FORNICATORS AND ADULTERERS GOD WILL JUDGE
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
In today’s society, the honor and sanctity of marriage is under constant attack...
In today’s society, the honor and sanctity of marriage is under constant attack...
Divorce is acceptable, made easy through “no-fault” laws
Adultery is considered normal, faithfulness to one’s spouse as unrealistic
Among religious and political leaders, many say that standards against sexual immorality are antiquated
Even in the church, sexual immorality is a major problem as evidenced by...
Even in the church, sexual immorality is a major problem as evidenced by...
The high number of divorces among Christians
The frequent reports sexual failings among preachers, elders, and other Christians
This is not to say there are not those who still hold marriage in high esteem...
This is not to say there are not those who still hold marriage in high esteem...
Many people still believe sex is for marriage, and marriage is for life
I am sure that this is the belief of everyone in this audience
In truth, our culture today is not that much different from the society of the first century...
In truth, our culture today is not that much different from the society of the first century...
Where divorce and remarriage was rampant (women were known to date events by their husbands; e.g., “Yes, that happened during husband #5.”)
Fornication was acceptable, adultery barely frowned upon
But Christianity offers a true contrast of standards regarding morality...
But Christianity offers a true contrast of standards regarding morality...
Through clear and unequivocal teaching...
9 Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; 4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
The same sort of teaching is needed today, which is why we need to carefully heed the text of today’s lesson:
4 Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Why should we honor marriage, and keep the “marriage bed” (a euphemism for marital relations) pure?
Why should we honor marriage, and keep the “marriage bed” (a euphemism for marital relations) pure?
Because God will judge those who violate it!
To see how, let’s first define some terms
DISCUSSION
DEFINITION OF TERMS
DEFINITION OF TERMS
“Fornicators”
“Fornicators”
The Greek word is pornos, from which we get “pornography”
It is a general word unlawful and immoral sexual relationships
It includes any kind of sex outside of marriage: premarital, extramarital (adultery),
homosexual, etc.
“Adulterers”
“Adulterers”
The Greek word is moichos {moy-khos’}
It means to have unlawful intercourse with another’s wife or husband (Thayer)
This may be while they are still married...
Or even AFTER they are divorced if not for the right reason -
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.
So a person can be guilty of adultery either:
By having relations with another’s spouse
By marrying someone who either:
Did not put their first spouse away for fornication
Or was put away by their spouse for ANY reason
“God”
“God”
The Supreme Being, eternal and holy...Revelation 4:8
Omniscient and Omnipresent Psalm 139:1-12
Loving, yet just - cf. John 3:16; Hebrews 10:30-31; 12:29
“Will Judge”
“Will Judge”
The Greek word is krino
“the act of condemning and decreeing (or inflicting) penalty on one” (Thayer)
Marriage should be held in honor, because the Bible makes it clear that God will condemn and somehow inflict penalty on those who are fornicators and adulterers who do not repent!
WHY GOD WILL JUDGE FORNICATORS AND ADULTERERS
WHY GOD WILL JUDGE FORNICATORS AND ADULTERERS
Because they destroy the lives of others
Because they destroy the lives of others
They destroy marriages
Either their own, by their infidelity (trust is often destroyed)
Or others, by committing adultery with another’s spouse
Sexual immorality is a major cause of divorce, which God hates...
16 For I hate putting away, saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, and him that covereth his garment with violence, saith Jehovah of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
Fornicators and Adulterers destroy families
Where divorce occurs, families are shattered
The children usually suffer the most, often with severe emotional problems throughout their lives
Jesus warned about despising the needs of children...
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me: 6 but whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.
Fornicators and Adulterers destroy friendships
Read carefully...
30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal To satisfy himself when he is hungry: 31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; He shall give all the substance of his house. 32 He that committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding: He doeth it who would destroy his own soul. 33 Wounds and dishonor shall he get; And his reproach shall not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy is the rage of a man; And he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; Neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to restore good friendships after one has violated another’s spouse
God will judge fornicators and adulterers because they destroy their own lives
God will judge fornicators and adulterers because they destroy their own lives
Read carefully...
