Sexual sin has become an increasingly important issue in our modern age. A modern age where it is common for both men and women to dress provocatively. An age where limitless explicit content is at our fingertips.
Sexual sin runs rampant in our world and is a hellfire in our society.
If you look out in the world you will find infidelity, pornography addiction, sexual assault, same sex relationships, rape, paedophilia.
One of the leading causes of death worldwide, killing forty to fifty million people a year is abortion; And this can be attributed to sexual sin. Couples have sex before they are in a stable situation. The baby’s life is soon ended because the couple couldn’t control themselves.
Sexual sin is a destructive force wreaking havoc, and we should talk about it as such.
Wages
The Bible says that the wages of sin are death. But the Biblical use of the word death is more nuanced than we think. Not merely a physical death, but a spiritual death as well. As hard as this is to admit, each time we commit habitual sin we are killing spiritual life within us.
“The practice of sin brings with it death in small doses. With each indulgence comes a little more spiritual death.” (Pure Life Ministries)
Sexual sin needs to be dealt with absolute severity.
Flee! Paul writes to Timothy. “Flee from youthful lusts” (2 Timothy chapter 2, verse 22). Don’t walk from sexual sin, sprint. Like you were escaping a burning building. Cut off our hand. Gouge out our eye. Deal with sin with severity. Flee like Joseph fled Potiphar’s wife.
But with the same vigour and intensity we ought to pursue righteousness. It includes confession “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (Psalm chapter 51, verse 4). Clinging to the cross and letting the blood cleanse us “having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience” (Hebrews chapter 10, verse 23). It includes putting on the new self “and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in the knowledge of the image of its Creator.” (Colossians chapter 3, verse 10). It includes living out that repentance “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew chapter 3, verse 8).
Rebuilt
While destruction can be caused, our God can rebuild temples. While habitual sin hardens the heart, God can break up fallow ground. God can bring restoration and revival to the darkest valley.
If you have been wrestling with a habitual sin for years and years, there is still hope. Repentance will unleash God’s mighty hand of restoration upon you. The reality that the power of sin is broken can be revealed to you in new ways.
Pure living may be harder in a modern age more than any other. But the Spirit of God is our valuable resource. Through the continual sanctification, through meditating on Biblical truths change is possible.
It is not a case of willpower. God wants to change your whole nature.
Holy
If we grow in holiness, if we are holy like he is holy, we carry God’s name well. We fulfil the call of what it means to be human.
Not only that, but there is true joy in being freed from the self. It is so liberating to be freed from bondage and a continual self-focus. Being freed from sin is a joyful occasion.
When we are pure, we are free to hear from God in deeper ways. We are privileged to enjoy God more. When we cleanse ourselves of impurity we can be more useful to God, we can be ready for every good work. When we are pure, we live a life of integrity. When we are pure, our spiritual maturity accelerates.
Sexual sin is not something to be underestimated. It is a destructive force, yet there is a far greater restorative power in Jesus.
“For when we died with Christ, we were set free from the power of sin.” (Romans chapter 6, verse 7)
Roden Meares enjoys playing basketball, reading comics and going to the gym. He has a passion for evangelising and helping others in their faith through writing.
Roden’s previous articles can be viewed at https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/roden-meares.html