Unveiling the Truth About Faith and Purity – What is Sexual Immorality?
Sex is a special gift from God to be enjoyed only in marriage, and the Bible refers to those who abuse it as immoral. But before we label anyone as immoral or sinful, we must first understand the Bible’s standards. Let’s see what God’s Word says about those who are sexually immoral, meaning those who engage in sexual acts outside of God’s design.
Thankfully, the Old and New Testaments contain several conversations around sexual immorality, so we have more than enough guidance on the matter.
Let’s get into the Word and see what it has to say about sexual sins. In addition to exploring its true biblical meaning, we will also examine some practical guidance God offers on how to avoid and overcome sexual sins.
What Is Sexual Immorality?
The Bible defines sexual immorality as any sexual activity outside marriage, such as adultery (extramarital sex) and fornication (premarital sex). It also extends to forbidden sexual activities like prostitution, homosexuality, and bestiality.
In addition to physical acts, God’s Word further emphasizes that sexual sins also comprise filthy thoughts and desires. These include lust (the desire for someone other than your spouse), pornography (viewing or engaging in explicit sexual content for desire), sexting (sending explicit messages and pictures), etc.
Understanding this biblical definition of sexual immorality is vital to having a good relationship with God. Like other instructions in God’s Word, a refusal to lead a sexually pure life comes with several terrible repercussions. And as the beloved apostle Paul underscored in his first letter to Corinth, some of these repercussions can impair our relationship with God and other people around us. Sexual impurity can be that harmful to a believer.
Flee sexual immorality! “Every sin that a man does is outside the body,” but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
In the Bible’s stance, sexual impurity is a sin against the body (God’s temple) and encompasses all thoughts and actions in defiance of God’s commanded use of sex. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and God expects us to consecrate them to His honor and worship alone.
What the Bible Says About Sexual Immorality
We can find many verses on sexual immorality in the Bible, but the best place to start is with the creation story. In the first two chapters of Genesis, we see how God created a man and a woman to be companions as one flesh to each other.
This emphasis on oneness highlights the sanctity of the marital union and forms the foundation of what we know today as sexual morality. Any deviation from this principle clearly violates the expectations placed on us as Christians.
Coming to the New Testament, Paul issued a clear warning that those who are sexually immoral have no place in God’s kingdom.
Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s Kingdom. Some of you were such, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
We must note here that Paul did not deny that all other sins also have serious consequences. The context of his emphasis, as shown in the next few verses, was rather that sexual impurity doesn’t only affect our walk with God but also harms our body, which ought to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.
So, the consequences of sexual immorality are external and internal — you hurt God and harm your body as well. That is why anyone who values their intimacy with God and productivity in life should avoid such sins.
But the truth is, being mindful of the repercussions of sexual sins is not enough to be victorious when sexual temptations arise. Willpower can only do so much when motions of the flesh arise. It takes the grace of God to live above sin.
The Word of God offers hope in times of temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises that no matter how enticing a temptation may be, God will always make a way of escape for us.
No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
The grace of God is always available. All we need to do is humble ourselves under His mighty hands and receive His help.
Why Is Sexual Impurity Such a Big Deal?
The Bible uses vivid stories to demonstrate the consequences of sexual immorality. Throughout the Old Testament, we see these consequences play out, even for the best people — those we can say God loved much.
A famous example is King David in the story captured in the second book of Samuel.
As the King of Israel at the time, David had seen Bathsheba bathing, and even though she was married to his soldier, he wanted her for himself. That was nothing but sexual lust.
To satisfy his desire, David sent her husband off to the battlefront to die. David then married Bathsheba. The result of this act of adultery was an illegitimate child that caused a lot of pain and turmoil to David.
It took the intervention of the prophet Nathan for David to get it right. But this did not come without consequences.
Yahweh struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it was very sick. David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the ground. The elders of his house arose beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, and he didn’t eat bread with them. On the seventh day, the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he didn’t listen to our voice. How will he then harm himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?” (2 Samuel 12:15-18)
Another good example is the story of Samson and Delilah. Samson was a warrior in Israel known for his unrivaled strength. But he had a weakness — his proclivity for women. This ultimately led to his downfall after being seduced by Delilah, who discovered the secret to his power and leaked it to Samson’s enemies, the Philistines.
But beyond these consequences highlighted in the Bible, the practice of sexual impurity can also affect our day-to-day productivity in life and pollute society at large. For one, engaging in sexual immorality can take a toll on our emotional well-being.
