Something that has been heavy on my heart in recent days is the lack of concern by CHRISTians, and especially "holy people," regarding fornication also known as premarital sex. Apostle Paul made it clear in 1 Corinthians 6:18 that fornication is a sin:
"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body."
And, also, again in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9:
"I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."
Paul preached God's Word to the Romans, about why God sent these things to befall them:
Romans 1:25-29
25 "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,"
As we can see from the new testament Scripture above, fornication is still considered a sin by Jesus. We know fornication, or sex in general, oftentimes leads to pregnancy, unwanted or otherwise, and that sin often leads to other sin.
When a child is conceived to unmarried parents, it is more likely that that child will grow up without discipline from a father figure, and, therefore, be unruly and disobedient.
"He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." Proverbs 13:24
And, since the child was conceived through fornication, which is unGodly, it is likely that he will also grow up without God in his life, which is a travesty, for him and his future generations.
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6
There are many Scriptures that tell us that children are precious to the Lord,
"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Psalm 127:3
But He does not tolerate disobedient children:
"For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death." Matthew 15:4
"Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:" Ephesians 2:2
"Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." Ephesians 5:6
After having considered God's Word from Jesus and His apostle Paul on the subject of fornication, we come to the crux of the matter: Fornication is a sin, and it often leads to other sin.
God said in Deuteronomy 23:2:
"A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord."
What is a bastard? "A person born to parents not married to each other," through "fornication."
Paul further says in 1 Corinithians 7:2:
"Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband."
But do not despair. People are not doomed to be cursed and burn. Our God is just to forgive our sins:
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Does this mean that we can keep sinning because we are forgiven of everything forever?
The answer is in Luke 13:3, where Jesus says, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
What does it mean to repent? Is not repenting the same as asking for forgiveness of sins? No. To repent is to "turn away from" . . . sin. In other words, to sin NO MORE. To live our lives as our forefathers, the apostles, Jesus Christ himself, righteously, with all glory and praise to God, our father.
In contrast, asking God for forgiveness is telling Him that we know we have sinned, and asking for forgiveness for those sins.
Does this mean that we can continue to sin as long as we keep asking Him to forgive our sins? The Scriptures make it clear sin is not forgiven forever. We are expected to repent, to turn away from sin.
"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins," Hebrews 10:26
Courtesy of:
biblehub.com/commentaries/hebrews/10-26.htm
Commentary of Hebrews 10:26
In Hebrews 10:25, there was manifested a lukewarmness in Christianity, which might lead to apostasy therefrom. In warning notes, therefore, the author points out that the man who knowingly slights recognized Christian truth, and sins against it, will infallibly be overtaken by the punitive judgment of God."
And, we know that we (believers) will stand in the judgment seat of Christ, and have to give an account of ourselves to God!
Romans 14
10 But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you again, why do you look down on your [believing] brother or regard him with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God [who alone is judge].
11 For it is written [in Scripture],
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall give praise to God.”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God."
And, in Matthew 3:8-10, Jesus says:
8 "Change your hearts! [repent] And show by the way you live that you have changed.
9 I know what you are thinking. You want to say, ‘but Abraham is our father!’ That means nothing. I tell you, God could make children for Abraham from these rocks.
10 The ax is now ready to cut down the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
Amen.
Our Prayer for You Today:
Psalm 51:1-19
1 "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar."
Praise God! Amen!