1 My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding: 2 That thou mayest preserve discretion, And that thy lips may keep knowledge. 3 For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil: 4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on Sheol; 6 So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, and she knoweth it not. 7 Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me, And depart not from the words of my mouth. 8 Remove thy way far from her, And come not nigh the door of her house; 9 Lest thou give thine honor unto others, And thy years unto the cruel; 10 Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, And thy labors be in the house of an alien, 11 And thou mourn at thy latter end, When thy flesh and thy body are consumed, 12 And say, How have I hated instruction, And my heart despised reproof; 13 Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me! 14 I was well-nigh in all evil In the midst of the assembly and congregation.
You lose your honor (your reputation is destroyed)
You lose your wealth (ever hear of alimony?)
You lose your health (via STDs, perhaps even AIDS)
Adultery and fornication is indeed a sin against your own body...
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
There is emotional damage (wracking guilt)
There is social damage (ostracized by others)
There is physical damage (venereal disease)
God will judge fornicators and adulterers because those who are Christians are especially guilty
God will judge fornicators and adulterers because those who are Christians are especially guilty
They have taken members of the body of Christ and made them members of a harlot...
15 Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid. 16 Or know ye not that he that is joined to a harlot is one body? for, The twain, saith he, shall become one flesh.
They have their body, a temple of the Holy Spirit, and given it to a child of the devil...
19 Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; 20 for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.
As Christians, who have been...
Made in the image of God
Redeemed by the blood of Jesus
Made a temple of the Holy Spirit
...they have allowed their lusts to bring them as low as animals!
When God’s highest creation, because of purely selfish reasons, destroys marriages, families, friendship, even their own selves, we can understand why God will judge such, and why Paul wrote what he did to the Corinthians:
When God’s highest creation, because of purely selfish reasons, destroys marriages, families, friendship, even their own selves, we can understand why God will judge such, and why Paul wrote what he did to the Corinthians:
9 Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
HOW GOD WILL JUDGE FORNICATORS AND ADULTERERS
HOW GOD WILL JUDGE FORNICATORS AND ADULTERERS
He will judge in the future
He will judge in the future
They will not inherit the kingdom of God
9 Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
5 For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them;
They will suffer eternal torment
8 But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.
But He also judges in the present
But He also judges in the present
They become God’s enemies...
4 Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.
As such, they are estranged of God’s fellowship, care and love
True peace and joy cannot be theirs
They receive in their own bodies what they rightfully deserve...
24 Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves: 25 for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.
Those who engage in such immorality do indeed “receive in themselves the penalty of their error” (e.g., syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, aids)
But such is only a foretaste of the torment fornicators and adulterers will receive!
CONCLUSION
There are many good reasons to honor marriage and keep the “marriage bed” undefiled...
There are many good reasons to honor marriage and keep the “marriage bed” undefiled...
The bond between a man and a woman whose relationship is built upon trust and love
The joy, peace, and love that children in a strong family enjoy, and deserve
The value of strong families in shaping our communities in which we live
But we have focused on God’s judgment on those who destroy this important fabric of our society, and how it gives new meaning to the phrase “be sure your sin will find you out” (Num 32:23)...
But we have focused on God’s judgment on those who destroy this important fabric of our society, and how it gives new meaning to the phrase “be sure your sin will find you out” (Num 32:23)...
It is almost impossible to keep immorality secret
Physical infirmities will more than likely bring it to the surface eventually
Or loose lips will!
Even if one succeeds in hiding their immorality in this life, not so in the life to come!
To close on a more positive note, let’s offer some hope for those who have been guilty of adultery and fornication...
To close on a more positive note, let’s offer some hope for those who have been guilty of adultery and fornication...
You may not be able to escape the physical consequences of your actions
But you can be forgiven, and escape the eternal consequences!
As Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, a city known for it loose morals...
9 Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
Have you been “washed”, “sanctified”, and “justified” in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God? (cf. Ac 2:38; 22:16; Ti 3:5)
Have you been “washed”, “sanctified”, and “justified” in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God? (cf. Ac 2:38; 22:16; Ti 3:5)