KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, December 01, 2017
Chapters: I Corinthians 5-8
Message: Flee Fornication
Hello My Friend,
I do not do it often, but I was directed to write today about fornication. Fornication is not something we like to talk about, in fact, it is a very dirty word among not only those in the world, but the church as well. What exactly is fornication? While the technical term for fornication is premarital or adulterous sex, there are other forms of fornication as well, it is any immoral act done with the body. While all sin has it consequence the ones done with the body are the most destructive. Why? It literally destroys our flesh. “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:18.
The Christian life is not one of just knowing that you accepted Christ as your Saviour and are saved from hell, it is a life of progress. While our works do not save nor keep us saved, they do play a part in our lives as we learn the ways of Christ. While all are welcome to come to church no matter what they have done, we should progress over time as we allow Christ to live in and through us, that includes removing sinful things we thought were okay. In the first part of his letter, Paul commends the Corinthians for their faith in Christ, now comes the upbraiding as he found out that a member in the church was having an affair with his fathers wife. The church knew about it, even condoned it, Paul warns them not only against the fornication, but that it is also destructive.
“For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.” – I Corinthians 3:1-5,9-13.
“that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” Whenever people willingly and knowingly use their body in an immoral way, they are destroying their flesh in their sin. Through the approval of God, the devil has been given the okay to bring evil upon that flesh, what he does not have approval to do is touch the soul, that belongs to Jesus, and will never be destroyed. As Paul continues he reminds all of us that we are sinners, and it is Christ that cleanses us from our sin, he goes on to list the things that constitute as fornication, that includes alcohol, food, drug addiction, and yes homosexuality.
“Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 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. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.” – I Corinthians 6:7-13.
“but God shall destroy both it and them.” Just because our soul is saved that does not mean we can live an immoral live without consequence, it will be to our destruction if we do not get a handle on it. Effeminate is a man that acts like a woman, abusers of themselves with mankind is homosexuality, being covetous is lusting for what others have, these are all acts of fornication. When we accept Christ as our Saviour we are washed clean from all these things. Praise God! Anyone committing these acts, even if they are saved faces severe repercussions in doing so. “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.”- 1 Corinthians 6:19,20.
In reality the world has no idea that the immoral things they are naturally doing is sin, that is why it is important for the church to explain it right from the Word of God. Another act of fornication that Paul addresses is idolatry.
“As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.” – I Corinthians 8:4-9.
“For though there be that are called gods,” This is often confusing to people, but it does not mean that there are literally several gods and lords, or that they are supernatural. A god or lord back then was often referred to as a prince; a ruler; or judge, still today men of royalty are called lords in some countries. Think about this, we were bought with a price, Christ gave His life for us so we do not have to end up burning in the lake of fire. We should be honored that Christ has chosen us to set an example and show others that while we were once dead in sin we are now risen from the dead and alive through Him. Our bodies have been redeemed by His atoning sacrifice, let’s show Him our gratitude by becoming a new lump in Him. “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” – II Timothy 2:21.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “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.” – I Corinthians 6:11.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for sending Your Son to save me, I am redeemed and saved from hell because I believe in His sinless death, burial, and resurrection, confessed that I am a sinner, and asked Him to save me. While I do not intentionally try to let You down, I know I will at times. Lord, feed me with the spiritual things I need to keep me healthy in mind, body, and spirit. Help me to learn, repent, and avoid the things of the world that constantly try to defile my relationship with You. Only by Your power can I resist temptation and see Your blessings unfold. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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