PDF A Study on Sexual Purity - Seek, Grow, Serve, Love

A Study on Sexual Purity

The following is a Bible study that discusses the importance of sexual purity in the life of a Christian. Satan will try anything he can to destroy us, and this is one of his favorite tools to use against every one of us. As your elders, we want you to consider the importance of sexual purity for you and your family, especially with respect to relationships, television programs, movies, reading material, and recreation. Sexual purity is an important topic, not only for our young people, but for all of us. None of us is immune to the temptations that Satan will throw at us. Those of us who are parents should study this with our children of appropriate age, seeking the Bible's answers, direction and strength. We encourage you to look up these passages in your own Bible. The NIV text is provided as a convenience (1984 version, except where noted). If we can pray with any of you, or assist you in any way, please let us know. If you are a woman and would prefer to speak with another woman, we ask that you contact our wives. In any case, do not let Satan get a foothold in your life. Know that the elders love each of you, and we pray that God will continue to watch over all of us and our families. The elders

Revision 1.0.7 of January 18, 2015

Introduction

Definitions

What is "sexual immorality" as is mentioned in the Bible? It is a number of things, to be sure. Let's start by taking a look at the word in the original Greek, and what that word meant. Here is what the Enhanced Strong's Greek Lexicon says:

4202 [porneia /por?ni?ah/] n f. From 4203; occurrences; AV translates as "fornication" 26 times. 1 illicit sexual intercourse. 1A adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc. 1B sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18. 1C sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11,12. 2 metaph. the worship of idols. 2A of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols.1

Notice that "sexual immorality" is the word porneia, the root of the word pornography, which essentially means the depiction or written description of illicit acts for the purpose of sexual enticement. Pornography today is found on television, the internet, in printed material, in theatres, on smart phones, and even on the radio.

Another word the Bible uses in discussing sexual purity is "lewdness", also sometimes translated as "lasciviousness" or "debauchery". The Strong's reference on this word is:

766 [aselgeia /as?elg?i?a/] n f. From a compound of 1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed selges (of uncertain derivation, but apparently meaning continent); Nine occurrences; AV translates as "lasciviousness" six times, "wantonness" twice, and "filthy" once. 1 unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence.2

n n: noun or neuter f f: feminine AV Authorized Version 1Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the test of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurrence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (G4202). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship. AV Authorized Version 2Strong, J. (1996). ibid (G766).

A Study of Sexual Purity

Page 2

Some of these words may not be familiar to us, but notice that "lewdness" refers to unbridled lust, excess, and shamelessness. These are things we can all understand.

So when the Bible speaks of sexual immorality or impurity, it essentially is referring to thoughts and activities which are outside of God's purposes and teachings regarding our sexuality. With this background, let's take a look at the scriptures, to see what God's purposes and teachings are for us.

God's plan for a man and a woman

1 Corinthians 7:2-4 (NIV 2011) 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife,m and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.3

With whom should a man have sexual relations?

With whom should a woman have sexual relations?

When you are married, to whom does your body belong?

Are the husband and the wife to meet each other's sexual needs within their marriage?

God's plan was that the sexual relationship be reserved for marriage between a man and a woman. Along with all of the other ways they are to help each other, they are to meet each other's sexual needs as well.

So often the struggle comes before marriage, when young people who are sexually mature face the challenges of keeping themselves pure. But don't think that the problem of impurity evaporates at the altar. Satan will try to destroy our relationship with our spouse through a variety of temptations. Not only should we learn to exercise self control and discipline in our lives before marriage, but we must also guard our hearts and actions once we are married.

m Ex 21: 10; 1 Pe 3:7 3 The New International Version. (2011). (1 Co 7:2?4). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

A Study of Sexual Purity

Page 3

Turning to God's Word

The source of the problem

Matthew 15:19 2For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Where does sexual impurity originate? What other things can originate in our heart? Understanding this, why is it important for us to be careful about our thoughts?

How can our thoughts of another man or woman be influenced by our following them on Facebook or communicating with them by email, texting, or sending them Facebook messages?

Mark 7:20-23 20"What comes out of a man is what makes him `unclean.' 21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man `unclean.'"

What really makes us unclean or impure - what people see on the outside, or what is on the inside?

What are deceit, lewdness, and folly, and why are they listed with sexual immorality, theft, murder and adultery?

1 John 2:16 16 For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world.

Do sinful cravings come from God?

Where do sinful things come from?

A Study of Sexual Purity

Page 4

Our behavior

Romans 13:13-14 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

From the passage, how are we to behave?

How are we to be clothed?

Are we to be thinking about ways to gratify our sinful nature?

Acts 15:29 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.

What things were the new Gentile Christians told to avoid?

1 Corinthians 5:1-2 1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?

What was the sexual immorality that the Corinthian church was facing?

How were the Corinthians dealing with this problem?

How did Paul say that should have handled the problem?

Ephesians 5:3-5 3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

How much sexual immorality should a Christian have in their life?

Is it proper for God's people to be involved in sexual immorality or impurity?

What other things did Paul say were out of place in a Christian's life?

A Study of Sexual Purity

Page 5

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download