In 1st Thessalonians 4:3 Paul reminds us, “It is God’s will that (we) should be sanctified.” This is a continuing process. We’re tempted to compromise and conform to what is common and accepted by the world. Even if we’ve committed ourselves totally to be what God wants us to be, there’s always the possibility of failure.
One area common to fail in is sexually. God created all of us as sexual creatures. Sex is therefore holy. It’s also natural, a part of God’s plan for both reproduction and personal enrichment and enjoyment within marriage.
But we also see it outside of marriage. In fact, it was so prevalent in the pagan society of the first century the edict coming out of the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:29 demands that sexual immorality be avoided.
Paul amplified this, demanding, “Keep completely separate from.” He goes on to describe sexual immorality in verse 5, “Passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God.” According to the Wycliffe Bible Commentary, “This implies the willful desire to yield to base sexual drives.”
The challenge is to make the right choice. What is that choice? Clear and simple, it is this: Within marriage alone sex is a way to express love and affection, to intimately give yourself to the enrichment and enjoyment of the one loved, and to participate in the reproduction of life.
Does your life conform to this standard? Do a reality check.
