What is sexual immorality?
Understanding Sexual Immorality: A Biblical Perspective Aligned with Baptist Theology
The Bible frequently addresses the issue of sexual immorality, providing clear instruction for God’s people to live holy and pure lives. Sexual immorality, as defined in Scripture, is any sexual behavior that falls outside the bounds of God’s design for marriage—a covenant relationship between one man and one woman for life (Matthew 19:4–5). This lesson will explore the biblical definition of sexual immorality, its consequences, common objections, and the path to repentance and restoration.
Defining Sexual Immorality
The Greek word most often translated as "sexual immorality" in the New Testament is porneia. This word encompasses a wide range of sexual sins, including fornication, adultery, homosexuality, and other forms of illicit sexual behavior. It literally means "a surrendering of sexual purity" or "selling off." From this root, we derive the English word "pornography," highlighting the connection between immorality and the exploitation or misuse of God’s gift of sexuality.
Sexual Immorality as a Sin Against God
Sexual immorality is fundamentally an affront to God’s holiness and design:
“Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18, NKJV).
“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19, NKJV).
As believers, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. To engage in sexual immorality is to defile God’s dwelling place and grieve His Spirit (Ephesians 4:30).
Sexual Immorality as Idolatry
The connection between sexual immorality and idolatry is made clear in the Bible:
“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:24–25, NKJV).
In pagan cultures, acts of sexual immorality were often intertwined with idol worship, profaning God’s holy standards. When believers engage in immoral behavior, they mimic this idolatrous rebellion.
God’s Design for Sexuality
Sexuality is a gift from God, designed to be enjoyed within the confines of marriage:
“Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?” (Matthew 19:4–5, NKJV).
Marriage reflects God’s covenant love for His people and provides a safe context for intimacy, procreation, and mutual support. Any sexual activity outside of this covenant distorts God’s perfect design.
Biblical Warnings Against Sexual Immorality
The Bible offers numerous warnings against sexual immorality, emphasizing its destructive nature:
“Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10, NKJV).
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people” (Ephesians 5:3, NKJV).
Sexual immorality leads to separation from God, dishonors His name, and has devastating consequences for individuals, families, and communities.
Addressing Common Objections to Biblical Teachings on Sexuality
“It’s not wrong if we love each other.” Love does not justify sin. True love aligns with God’s commands:
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3, NKJV).
Sex outside of marriage, regardless of feelings, is considered fornication and violates God’s law (1 Corinthians 7:2).
“Times have changed; what was wrong then isn’t wrong now.” God’s moral standards are unchanging:
“For I am the LORD, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6, NKJV).
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, NKJV).
Cultural shifts do not nullify God’s eternal Word.
“We’re married in God’s eyes.” Marriage is a public covenant recognized by God and society:
“Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Mark 10:9, NKJV).
Private agreements or assumptions do not equate to biblical marriage.
“God understands; I can still have a good relationship with Him.” Willful sin breaks fellowship with God:
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear” (Psalm 66:18, NKJV).
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3, NKJV).
God’s Judgment and Grace
God will judge sexual immorality:
“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4, NKJV).
However, His grace is available to those who repent:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9, NKJV).
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1, NKJV).
Through the blood of Jesus, every sin—including sexual immorality—can be forgiven.
Living a Life of Purity
Believers are called to live in holiness and purity:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1, NKJV).
“For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7, NKJV).
Victory over sexual sin is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit:
“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16, NKJV).
Practical steps include immersing oneself in Scripture, seeking accountability, and maintaining a prayerful relationship with God.
Conclusion
Sexual immorality is a serious sin, but God’s grace offers forgiveness and restoration to all who repent. As Baptists, we affirm the authority of Scripture in guiding our moral lives and stand firmly on God’s design for marriage and sexuality. Let us pursue purity, honor God with our bodies, and glorify Him in all that we do.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen” (Jude 1:24–25, NKJV).