The guilt that follows such actions can distance us from our families and loved ones. Then, as the weight of our sinful behavior bears heavily on our minds, we may find ourselves struggling with low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.
Another consequence is the strain it can place on our relationship with our loved ones. Broken trust and hurt can arise from sexual impurity, affecting not just those directly involved but dragging others along as collateral damage. The resulting shame can hold us back from forming healthy relationships in the future because we feel we are not worthy.
Sexual sin can also affect our mental health, from the regret, disgust, and self-loathing that follows it. If not addressed on time, those thoughts of self-hatred and regret can lead to depression and other mental health struggles.
Sexual Immorality: Any Consequences On Society?
Beyond the personal issues highlighted above, sexual immorality can also affect society. Accepting it as a regular way of life contributes to the moral decline we see today.
By normalizing one evil, we create room for others to look cool. Unhealthy relationships built on the foundation of sex rather than love contribute to broken trust and emotional distress.
Then, there is the issue of unprotected sex introducing health risks. For example, sexual immorality can increase the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. The hard truth is that not all sexual diseases have a cure. In the long run, this can turn out to be a lifelong problem that may further strain healthcare systems.
We can also link sexual immorality to the increasing spate of violence, and the crazy part is that with how frequently these violent acts occur, society becomes desensitized to such behavior. Unfortunately, vulnerable people like women and children suffer the most from this violence because they may be unable to defend themselves properly.
So, like a merry-go-round, sexual immorality can come around to bite us.
Benefits of Sexual Purity
Sexual purity, which can be through abstinence, celibacy, sex inside marriage, or purging our minds of sexual thoughts, is a powerful force that can help us resist the allure of sexual immorality. This will aid our spiritual growth and deepen our faith and understanding.
A life of purity will also shield us from the emotional and mental distress caused by engaging in sexually immoral behavior. By avoiding the pitfalls of unhealthy relationships and immoral actions, we safeguard ourselves from the anguish that often accompanies such experiences.
This protection allows for emotional stability, preserving our hearts from being shattered or irreparably damaged.
Avoiding sexual sin further instills self-control and a sense of self-respect and confidence in us. Freed from the shackles of shame and disgust that typically follow sin, we can enjoy the heavenly bliss and peace that comes with honoring God.
In our attempts to lead a life of purity, it is vital we recognize the warning signs of sexual sins. We can do this by being discreet and watchful in our affairs.
Once you find yourself asking how close you can get to the edge, there is trouble around the corner. Attempts to justify actions that go against our moral compass indicate that we may already be falling into temptation.
Compromises, whether in the form of subtle flirting or pushing boundaries, also act as warning signs. The Holy Spirit in us serves as our inner morality light or signal. So, whenever you find yourself flirting with temptation, it sends off alarms to lead you back to the light.
More importantly, you must also understand the root cause of your struggle with sexual immorality. We know from the fall of Adam and Eve that human nature is susceptible to temptation. Societal influences, media promotion of suggestive content, and demonic attacks are potential factors that can contribute to the struggle.
By recognizing these factors, we become more vigilant and prayerfully seek God’s guidance on the journey to victory.
The Biblical Guide to Living a Pure Life
Fighting sexual immorality and lust is a common struggle many of us as Christians face. Still, the Bible gives us hope and guidance for resisting temptation and living victorious.
The first step to living a pure life where sexuality is concerned is to recognize that it is God’s will that we meekly acknowledge our helplessness. God can’t help anyone who feels they are strong in themselves to defeat sin. We must come to the end of ourselves and request God’s help.
Another recommendation of God’s Word is to renew our minds consistently.
Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)
As we fill our minds with the all-powerful Word of God, it will permeate our thoughts and desires, empowering us to resist temptation and pursue purity. Internalize the God’s Word as a shield against sin (Psalm 119:10-13).
You will also benefit greatly from abstaining from triggers like sexually arousing movies, websites, or even people. This proactive step aligns with the biblical instruction to flee from sexual immorality in 1 Corinthians 6:18.
For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4)
Colossians 3:5 builds on this by issuing a straightforward command to actively eliminate all desires that lead to sexual immorality. So, set clear boundaries, and don’t rely on your strength to resist.
An accountability network can also help in this regard. Find trusted friends and mentors who can serve as pillars of strength and encouragement as you walk your way to victory. By actively engaging with fellow believers, we can find strength and support in our shared journey towards overcoming temptation.
