1 Coríntios 6

1 Coríntios 6

Ryle: The violation of the seventh commandment is the sin above all others, that, as Hosea says, "takes away the understanding" (Ho4:11). It is the sin that leaves deeper scars upon the soul than any other sin that a man can commit. It is a sin that destroys thousands of young men in every age, and has even overthrown a few of the saints of God in the past. Samson and David are fearful proofs. It is the sin that man dares to smile at, and smooths over using the terms:thrills, love, uncontrollable passions, and natural desires. But it is the sin that the devil rejoices over, for he is the "unclean spirit;" and it is the sin that God abhors, and declares He "will judge" (Heb13:4). Young men, "Flee from sexual immorality" (1Co6:18) if you love life. "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient" (Ep5:6). Flee from the opportunity of it--from the company of those who might draw you into it--from the places where you might be tempted to do it. Read what our Lord says about it in (Mt5:28). Be like the holy servant Job (who feared God & so turned away from evil Job1:1): (Job 31:1). Flee from talking about it. It is one of the things that ought not even be hinted about in conversation. You cannot even touch black grease without getting your hands dirty. Flee from the thoughts of it; resist them, destroy them, pray against them--make any sacrifice rather than give way to them. Imagination is the hotbed where this sin is too often hatched. Guard your thoughts (Pr4:23), and there will be little fear about your actions. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, Every sin that a man does is outside the body may have been another slogan used by the Corinthians to justify their immorality. Paul pointed out that the opposite is true: sexual sin is done against the body, not outside of it. Sexual sin is not the worst possible sin, but it is the most unique in its character. It comes from inside the body, it's bent on personal gratification, and it drives us like no other impulse. And when it's fulfilled, it does have a way of internally destroying a person that no other sin has. Because sexual intimacy is the deepest uniting of two persons, its misuse corrupts on the deepest human level. but the immoral man sins against his own body There is a sense in which sexual sin destroys a person like no other, because it is so intimate and entangling, corrupting on the deepest human level. Not to mention venereal disease, prevalent and devastating even in Paul's day. No sin has greater potential to destroy the body. None of the other sins that Paul has mentioned elsewhere in 1 Corinthians (5:11) actually create a bodily union with a prostitute. To be sure, drunkenness can exclude one from the kingdom of God (6:10) and can cause physical harm to one’s body. Nevertheless, even those sins which can physically harm the body do not, as it were, contaminate the body by a unification with immorality. It is exactly this unique nature and capacity of the body to be both united with Christ and with a prostitute that is illuminated by the Scripture citation of Genesis. A glance is unavoidable. A gaze is avoidable. Staton - Paul does not mean by this that other sins do not harm the self, but no other sin is so filled with the giving of self as this sin. This affects the total self more evidently than other sins. All other sins against the body come from outside the body, but this one begins from inside. All other sins involve the use of something that is external to the body such as drink or food, but this sin involves what is the body. If you linger, You will lust! Related Resource: See Job 31:1 Commentary “I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin? Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry (1 Cor 10:14+) - Flee is not a suggestion but a command in present imperative calling for us to continually depend on the Holy Spirit to obey. This is the second "Flee Command" in this letter, the first being to "Flee Immorality" (also present imperative) (1 Cor 6:18), which is more than a coincidence. Why do I say that? If you scan the Scriptures, you will find that immorality is often closely linked with idolatry (e.g., in the OT read Nu 25:1-3+ = "When Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. These women invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods; then the people ate and bowed down to their gods.Nu 25:1-2NET, in the NT read Rev 2:20+ = "they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols." ) . Idolatry puts something else in place of God and immorality puts self in place of God. Instead of seeking to please God the immoral man or woman in effect worships (commits idolatry) at their own little shrine (their own body) by committing sexual immorality. (See excerpt below) Steve Gallagher describes "sexual idolatry" writing - Deeply embedded within the heart of man is a spiritual altar. Every human has the capacity—no, the need—to worship. The objects of that worship are the things or persons which have taken the preeminent position of importance in the person’s life. Whatever they may be, they cast their looming shadow over all of the other aspects of his life. It is this position in the human heart that God demands to occupy. Jesus said as much when He cited Deuteronomy 6:5 as being the greatest commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) This intimate relationship with Him was to form the basis of all religion. Unfortunately, in his fallen spiritual condition, man’s natural tendency is to give that affection to something else. People prostrate themselves before all kinds of things in this earthly life: careers, homes, personal attractiveness, other people, food, entertainment, sports, drugs, etc. Truth be known, most people have acquired several idols. Even churchgoers crowd God into a secondary or even nonexistent position in their lives. Jesus rightly said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) For many, the powerful human drive for sex becomes the overriding passion of life. Kept in its proper place, sex is a marvelous means for a married couple to physically express their love to each other. However, when a person begins to indulge in some form of illicit sexual behavior, this passion can quickly get out of control. As the neighborhood drug pusher entices someone with free marijuana in order to lead him into hard core drugs, so will Satan subtly lure an unwitting victim into bondage with a few satisfying sexual experiences. Gradually the object of the person’s fantasy—whether it be some particular act (oral sex, orgies, exhibitionism, etc.) or a specific type of person (blonde girl, men, children, etc.)