans 1:24; 1 Corinthians 6:18

These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.”

It defiles society

Leviticus 18:24–25 See also 1 Corinthians 5:6; Revelation 19:2

Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves. Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants.

It offends other people

2 Peter 2:7–8 See also Genesis 9:22–25, Genesis 34:7, Genesis 38:24; 2 Samuel 13:21–22; 2 Corinthians 12:21

and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard )—

It offends God

2 Samuel 11:27 See also Jeremiah 13:26–27; Malachi 3:5

And when the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD.

Sexual sin under the old covenant

Pre-marital sex

Deuteronomy 22:13–21

Adultery

Exodus 20:14 parallel Deuteronomy 5:18 See also Leviticus 18:20; Deuteronomy 22:22–24

You shall not commit adultery.

Prostitution

Leviticus 19:29; Deuteronomy 23:17–18

Rape

Deuteronomy 22:25–29

Homosexual intercourse

Leviticus 18:22 See also Leviticus 20:13

You must not lie with a man as with a woman; that is an abomination.

Bestiality

Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 18:23, Leviticus 20:15–16; Deuteronomy 27:21

Incest

Leviticus 18:6–18, Leviticus 20:17, Leviticus 20:19; Deuteronomy 22:30, Deuteronomy 27:20, Deuteronomy 27:22–23; Ezekiel 22:11

Intercourse during menstruation

Leviticus 18:19, Leviticus 20:18

Sexual sin under the new covenant

The OT laws are confirmed and strengthened

Matthew 5:27–28 See also Matthew 5:31–32; Romans 1:24–27; 1 Corinthians 6:15–16, 1 Corinthians 7:9; Hebrews 13:4

You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

The need for holiness in the lives of believers

1 Thessalonians 4:3–7 See also Acts 15:29; Ephesians 5:3; Hebrews 12:16; 1 Peter 1:15–16; Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 4:1–3

For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God; and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.

The church must be kept pure

Revelation 2:14–16 See also 1 Corinthians 5:1–5, 1 Corinthians 5:9–11; Revelation 2:20

But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.

God's judgment on sexual sin

In this life

Revelation 2:21–23 See also Genesis 19:24; Numbers 25:1–9; 2 Samuel 12:11–12; Proverbs 7:26–27; 1 Corinthians 10:8

Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling. Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds. Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

In the world to come

Revelation 21:8 See also Ephesians 5:5–6; 2 Peter 2:6; Jude 1:7; Revelation 22:14–15

But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

God's power over sexual sin

It can be forgiven

John 8:10–11 See also 2 Samuel 12:13; PSA 51:0; Matthew 21:31–32; Luke 7:36–38, Luke 7:47–50; Revelation 2:21

Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”

Hearts can be changed

1 Corinthians 6:9–11

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Resisting sexual sin

By remembering God's word

Psalm 119:9 See also Proverbs 6:23–24, Proverbs 7:5

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.

By resisting temptation

Genesis 39:6–12; Proverbs 7:24–25

By mortifying lust

Job 31:1 See also Matthew 5:29–30

“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?

By living in the Spirit

Galatians 5:16

By living for holiness

Romans 6:19

By enjoying sex within proper limits

Proverbs 5:18–20; 1 Corinthians 7:2, 1 Corinthians 7:9