Abstain from Sexual Immorality - Norwalk church of Christ

Mark E. Larson

Abstain from Sexual Immorality

Introduction: The Allurement of Fornication.
A. There is an epidemic in our society, the ever increasing practice of fornication.
1. Like the days of the Greek -Roman culture which involved sexual
immoralities and perversions of all kinds, our nation is obsessed with sex!

2. Sexual immorality is promoted by way of music, movies, TV,
commercials, advertising, magazines, novels, the Internet, and the like.

3. Sexual immoralities such as premarital sex, adultery, and homosexual
sex is being regarded as acceptable customs or behaviors of society.

B. Unfortunately, the children of God are not exempt from such temptations.
1. Due to our carnal surroundings, we may find ourselves influenced and
even swayed by the world if we are not careful.
2. Sadly enough, some brethren have fallen away from the Lord because
they did not guard themselves against the temptations of sexual
immorality.
3. Many have tried to live a double life by acting religious or spiritual
while engaging in unlawful relations at the same time!
4. Such individuals are hypocrites who deceive themselves and forfeit
eternal life.

I. Abstaining from Fornication (Sexual Immorality) is God’s Will.
A. Excelling at pleasing God (1 Thes. 4:1-2).
1. Christians are meant to excel or “super-bound” in pleasing God in their
conduct.
2. Our spiritual growth is not to be stagnate but an ever increasing
commitment to God’s commands given through the Lord Jesus (which
includes sexual purity; v 3)

B. Sanctification (holiness) demands abstinence (1 Thes. 4:3).
1. God’s will for our lives; our purification before the Lord is to totally
abstain from fornication (your bodies is “dead” to fornication - Col. 3:5).

2. Fornication is unlawful intercourse: premarital sex, adultery,
homosexual acts.

a. Sex before marriage or outside of marriage is sin (Heb. 13:4).
b. Marital sex between a man and a woman is pure and honorable
in the sight of God, anything else is not.

3. If we are to be holy as He is holy (our “sanctification), if we are to be
separate from the world and its sin, if we are to be pure, then we must
make a clean cut from sexual immorality (1 Thes. 4:3).

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Mark E. Larson

C. Abstinence starts at the heart (Mark 7:20-23).
1. Let us not deceive ourselves into believing that we are without guilt
when we have sexually immoral thoughts within our heart! (Mt. 5:27-28).
2. The lusting over others is not harmless, innocent fun. Fanning the flame
of sexual lust can lead to committing fornication (James 1:14-15).
3. If we are to completely abstain from fornication, we must do all we can
to eliminate temptation (e.g. entertainment, pornography, recreation, etc.).

D. Let us not run to fornication but rather flee from it! (1 Cor. 6:18).
1. We must always be wise about our relationships with others and be
careful not to put ourselves into compromising situations with others.

Examples: (1) Coworkers (2) Neighbors (3) Classmates (4) “Brethren” (1 Tim. 5:1-2).
2. No one is immune (e.g. preachers, deacons, elders, all) (1 Cor. 10:12).

II. Know How to Possess Your Own Vessel in Sanctification and Honor.
A. Christians should know how to control their own bodies (1 Thes. 4:4).

1. Christians, of all people in this world, should know how to possess their
bodies; meaning they should know how to gain mastery or control over
their bodies.

2. How do you “possess your own vessel” (control your body) according to
the Scriptures? (1 Cor 9:24-27)

a. You are to discipline your body and make it your slave so that
your sexual desires or bodily appetites are carefully controlled at
all times (You call the shots, not your body!).

a. Such bodily discipline is a matter of eternal life or death.
b. There is an ongoing battle between the flesh and the
Spirit; we must choose to walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-17).

b. Christians are to be devoted to bearing the fruit of the Holy
Spirit which includes “self-control in all things” (Gal. 5:22-23).

c. Developing greater self-control is essential to guarding against
the temptation to commit fornication (1 Cor. 7:2-5).

d. Focus upon God’s word is absolutely essential (Ps. 119:9).

e. You look for the “way of escape” and avoid fornication at all
costs (1 Cor. 10:13; e.g. Gen. 39:12).

3. Possessing your own vessel includes what you put on your vessel or the
clothing that you wear, lest you entice others to sin (e.g. Prov. 7:10).

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Mark E. Larson

B. Control your body in a way that is holy and honorable (1 Thes. 4:4).
1. Contrary to popular belief, fornication is an unclean and dishonorable
way to use your body!

Example: Sexual purity today is scoffed at much like the Greek-Roman culture who did
not think of fornication as “immoral” but as an acceptable normal practice and custom.

2. No matter what others say, use your body for the Lord in all holiness!
3. Use your body in an “honorable” way (cf. Heb. 13:4).

a. Sexual relations within a lawful God-approved marriage is
honorable and pure in the sight of the Lord.
4. Treat your body with honor and respect as having value as God’s
“temple” (1 Cor 6:15-20). You belong to Him!

C. Your body should not be dominated by lust as if you weren’t a Christian!
1. Most people submit to every sexual appetite their body has (2 Tim. 3:1-
4) (“Anything goes” society – “If it feels good do it”; e.g. wild animals).

2. To allow your body to fall victim to lustful passion is to behave like the
Gentiles or heathen who do not know God! (1 Thes. 4:5; 1 John 2:4).

Examples: (1) Young people and premarital sex. / “Hooking up” or one-night stands.
(2) Adulterous relationships at the workplace. (3) “Scandals” in the news - Leaders or
evangelists and members committing fornication (1 Cor. 5:1).

3. You who are supposed to know God; you who should know God by
keeping His commandments, should know better than that!
4. Christians are not to behave like the world; we are better than that!
III. Fornication (Sexual Immorality) Leads to Severe Consequences.
A. We often hurt others in the process (1 Thes. 4:6a).
1. Fornication always involves transgressing against others - overstepping
or going beyond the proper limits in a relationship.
2. Fornication is to do wrong to another person, to defraud, take advantage
of, and in many cases exploit the person.
3. The warning not to “defraud” your brother may specifically be in
reference to committing adultery.

a. To commit adultery is to defraud your brother - to corrupt and
defile the wife of another, even to steal her affections away from
her husband.
b. Many a marriages and homes have been wrecked by the
destruction of the adulterer or adulteress!
B. We jeopardize our souls for eternal punishment (1 Thes. 4:6b)
1. God will carry out justice; He will avenge; let’s us heed the warning!
(Eph. 5:5-6).

Conclusion: The Call for Holiness must not be rejected by the Christian.
A. Remember your calling to be holy (1 Thes. 4:7; 1 Pet. 1:16).
B. To reject the command for sexual purity, you reject God Himself (1 Thes. 4:8).

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