Part 3

1. The seventh commandment of the Decalogue is one that is much needed in our loose society.

2. Sexual immorality is so common in our world that purity is often made a joke.

3. It is essential that we study what the holy God of heaven says about sexual immorality.

4. It is His view that really counts, and it behooves us to learn what God teaches about sexual purity.

"Thou shalt not commit adultery"

Exod. 20:14; Deut. 5:l8

1. This commandment was intended to condemn all immorality and maintain the principal of sexual purity.

• It was wrong to lie with a married woman. (Lev. 18:20; 20:10).

• It was wrong to lie with a single person.

• It was wrong to lie with a beast. (Exod. 22:19; Lev. l8:23; 20:15).

• It was wrong to marry one's sister or other near relatives. (Lev. l8:8-18; 22:30).

• It was wrong to lust. (Exod. 20:17; Matt. 5:27,28).

• It was wrong to lie with one of the same gender. (Lev.l8:22; 20:13).

• It condemned rape. (Exod. 22:16).

• It condemned prostitution. (Deut. l9:29).

2. Adultery was punished by death. (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:21).

3. This commandment did not condemn:

• Polygamy

• Polygamy was not a part of God's original plan for man. (Gen. 2:24).

• It was tolerated. (Gen. 4:23). See Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.

• Divorce (Deut. 24:1).

4. Adultery (sexual immorality) has always been wrong. (Gen. 19:5,6; 39:7-9; 12:14-20; Rom. 1:26,27).

5. The New Testament condemns sexual immorality. (Gal. 5:19-21; Heb.13:4; l Cor. 6:9,10,11-20).

• Jesus taught "lust" was wrong. (Matt. 5:27,28).

• He taught adultery was first committed in heart (in thought). (Matt. 15:19).

• Jesus taught it was wrong to put away one's mate except for fornication. (Matt. 5:32,33; l9:6,9).

• This was a commandment given to Christians. (1 Cor. 7:10,11).

• Paul taught Jesus legislated for believers, and he legislated for a believer married to an unbeliever. (1 Cor. 7:12-15).

• Neither legislated for two unbelievers in regard to marriage, divorce, and remarriage.

• The New Testament condemns homosexuality. (Rom. 1:26,27; l Cor. 6:9,10; l Tim. l:10).

• The New Testament does not permit polygamy. (Eph. 5:22-33; l Cor. 7:1-5.)

• The words "fornication, adultery" condemn rape, incest, bestiality, etc.

• Christians are to "flee" immorality (l Cor. 6:16; Heb. l3:4), and live pure lives. (Matt. 5:8).

1. We must try to control thoughts. (Prov. 23:7).

2. We must avoid lustful reading materials, movies, etc. (Phil. 4:8).

3. We must flee. (1 Cor. 6:16).

4. We must depend on God. (Jas. 4:7,8; 1 Cor. 10:13).

5. We must remember our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 6:19,20).

Fornication defiles the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Paul did not argue they should abstain from fornication because they might get pregnant (which is possible), but he argued fornication is unthinkable for those whose bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

6. We should remember that sin grieves our God.

7. We should remember that fornication will damn our souls. (Gal. 5:19-21).