Dealing With Worldliness

1. Dealing With Worldliness The Sin of Fornication W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

2. Dealing With Worldliness What Is Worldliness? 1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV) Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. [17] And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

3. Dealing With Worldliness The Sin of Fornication • TV Sitcoms – • Movies – • TV commercials – • Music – • Internet - • Comics – • Books - • Magazines – • Sales papers – • Art displays - • Education - • General Attitude - We are living in an environment where sexual immorality is accepted – advertised and promoted! • Not a new problem - W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

4. Dealing With Worldliness The Sin of Fornication Sex becomes more common in the later teenage years. By age 15, only 13% of teens have ever had sex. However, by the time they reach age 19, seven in 10 teens have engaged in sexual intercourse. • Abma JC et al., Teenagers in the United States: sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing, 2002, Vital and Health Statistics, 2004, Series 23, No. 24. W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

5. Dealing With Worldliness The Sin of Fornication To Define Fornication: “Properly of illicit sexual intercourse in general” (Thayer) Adultery: “To have unlawful intercourse with another’s wife” (Thayer) Fornication Adultery Sexual Intercourse Beforeor Outside of Marriage - Heb. 13:4 W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

6. Dealing With Worldliness The Sin of Fornication Old Testament Forbidden - (Exo. 20:14) Punishable by death (Lev. 20:10) Heinous Crime, Wickedness (Job. 31:11) New Testament Sin – Will keep us out of Heaven 1 Cor. 6:9-11 Gal. 5:19-21 Eph 5:5,6 Rev. 21:8 Rev. 22:15 God Will Judge, i.e. Condemn - Heb. 13:4 W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

7. Dealing With Worldliness The Sin of Fornication • Against body - 1 Cor. 6:12-20 • Destroys reputation & respect for self - Job. 31:12; Prov. 5:9; 6:27, 33 W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

8. Dealing With Worldliness The Sin of Fornication “Having premarital sex was the most horrifying experience of my life. It wasn’t at all the emotionally satisfying experience the world deceived me into believing. I felt as if my insides were being exposed and my heart was left unattended. I know that God has forgiven me of this haunting sin, but I also know I can never have my virginity back. I dread the day that I have to tell the man I truly love and wish to marry that he is not the only one – though I wish he were. I have stained my life – a stain that will never come out.” W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

9. Dealing With Worldliness The Sin of Fornication “If I could have read Josh McDowell’s article ‘Helping Teens Say No to Sex’ when I was a teenager, perhaps I would not have given in so many times back then. Even after I became a Christian and knew God forbade premarital sex, the old habit was hard to break. Now I am a wife and mother and am still haunted by my past. It hurts to realize that the most precious gift I could have given my husband on our wedding day – a pure wife – was not possible.” W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

10. Dealing With Worldliness The Sin of Fornication • Against body - 1 Cor. 6:12-20 • Destroys reputation & respect for self - Job. 31:12; Prov. 5:9; 6:27, 33 • Harms others – 1 Cor. 5:6 • Creates jealousy - Prov. 6:34-35 • Can destroy marriage - Matt. 19:9 • Stirs the wrath of God - Col. 3:6 • Brings disfellowship - 1 Cor. 5 • Breeds other sins - 2 Sam. 11 • Sends soul to hell - Rev. 21:8 W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

11. Dealing With Worldliness The Sin of Fornication How It Happens • Fail to grow spiritually & relationally - (With God & Mate) • Careless – (2 Sam. 11:1-5; Prov. 5:8; 7:6-23) • Heed the looks of the eyes – (Prov. 6:24-25) • Listen to the flattery / lies – (Prov. 6:24-25; 7:15, 21) • Encouraged by society (music, TV, movies, books, associates). W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

12. Dealing With Worldliness The Sin of Fornication How To Stay Pure • Say “No” - Gen. 39:8, 10 • Remember it is a sin - Gen. 39:9 • Watch behavior around the opposite sex - Gen. 39:11 • Get married - 1 Cor. 7:2 • Be what you ought to be in the marriage - 1 Cor. 7:2-5 • Keep thoughts pure - Prov. 6:25 • Run - literally! - Gen. 39:12 (cf. Prov. 5:8) W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

13. Dealing With Worldliness The Sin of Fornication Must Flee . . . 1 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV) 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

14. Dealing With Worldliness The Sin of Fornication Must Flee . . . Ephesians 5:3 (NKJV) 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

15. Dealing With Worldliness The Sin of Fornication Must Flee . . . 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NKJV) 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

16. Dealing With Worldliness It Is A Sin What It Does How It Happens How To Keep From Falling The Sin of Fornication W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

17. Dealing With Worldliness Fornication is NEVER “harmless” act or a “healthy release.” It is ALWAYS offensive to God. It is always corrosive to our well being! The Sin of Fornication W. 65th St. church of Christ / March 29, 2009

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