Website owner:  James Miller

Biblical attitude on adultery and fornication


                   

   What is the attitude of Christianity, as revealed by the 
   writings of the New Testament, on the subject of adultery and 
   fornication?  I ask this question because I have reason to 
   believe that there are a great many people who regard 
   themselves as Christians who have a very liberal outlook on 
   this subject i.e. they regard it as a rather trivial matter, 
   minor sin, perhaps.  What is the attitude found in the New 
   Testament on this subject?  Let us look at some of the 
   scripture. 

      Gal 5:19-21   Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which 
      are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, 
      lasciviousness, {20} Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, 
      emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, {21} 
      Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; 
      of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in 
      time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit 
      the kingdom of God. 

      Eph 5:3-12   But fornication, and all uncleanness, or 
      covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as 
      becometh saints; {4} Neither filthiness, nor foolish 
      talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather 
      giving of thanks. {5} For this ye know, that no whoremonger, 
      nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, 
      hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 
      {6} Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of 
      these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of 
      disobedience. {7} Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 
      {8} For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in 
      the Lord: walk as children of light: {9} (For the fruit of 
      the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 
      {10} Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. {11} And have 
      no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but 
      rather reprove them. {12} For it is a shame even to speak of 
      those things which are done of them in secret. 

      Col 3:5-6  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the 
      earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil 
      concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: {6} For 
      which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children 
      of disobedience: 

      1 Th 4:3-5   For this is the will of God, even your 
      sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: {4} 
      That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel 
      in sanctification and honour; {5} Not in the lust of 
      concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 

      1 Cor 6:9-10   Do you not know that the unrighteous will not 
      inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither 
      fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, 
      nor sodomites, {10} nor thieves, nor covetous, nor 
      drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the 
      kingdom of God. 

      Heb 13:4   Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed 
      undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 

   These are all passages from various letters of Paul to the 
   early Christians.  What outlook or attitude is revealed here 
   towards fornication and adultery?  Consider one of these 
   scripture: 

      Eph 5:3-12   But fornication, and all uncleanness, or 
      covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as 
      becometh saints; {4} Neither filthiness, nor foolish 
      talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather 
      giving of thanks. {5} For this ye know, that no whoremonger, 
      nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, 
      hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 

   I ask this: What does, "let it not be once named among you" 
   mean to you?  Could we paraphrase what he is saying?  Does he 
   not mean, "let not this sin which is so very shameful, so 
   terribly repugnant to God, ever be found among you, as 
   Christians, followers of Christ and servants of the Most High 
   God"?  And what does that say to you about the seriousness of 
   these sins?  

   For those who don't take these sins seriously, all I can say is 
   this:  Who are you kidding?!  You are certainly not kidding 
   God.  The only person you are kidding is yourself.  
   Christianity is not about compliance with some legalistic 
   formula i.e. if you perform this act or ritual you will be 
   saved and go to heaven.  Christianity is about substance.  It 
   is about what you are and how you live.  It is the godly, 
   upright, righteous person who will go to heaven.  Those who 
   live immoral lives will not. 


   Dec 2007




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