Lesson 10: To Abstain From Sexual Immorality Series

that you should avoid sexual immorality;

The great tragedy today is to hear of some Christian worker who has become involved in sexual sin. Paul says that you cannot be involved in sexual sin and at the same time be used of God.

Every form of sexual vice was so widespread in Greek society (is our present situation so very different?) that the weak were strongly tempted to relapse into the practices they had been accustomed to regard with indifference. “What they as Christians needed to remember was that consecration to the true and living God was not only religious but ethical. Whether they had actually tumbled into the abyss or were standing on the precipice is not certain. In any event, Paul’s warning with its religious sanction and practical directions sufficed; we hear nothing of “the weak” in the second letter.”

Paul makes it very clear, there shouldn’t be any confusion—he said, “You should avoid sexual immorality.” “Sexual immorality” is a broad term that can include any sexual relationship outside marriage, including adultery, homosexuality, incest, prostitution, bestiality, and sexual relationships between singles. At times it is used in a more restricted sense (fornication, not adultery, as in Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21), but here it indicates all forms of “sexual immorality,” including adultery (Matthew 5:32; 19:9).

Paul’s word “avoid” means “keep completely separate from.” His word for “sexual immorality” was porneia, from which we get our English word pornography. The word refers to “illicit sexual relations of every kind.” Christians must separate themselves from every kind of immoral sin—regardless of the popular opinion polls on human behavior. God is never governed by opinion polls. He knows what is best for us because He created us. To a Christian the will of God is clear; holiness and sexual immorality are mutually exclusive.

There are a few questions that Jesus may ask us in the future, such as: “Did you present your body to Me?” Do you realize that your body belongs to Me, that it is to be surrendered to Me?” The Bible asks, “don’t you realize that you yourselves are the temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Special notes and Scripture

[2} Sanctification—sanctification is a very wonderful word, but I am afraid that it is greatly misunderstood. If you go through the Scriptures, you will find that sanctification has several different meanings. When it is used in reference to Christ, as it is here, it means that He has been made over to us sanctification—and you cannot improve on that! Therefore, it does not simply refer to a sinless state, but rather that we have been set apart for God.

4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,

that each of you should learn to control your own body

This particular clause has been interpreted in several ways that I am aware of. The King James has “possess his vessel”; the Weymouth New Testament has “procure a wife”; Young's Literal Translation has “know his own vessel”; the Contemporary English Version has “respect and honor your wife; the Good News Translation has “know how to live with your wife"; and the NIV, our version, has “control your own body. In this case, I prefer to use the NIV.