Why is sexual purity important according to Hebrews 13:4 and 1 Corinthians 6:18? The Foundational Instruction “Marriage is to be held in honor among everyone, and the marriage bed undefiled; for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.” (Hebrews 13:4) God’s High View of Marriage • Marriage is God-designed: Genesis 2:24 shows one man and one woman becoming “one flesh,” a covenant picture of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:31-32). • Honoring marriage honors the Designer. To disregard purity is to treat lightly what God calls holy. • An “undefiled” bed means intimacy kept exclusively within marriage. Anything outside—premarital sex, adultery, pornography—defiles what God intends as pure. Consequences of Sexual Sin • “God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). Judgment is not an empty warning; Sodom and Gomorrah (Jude 7) stand as historical proof. • 1 Corinthians 6:18 emphasizes urgency: “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but whoever sins sexually sins against his own body.” • Sexual sin uniquely damages body, soul, and spirit: – Physical: disease, unwanted pregnancy, addiction. – Emotional: guilt, broken trust, relational fallout. – Spiritual: seared conscience, hindered prayers (1 Peter 3:7), loss of testimony. Spiritual Implications for the Believer • Your body is “a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Purity protects God’s dwelling place. • Union with Christ: joining Christ’s members to immorality profanes His body (1 Corinthians 6:15-17). • Holiness is God’s will: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Practical Benefits of Purity • Stronger marriages—trust flourishes when boundaries are honored. • Clear conscience—freedom from shame and secrecy (Psalm 32:1-2). • Powerful witness—countercultural purity points others to Christ (Philippians 2:15). • Deeper intimacy with God—obedience invites greater fellowship (John 14:21). Walking It Out Daily • Guard the eyes and mind (Job 31:1; Matthew 5:28). • Pursue accountability—trusted believers who will ask hard questions. • Replace temptation with truth—store up Scripture (Psalm 119:11). • Run, don’t negotiate—Joseph literally fled (Genesis 39:12), modeling 1 Corinthians 6:18. • Celebrate God’s good design—marital intimacy is honorable and joyful when kept within His boundaries. Sexual purity matters because it upholds God’s honor, protects His temple, spares us from judgment, and showcases the gospel lived out in real relationships. |
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