Fornication

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-15-2025

1 Corinthians 6:13-20

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Tonight, I will deal with a subject that I do not like to preach on but is vital to the church.  We understand that fornication is a vile sin, but there are many vile sins mentioned in the Bible. 

 

B.  So, the question may be asked, “Why the emphasis upon fornication?”  God emphasizes the sin of fornication, not this pastor. For me to skip preaching on fornication would be a dereliction of duty! 

 

C.  The Bible has much to say about this particular sin, and we need to both understand the devastation of fornication and how to stay away from it and its effects. 

 

D.  Fornication has become one of America’s most significant problems.  Many things have changed over the past millennia that have led us to where we are tonight.

 

1.  The breakup of America’s homes.  I heard a young man say that “marriage would die with the older generation.”  In many ways, he was right.  Within the bounds of marriage, God approved of the physical relationship of husband and wife.

 

2.  A lack of biblical teaching on the subject and parents “farming out” their children to wicked public schools that revel in unbiblical sexual principles such as free sex, transgender, etc.

 

3.  Immodesty in dress portraying women and men as sex symbols.

 

4.  Advertising using sensuality and nudity.

 

5.  What was once hidden became openly displayed.

 

E.  The First Mention of the physical union of a man and woman tells us all that we need to know on the subject, though there are many others found across the Bible’s pages.

 

Genesis 2:24-25  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.  (25)  And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

 

Genesis 4:25  And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

 

1.  I will give two complementary passages found in the New Testament.

 

Matthew 1:24-25  Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:  (25)  And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.  (There is much false doctrine taught about the “Virgin Mary’ that the Bible clearly dispels.  She did not remain a virgin until after the birth of Christ. Joseph “knew” his wife and multiple children were born to this natural union of husband and wife.

 

2. The Bible explains God’s mind on the union of husband and wife in the Book of Hebrews.

 

Hebrews 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

 

F.  Fornication defined: porneia - por-ni'-ah, a root word for pornography.  This includes adultery, harlotry, incest, and sex outside of marriage.  The incontinence or lewdness of unmarried persons, male or female; also, the criminal conversation of a married man with an unmarried woman; the gratification of sexual appetites without respect to marriage or the necessity of God's approval."

 

1.  The Single Man With A Single Woman – Proverbs 2:1-22

        

2.  The Married Adult With A Single Woman – Proverbs 5:1-23

 

3.  The Single Adult With A Married Woman – Proverbs 6:20-35

 

4.  The Young Man With An Older Married Woman – Proverbs 7:1-27

 

G.  Morality has dropped to an all-time low.

 

1.  Purity is almost a thing of the past.

 

2.  Our society has been bombarded by:

 

                              a)  T.V. and Hollywood

 

                              b)  Magazines and newspapers

 

                              c)  Department Stores (ladies' departments with their pornography)

 

                              d)  Schools (sex education by ungodly teachers and textbooks)

 

3.  Fornication proceeds from an evil heart!

 

Matthew 15:18-19  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

 

H.  Fornication – why the emphasis?

 

1. The Problem of Fornication.

 

          a.  Fornication is a sin against the body – 1 Corinthians 6:18

 

                    1)  The body has been bought – 1 Corinthians 6:20

 

2)  The body will be delivered – 1 Corinthians 6:13-14  (It will be changed, but it is still your body) - Philippians 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.  (Change it, not do away with it)

 

1 Corinthians 15:42-44  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

 

          b.  Fornication is a breach of love and trust – 1 Corinthians 7:2-4

 

1)  We are espoused to Christ - 2 Corinthians 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

 

2)  Our body is the property of Christ – 1 Corinthians 7:3-4

 

Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 

          c.  Fornication brings about a wound and disgrace – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

 

Proverbs 6:33  A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.   

 

Romans 1:24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

                   

2.  The Prevention of Fornication

 

a.  Spiritual Wisdom From God’s Word - Proverbs 6:22-24  When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:  To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

 

Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

 

1 Corinthians 6:18  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

 

b.  Spiritual Discernment – 1 Corinthians 7:1-2  Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.  Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 

 

c.  Spiritual Eyes - Matthew 5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

 

d.  Spiritual Minds - 2 Corinthians 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

 

Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

 

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.