Bulletin Articles
Marriage is to be held in honor among all...
"Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge." - Hebrews 13:4 (NKJV)
While we emphasize the importance and sanctity of marriage, it is also crucial to acknowledge the dangers and consequences of engaging in marital behaviors outside of wedlock. In a world that often promotes a casual and carefree approach to relationships, God's Word reminds us of the significance of sexual purity and the sacredness of the marriage covenant.
Engaging in sexual relations outside of marriage, commonly referred to as fornication, is explicitly addressed in Scripture as behavior that is contrary to God's design for human relationships. The Apostle Paul urges believers to flee from sexual immorality, stating in 1 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV), "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body."
Fornication, whether in the form of premarital relations or extramarital affairs, carries profound spiritual, emotional, and physical consequences. It undermines the trust, commitment, and intimacy that are meant to be uniquely shared within the boundaries of marriage. Furthermore, it can lead to broken hearts, shattered relationships, guilt, shame, and the potential for unintended pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases.
God's intention for sexual intimacy is beautifully expressed within the context of marriage, as seen in 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 (NKJV): "Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband." Here, we see that the marital relationship provides the proper context for the expression of sexual love and intimacy.
As followers of Christ, we are called to live lives that are pleasing to God, upholding His standards of holiness and purity. The apostle Paul admonishes us in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (NKJV): "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God."
In our pursuit of godly relationships, we must exercise wisdom, self-control, and a commitment to honoring the sacredness of the marriage covenant. We should strive to encourage one another to live lives that are pleasing to God, seeking His guidance and strength to resist the temptations that surround us.
Let us be a community that extends grace and support to those who may have experienced the pain and consequences of sexual sin, offering them the love and forgiveness that Christ offers us. By upholding the sanctity of marriage and promoting sexual purity, we can bear witness to the transformative power of Christ's love and the beauty of His design for human relationships.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." - Psalm 51:10 (NKJV)
