Sexual Purity in a Corrupt World

The Scriptures provides this very important reminder for all people: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Thus, with regards to sexual purity, it is not a choice but a decision to reflect the character of Jesus in a sexually charged world.

Listed below are some facts for reflections based on the apostle Paul’s admonitions (1 Corinthians 10:13):
FACT 1: We will always face temptations, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.” 
FACT 2: God is in control of every situation, “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability...”
FACT 3: There is always an escape from it so don’t worry but overcome it, “…but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it…”

According to 1 John 2:15-17, there are three main sources of depravity in our world today: “For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world.” These three things were evident at the Garden of Eden: “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6). They were evident at the temptation of Jesus: “And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread. "But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you,' and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me" (Matthew 4:3-9).

In this age of so-called “sexual freedom,” how can one who fully adheres to Biblical values and strongly stand against its onslaught? There are important Biblical principles to stand on: (a) Exercise Self-Control: 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 holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5); (b) Intentionally Flee from Obvious Sources of Temptations: Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body (1 Corinthians 6:18); (c) Honor One’s Marriage: Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous (Hebrews 13:4); (d) Get Married and Remain Married: But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband (1 Corinthians 7:2); (e) Take Every Thought Captive: For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5); and most importantly, (f) Always Put On Jesus: But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires (Romans 13:14).

Finally, here’s something to think about from an unknown source: “We cannot choose the surroundings and environment of our work. We cannot even choose the home into which we have been born. If there are those who feel that the Christian life is one of great difficulty for them, but that if only they had a different environment and atmosphere they could be better Christians, let them remember that there were saints in Caesar's household, and saints at Satan's seat in ancient Pergamos.”

Let’s talk again!