Lasciviousness, often understood as lewdness or unrestrained sexual behavior, is a term used in the Bible to describe actions and attitudes that are contrary to the holiness and purity expected of believers. It is frequently associated with other sinful behaviors and is condemned throughout Scripture as incompatible with a life led by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:19-21
In the Epistle to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul lists lasciviousness among the "works of the flesh," which are in opposition to the "fruit of the Spirit." The passage states: "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21). Here, lasciviousness is translated as "debauchery," highlighting its nature as excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

Ephesians 4:17-19
Paul addresses the Gentile believers in Ephesus, urging them to abandon their former ways of life, characterized by lasciviousness. He writes: "So I tell you this, and testify to it in the Lord: You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more" (Ephesians 4:17-19). The term "sensuality" here is synonymous with lasciviousness, indicating a lifestyle devoid of moral restraint.

1 Peter 4:3
The Apostle Peter also warns against lasciviousness, reminding believers of their past lives and urging them to live in accordance with God's will. He writes: "For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry" (1 Peter 4:3). The reference to "debauchery" underscores the sinful nature of lasciviousness and its incompatibility with a life dedicated to Christ.

2 Corinthians 12:21
Paul expresses concern for the Corinthian church, fearing that he may find them still engaged in sinful behaviors, including lasciviousness. He states: "I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery they have practiced" (2 Corinthians 12:21). The mention of "debauchery" highlights the need for repentance and the turning away from such behaviors.

Jude 1:4
Jude warns against false teachers who pervert the grace of God into a license for lasciviousness. He writes: "For certain men have crept in unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ" (Jude 1:4). This passage emphasizes the danger of using God's grace as an excuse for immoral behavior, including lasciviousness.

Throughout Scripture, lasciviousness is consistently portrayed as a serious sin that leads individuals away from the righteousness and holiness that God desires for His people. Believers are called to reject such behaviors and to live lives that reflect the purity and sanctity of their calling in Christ.Exodus 32:6
And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
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Proverbs 2:16-18
To deliver you from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flatters with her words;
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Proverbs 5:3-5,8-13
For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
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Proverbs 7:6-27
For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
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Proverbs 9:13-18
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing.
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Proverbs 20:16
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
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Proverbs 30:18-20
There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I know not:
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Joel 3:3
And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
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Mark 7:21-23
For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
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Romans 1:22-29
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
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Romans 7:8
But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, worked in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
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Romans 13:13
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
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1 Corinthians 6:9,10,13,15-18
Know you 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,
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1 Corinthians 9:27
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
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2 Corinthians 12:21
And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall mourn many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
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Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
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Ephesians 4:17-19
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you from now on walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
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Ephesians 5:5
For this you know, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
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Colossians 3:5
Mortify therefore your members which are on the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
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1 Thessalonians 4:5
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
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2 Timothy 3:6
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
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1 Peter 4:2,3
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
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Jude 1:4-7
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Search the Scriptures
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Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &C.
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The Sovereignty of God in Reprobation
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V. ...
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On the Nature of God
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Chrysostom -- Excessive Grief at the Death of Friends
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in general, we all ... and had not repented of the lasciviousness and uncleanness ...
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Sunday after Ascension Day
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Scriptures falsified ... then to admonish Christians in general, and particularly ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/sunday after ascension day.htm

What is the meaning of concupiscence in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Is it a sin to look at a woman's body? | GotQuestions.org

What is lasciviousness? | GotQuestions.org

Lasciviousness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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