Flee Fornication by Institute Of Biblical Discipleship

“Flee [run from] fornication…” Institute of Biblical Discipleship.com Bible study #70 by Nolan McFadden When the first century “apostles and elders and brethren” of Christ Jesus assembled together for the first church council at Jerusalem, they prayerfully determined, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, what would be taught as the most “necessary” requirements of Christian morality for all Gentile Christians (Acts 15:1-30). The apostles wisely focused on the two most common sin issues found among the Gentiles. They are idolatry and “fornication” (sexual immorality). Subsequently, as Gentile followers of Christ, we were given very specific commands from our Lord Jesus in the first century. These commands were considered “necessary” to obey for all Gentile Christians (Matthew 28:20, John 14:15-22. Acts 1:1-2; 15:1-29; 26:20). Four of these specific commands are found in Acts 15:28-29. In this text we read, “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well”. There are four significant instructions for Gentile Christians included in this text. They are: 1) “That ye abstain from meats offered to idols,…” (practiced in idolatrous worship and festivals) 2) “That ye abstain…from blood,…” (practiced in idolatrous worship and festivals) 3) “That ye abstain…from things strangled,…” (practiced in idolatrous worship and festivals) 4) “That ye abstain…from fornication:…” (i.e., sexual immorality) In like manner, in his epistles we find the apostle Paul teaching against the sin of “fornication.” For example, in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 Paul declared, “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” The apostle Paul further emphasized this command from our Lord Jesus with an additional exhortation in 1 Corinthians 6:18. Paul advised, “Flee fornication.” The word “Flee” in this verse is translated from the Greek word ϕευγω. It means “to flee from or away.” (1) In this context the word carries the meaning of literally running away from that which is evil – fornication. Consequently, Paul warned, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (I Corinthians 6:18-20) In this same Bible text Paul explained, “Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.” (1 Corinthians 6:13)

I. Fornication defined A. The New Testament word “fornication” is translated from the Greek word πορνεια. The word “pornography” comes from this same Greek word πορνεια. Fornication refers to sex outside of biblical marriage. In VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS we read, “PORNEIA (πορνεια) is used (a) of illicit sexual intercourse, in John 8:41; Acts 15:20, 29, 21:25; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:13, 18; 2 Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5; 1 Thes. 4:3; Rev. 2:21; 9:21; in the plural in 1 Corinthians 7:2…” (2) B. Fornication is sex outside of biblical marriage. II. Fornication is a sin against God. A. In Romans chapter one Paul included “fornication” in his list of the sins of fallen humanity (Romans 1:28-32). B. Likewise, “fornication” is regarded as a sinful work of the flesh in Galatians 5:19. C. “Fornicators” are found in the category of “the unrighteous” in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. D. According to Revelation 21:8, without genuine repentance, “whoremongers” (also translated “fornicators” from the Greek word πορνοις) “shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” III. Kinds of fornication (Leviticus 18, Deuteronomy 22) A. The word “fornication” is used in the Scriptures as a general word for various kinds of sexual immorality. These are: 1) Adultery (Deuteronomy 22:22, Leviticus 18:20, Matthew 5:32; 15:19; 19:9, Mark 7:21, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:19, Hebrews 13:4) 2) Incest (Deuteronomy 22:30, Leviticus 18:6-18, Matthew 5:32; 15:19; 19:9, Mark 7:21, John 8:41, Acts 15:28-29, 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:9-11, Galatians 5:19, Hebrews 13:4, Revelation 21:8) 3) Heterosexual sex outside of biblical marriage (Deuteronomy 22:20-21, 2829, Leviticus 18:17-18, Matthew 5:32; 15:19; 19:9, Mark 7:21, John 8:41, Acts 15:28-29, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:19, Hebrews 13:4, Revelation 21:8) 4) Sodomy (Leviticus 18:22, Matthew 5:32; 15:19; 19:9, Mark 7:21, Romans 1:24-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Galatians 5:19, 1 Timothy 1:10) 5) Lesbianism (Romans 1:24-27, Hebrews 13:4) 6) Bestiality (Leviticus 18:23) 7) Rape (Deuteronomy 22:25) IV. God commands us to “abstain from fornication.” (Acts 15:19-20; 15:28-29; 21:25; 1 Thessalonians 4:3) A. The word “abstain” was translated from the Greek word απεχω. It means “to hold [keep] oneself from…” (3) In this verse “abstain” refers to keeping ourselves away from fornication. B. Abstaining involves choosing not to practice fornication. Abstaining from fornication is a decision.

V. God commands us to “…Flee fornication.” (1 Corinthians 6:18) A. An excellent example of fleeing sexual immorality is found in the life of Joseph, one of the sons of Israel. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph into committing adultery with her (Genesis 39:1-12). In Genesis 39:12 we read, “And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.” Joseph’s response demonstrates how much he loved Jehovah and abhorred evil. B. Referring to the Hebrews when they were in the wilderness with Moses, Paul declared, “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.” (1 Corinthians 10:1-8) VI. God does not tolerate the sin of fornication. Rather, He promises that He will judge it. (Hebrews 13:4, Revelation 2:19-23) A. “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers [fornicators] and adulterers God will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4) B. In Revelation 2:20-23 Jesus clearly warned the church of Thyatira concerning the “fornication” that was being tolerated in that church. Christ Jesus warned, “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” (Revelation 2:20-23) VII. God sends horrific judgments on those who are “giving themselves over to fornication” such as the “sodomites” (homosexuals) of Sodom and Gomorah (Genesis 19, Leviticus 18, Jude 7). A. Referring to the consequences of practicing any of the kinds of fornication mentioned in Leviticus 18:1-23, our LORD warned, “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: and the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.” (Leviticus 18:24-25) B. Romans 1:20-28 reveals that homosexuality is a judgment from God on those who refuse to repent of their sins and worship the Creator.

C. Paul proclaimed, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4) VIII. God is able to forgive the sin of fornication to those who truly repent. (Acts 3:19; 17:30-31, Romans 2:4, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) A. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 the apostle Paul taught, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” B. Because King David truly repented, Jehovah forgave his sin of adultery with Bathsheba along with his other sins (2 Samuel 11-12, Psalm 32:1-5; 51:1-13). However, David’s sin caused the death of his child. Also, David’s son Absalom later rebelled against him and betrayed him. Because of his sins, the LORD said to David, “Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house,…” (2 Samuel 12:9-11) C. For these reasons King David learned to have a healthy fear of sinning against Jehovah. In Psalm 119:120 David declared, “My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments.” IX. God desires that we prepare our hearts to obey His commands. (John 14:15-23) A. David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) B. Jehovah promises, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9) X. God is pleased when we “…Abhor that which is evil [including fornication] and cleave to that which is good [Christ’s commands].” (Romans 12:9) A. As genuine Christians, we must be both for what our LORD is for and against that which He is against. The LORD God of Israel is clearly against the sin of fornication, and He is very much for sexual purity. May we be fully consecrated to follow our LORD’s example. See Romans 6:1-19; 8:1-14; 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 3:16-19; 6:I3-20 and 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 B. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 C. “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I hate.” Proverbs 8:13 © Nolan McFadden 2017 copies by permission of author

End Notes: 1. W. E. Vine, VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS, (Iowa Falls, Iowa, RIVERSIDE BOOK AND BIBLE HOUSE), p. 447 2. Ibid., VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS, p. 465 3. Ibid., VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS, p. 18