LOG LANE COMMUNITY CHURCH WEEKLY BULLETIN
Sunday, August 20, 2006
What the Church Believes - Sexual Purity
[Continued from 8/13]

Why is maintaining sexual purity so vital to the life of a Christian?
What constitutes sexual immorality? According to the Bible it includes adultery, fornication, homosexuality, incest, prostitution, rape, and lust. The popular culture around us is suggesting with a loud voice that anything short of sexual intercourse is not sex and therefore not sinning. But that definition of sex does not line up with the Bible. Jesus said, “Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” [Matt. 5:28].

The biblical word to younger singles is “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” [2 Tim. 2:22] Sexually stimulating touch and physical intimacy between a man and a woman are part of the natural progression that in marriage leads to intercourse. Engaging in such activity before entering into a lifetime commitment of marriage is lust rather than love. It is selfish gratification of one’s own pleasure rather than a proper concern for the welfare of the partner. God is able to help young couples desiring a committed Christian marriage to preserve themselves for a beautiful marriage of trust and faithfulness.

Control of the mind and its wandering thoughts is the key to sexual purity in dating and courtship. If the mind dwells on immediate physical gratification, the chances for a loving, committed marriage are greatly reduced. But if dating is seen as a time of getting to know the person who lives inside the body, rather than exploring the body, the possibility of a permanent Christian marriage can become a reality that God can bless.

The apostle Paul was fully aware of the temptations that can lead one into sexual impurity and sin. He warned Timothy, a young man, at least three times. “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” [1 Tim. 4:12].

Timothy was admonished to relate to women in a pure manner, “older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity” [1 Tim. 5:2] And again, “Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure” [[1 Tim. 5:22]. God has promised great reward to those who behave with purity because their hearts are pure-“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” [Matt. 5:8].

Concerns:
The absorption of today’s society with sex and sexual stimulation is fast approaching the degradation of societies that God has had to judge and destroy in the past. Only a wholehearted commitment to sexual purity by our Christian youth will restrain the headlong plunge toward social self-destruction. Yet the evil influences of pagan attitudes toward sex and relationships subtly affect even the church world. One can easily reason, if “everyone is doing it” and no judgment has fallen, maybe biblicial standards are outmoded and outdated. But God’s standards of morality have not changed, and He blesses those who obey His wise rules set up for our preservation and welfare. Sexual purity before and throughout marriage is God’s plan for mankind. As always, His way pays rich dividends, often in the form of successful lifelong marriage unions.

Memory Verse
Romans 8:15 (NKJV)
¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

Romans 8:15 (LBLA)
¹⁵ Pues no habéis recibido un espíritu de esclavitud para volver otra vez al temor, sino que habéis recibido un espíritu de adopción como hijos, por el cual clamamos: ¡Abba, Padre!

Log Lane Community Church - Past Weekly Bulletins
July 30, 2006