WHAT'S AT STAKE

Sexual sin will trap and corrupt you!

We know this, of course. If you’ve chosen to enroll in a Bible plan, you are likely not hearing about sexual sin as a trap for the first time. The problem is that most of us don’t understand that “no other sin” so clearly affects the body. We do not fully understand the tangled web of sexual immorality and how it so quickly traps us.

Sex is a sacred gift from God. He called it good! By His grace, it enriches us and fulfills His plan on the earth. He designed it within the covenant of marriage. In Genesis 2:24, we witness God’s intention for marriage, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (ESV) It symbolizes the profound unity and intimacy that sexual union brings. Its original design was brought forth through covenant alone. It establishes a bond that transcends physicality and alters the very fabric of our being, as two become one flesh.

However, culture offers counterfeit options that steer us from God's plan and so clearly affect our bodies, minds, and futures. In a culture that glorifies hookup and shack-up, it can become easy to be lulled into a spiritual stupor, not fully recognizing what’s at stake. Sometimes, our desperation to marry or avoid loneliness can breed complacency and hardheartedness to sin. We may even rationalize that it's not that big of a deal. We say, "Well, the bills are cheaper if we live together. We’re going to get married, eventually. Nobody cares about that anymore.” However, the truth is God cares.

In 1 Corinthians, Chapter 6, Paul talks about the gravity of sexual sin. He gives a comparison to an appetite – a need to be satisfied. For example, when we are hungry and consume immense amounts of sugar and carbs, we never become satisfied. We only leave hungry and craving more sugar, not getting the actual nutrition of iron and protein. The same is true in the spiritual context of sex. When we consume sexual immorality – outside of the order and will of God's design, we experience a constant craving that can never be fully satisfied. We often feel unfulfilled and empty. The placebo of a sexual encounter with someone who is not our spouse is that it will somehow be the same. But God's word is clear, and the after-effects are immediate. The result? We are generally left with bondage to a relationship God never intended for us to be in, potential porn addiction, and often future deep emotional wounds and brokenheartedness.

Throughout the Bible, God's plan for sexual intimacy is reiterated as a sacred bond reserved for marriage. It's mentioned in Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:8, and Ephesians 5:31, to name a few. We must align our behaviors with God's Word, resist worldly temptations, and embrace His plan for sexuality. Seek to prioritize first, honoring the Lord's commands, but also protection for your own heart and body. We can experience the fullness of God's blessing and avoid the traps of sexual sin that only seek to corrupt and entrap us.

Points to Ponder:

• Why do you think Paul is so emphatic that no other sin so clearly affects your body? What is your personal experience with this Scripture in your own life?
• What are some ways to stay away from sexual sin when the world wants you to believe it’s normal and okay?