—grows into a monstrous idol which lodges itself within his heart. Over time this ravenous beast takes over and begins to drive the person’s life. Eventually he loses control of how often, with whom, and under what circumstances he will engage in sex. He has become addicted to the euphoria associated with sexual activity in much the same way others become addicted to the high of alcohol or drugs. Thus, his sexuality and capacity to worship become fused into a corrupted, nearly irresistible drive to worship at the altar of sexual idolatry. (At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry - recommended resource if you are wrestling with this "idol") There is no time of day or night, No place on land or sea That God, whose eye is never dim, Does not see you and me. –DJD To know that God sees usv brings both conviction and comfort. Here is a song every man needs to listen to at least once (and watch the accompanying video)... Slow Fade by Casting Crowns Be careful little eyes what you see It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings Be careful little feet where you go For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow It's a slow fade when you give yourself away It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid When you give yourself away People never crumble in a day It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade Be careful little ears what you hear When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near Be careful little lips what you say For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray It's a slow fade when you give yourself away It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid When you give yourself away People never crumble in a day The journey from your mind to your hands Is shorter than you're thinking Be careful if you think you stand You just might be sinking It's a slow fade when you give yourself away It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid When you give yourself away People never crumble in a day Daddies never crumble in a day Families never crumble in a day Oh be careful little eyes what see Oh be careful little eyes what you see For the Father up above is looking down in love Oh be careful little eyes what you see COVENANT WITH MY EYES - Our friend is a computer “techie.” One night when our family was at his house, I noticed a verse taped to his monitor: “I have made a covenant with my eyes” (Job 31:1). Evidently, he understood the potential danger of spending hours alone in front of a computer with easy access to indecent images. Our friend’s “reminder verse” is a quote from Job, and it continues, “Why then should I look upon a young woman?” Like many of us, Job had promised himself to stay free of lust. Reflecting on that oath, he said, “Does [God] not see my ways, and count all my steps?” (Job 31:4, cp Pr 15:3-note, 1Pe 1:17-note). The Bible assures us that God does (Heb 4:13-note), and that we are accountable to Him. This is why believers must “abstain from sexual immorality” (1Th. 4:3-note). While some want to debate the boundaries of morality, the Bible says, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Mt 5:28-note). When lustful thoughts assail your mind To play with immorality, Remember that God’s will for you Is holiness and purity. —Sper A look that lingers can lead to lust. Our thoughts are shaped by what we see, And thoughts affect our soul; So if we'd profit from TV, We must be in control. —DJD The Bible is the best TV (INTERNET) guide. Flee! Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. —James 4:7+ Today's Scripture: James 4:1-10 I didn’t see the movie The Exorcist, but I do recall its impact on my community. It left a lasting impression on many people about Satan’s power. Even many Christians began to live in fear, swayed by the vivid images of evil. It seemed as if the devil was almost as powerful as God. Is this perspective biblically sound? Of course not. God is the Creator, and all others, including demons, are just created beings. Only God is almighty. It’s easy to blame the devil when things go wrong. Although he does propagate wickedness and sin, we must be careful not to conclude that we are powerless against him. We are told in the Bible that the Holy Spirit within us “is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4+). The Bible also says we have a role to play in overcoming evil and doing what is good. We are to “flee sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20), “flee from idolatry” (1 Cor 10:14+), “flee” from the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10-11+), and “flee also youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22+). When Satan launches his attack, We must take heart and pray; If we submit ourselves to God, He'll be our strength each day. —Sper To defeat Satan, surrender to Christ. Flee Lust "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body," but he who sins sexually sins against his own body."