It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before (3-6).
God’s Word has a great deal to say about how we are to live and particularly the sexual ethic we are to follow as Christ-followers.
One word that could suffice is ‘purity’, but even that word needs to be set in the context of all God has spoken, regarding sexual ethic already in His Word. Avoiding sexual immorality, in the context of God’s Word, means keeping sex within the marriage covenant of one man and one woman.
The world of Paul’s day had a wild sexual ethic, much like the
God’s people were to maintain a different standard. Holiness; they were to avoid sexual immorality, unlike non-Christians who do not have God’s Word, and they should not wrong anyone sexually either. It is hard for me to imagine what that might be beyond what has already been instructed. Whether it means more than this, I do not know but it is certainly an exclamation mark on the avoiding sexual immorality phrase.
My world is changing rapidly regarding what is culturally acceptable sexually. Marriage has been legally redefined to mean any two persons whether homo or heterosexual. That may reflect law of the land, but it is not God’s way. God still calls me and all of His children to live pure and holy lives, controlling our passionate urges and drives, and to never take advantage of a brother or sister.
As a follower of Jesus this remains my ethic… no matter what my world says is okay.
God help me to live for You in the sexual ethic area and in all matters. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
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