Day 14 – As always, God’s Plan is Best
Read: I Thessalonians 4: 1 – 12
Many of the early churches, including the one at Thessalonica, were planted in cultures where sexual perversion was rampant. Sexual perversion in social settings and even sex as part of worship in temples was often considered normal. The established order that God created for the expression of his gift of sex was to be within a marriage of one man and one woman. As always, God’s way is best and any expression of sex outside the marriage relationship is a perversion of His gift.
Paul wrote to many of the early churches and he dealt with sexual immorality as he challenged them to holy living. (I Thessalonians 4: 3 – 8; I Corinthians 6: 18 – 20; Romans 1: 26 – 27). Sexual immorality is a broad term, encompassing any illicit sexual activity outside the marriage relationship of one man, one woman.
Lust may be a strong desire for anything. But in sexual contexts, lust is defined as “the sinful desire for illicit sex.” Lust is forbidden by Scripture because it gives birth to sin, which leads to death (I Thessalonians 4:5; Matt. 5:28; Rom. 13:13, James 1:14-15, I Peter 4:3).
Adultery is extramarital sex. It is strictly condemned in the Scriptures. The seriousness of this sin is demonstrated by its inclusion in the Ten Commandments (Ex 20:14) and by warranting the death penalty under Old Testament law (Lev. 20:10). Proverbs states that it “destroys” the guilty party’s soul (Prov. 6:32).
Incest, sex with a close relative other than one’s spouse, is prohibited and said to be worthy of the sentence of death (Lev. 18:6-20; 20:11-12, Lev. 20:17; Deut. 27:20, Deut. 27:22-23)
Homosexuality, sex with a person of one’s own gender, is condemned in no uncertain terms in several Old and New Testament passages (Lev. 18:22; Lev. 20:13; Rom. 1:26-27; I Cor. 6:9; I Tim. 1:10).
Bestiality is sex with an animal. This sexually deviant behavior is outlawed in the Bible. It was punished with death in ancient Israel (Ex. 22:19; Lev. 18:23; Lev. 20:15-16; Deut. 27:21).
Sex within marriage is viewed as a good gift from God to be enjoyed and celebrated by both husband and wife (Prov. 5:15 – 20; Heb. 13:4).
Proper handling of God’s gift requires choosing not to lust (Job 31:1), walking under the control of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16-25), and fleeing sexual temptations and pursuing righteousness (2 Tim. 2:22).