—1 Corinthians 6:18 Dr. C. Everett Koop was Surgeon General of the United States from 1981 to 1989. In the Report on AIDS from the Surgeon General Koop writes: "The AIDS virus attacks a person's immune system and damages his/her ability to fight other disease. Without a functioning immune system to ward off other germs, he/she now becomes vulnerable to becoming infected by' bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and other viruses and malignancies, which may cause life-threatening illness... " Dr. Koop stresses that to control the spread of AIDS, "People must be responsible about their sexual behavior." Dr. Koop also wrote an article tided "God's Sovereignty Remains My Greatest Comfort." Though he does not directly address the area of sexual conduct Koop says this about the Christian's reliance on God's will: "But in a time of adversity or trouble, the Christian has the opportunity to know God in a special and personal way. Indeed, it necessitates acknowledging our own inability to cope. It is then that we learn we must rely completely on the grace and mercy of a loving God. And how wonderful to know we have a Lord who knows the end from the beginning!" The sovereign God created sex and sexual desire but He has placed restrictions on it for our own benefit. Sexual immorality is not something to toy with. Are you tempted to engage in sex outside of marriage? Today in prayer ask for the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ to flee from sexual immorality. "There's a word for those folks who linger and try to reason with lust: victim."—Charles Swindoll (from Generation to Generation - Peter Kennedy) HOW TO TRAP AN ERMINE - The ermine is a little animal that is used to make fur coats, because they have a coat that is snow white. Trappers find the ermine's hole (home) knowing he would run there to hide. The hunters would smear something vile, dirty, defiling around the entrance of his hole. As the dogs drove the ermine to his hole to get away, the snow white animal would see the filth and, realize it would have to defile its coat in order to enter his hole. So rather than defile itself, the ermine refused to enter and instead would turn around and face the dogs, in effect giving its life, rather than suffering defilement! Does holiness and moral purity mean that much to you? If not, you are destined to succumb to moral temptation, because you are half-hearted. Enabled by the Holy Spirit, you must determine to remain morally pure, to be holy as He is holy (1Pe 1:14, 15, 16+) And remember, the Spirit of the Living God does business with those that mean business. Don't get trapped! EYE TROUBLE I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? JOB 31:1 Men, this may not be an easy thing to admit with your wife sitting right next to you. But let’s be honest—you’ll likely relate to the story I’m about to tell. I was seated in a car with another Christian leader—a good friend of mine. We were both away from home, without our wives, waiting for a colleague who had just gone inside a store. And as we sat there, a woman walked by who was, well, drop-dead gorgeous. I caught sight of her as she entered the store, and then turned back to our conversation. When she walked by again, by God’s grace (or the fear of my own reputation being spoiled), I summoned up enough self-control to look away. But I did notice my friend’s eyes lingering as she walked on to her car. Knowing we were both fighting the same battle, I casually said, “Hey, you can look at her once, you can look at her twice, but if you look at her that long …” We laughed. We knew. Guys, there’s nothing wrong with appreciating a woman’s beauty. But we all know in an instant when we’ve reached that point where we’re no longer simply noticing her but have begun enjoying her and letting our minds become a playground of lustful thoughts. That’s when Fred Stoeker, coauthor of Every Man’s Battle, says we must heed the covenant of Job 31:1. With the same impulsive quickness that makes us pull our hands back from a hot stove, we must discipline ourselves to “bounce” our eyes away from her. Yes, it’s every man’s battle, all right. But it’s a battle we can win. DISCUSS Husbands, help your wives understand that this admission of struggle is not caused by being unsatisfied with her. It’s a struggle with temptation, lust, sin—a struggle with yourself. PRAY Wives, pray for your husbands in this area. Each of you should ask God for help with any deep areas of sin and temptation, especially those that can come between the two of you. Trust Him for the strength to be obedient. (Dennis Rainey) The Scriptures require spiritual leaders to be a " One woman man." (1 Timothy 3:2). Here are a few suggestions that may prove helpful: EYES — Remember the song, " I Only Have Eyes for You" ? We must determine to only " look" at our wives. Lustful gazes are acts of adultery. (Matthew 5:29; Job 31:1) C. S. Lewis said, " If you look at ham and eggs with lust, you already have committed breakfast." EARS — How easily we can be sexually stimulated by what we hear. Proverbs cautions us, " For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil." (Proverbs 5:3) LIPS — A man committed to his wife does not flatter other women: " Whoever flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet." (Proverbs 29:5) HANDS — Paul admonishes us to " Treat… younger women as sisters, with absolute purity." (1 Timothy 5:2). The manner in which we relate physically to our sisters should serve as a guideline in our association with other women. FEET — We can easily identify with the statement, " I can resist anything but temptation." Perhaps that's why the Scriptures warn us to " Flee youthful lusts… " (2 Timothy 2:22a) David stood and looked at naked Bathsheba and ended up committing adultery and murder. By contrast, Joseph fled Potifer's seductive wife and remained pure. (2 Samuel 11; Genesis 39) MIND — It is only by the renewing of the mind that we can expect to live a pure life: " Let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good… " (Romans 12:2b – Philips Translation) God's Word is central to the renewal process. QUESTION: Are you allowing anything into your mind that is making the renewal process unnecessarily difficult? HEART — Wise old Solomon cautioned us, " Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) Thus, emotional involvement with a person of the opposite sex is often an early step in the process that culminates in the act of adultery. QUESTION: Does your present attitude and pattern of behavior indicate a deep resolve to remain a " ONE WOMAN MAN" ? Warren