Flee Fornication!

Flee Fornication!

Adultery and fornication are in a special category among all the sins. It is unfaithfulness, and unfaithfulness opens the door to all other sins. This is how it is in the natural and in the spiritual realm. In the spiritual realm all apostasy and corruption on earth are defined as the harlot and her fornication.

“‘For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.’” Rev. 19:2.

When this judgment was executed, they called out “Alleluia!” in heaven. When we think of all the misery that adultery and fornication have brought into the world, and particularly into families, there will be an “Alleluia!” when it is being cleansed away. This was the sin that caused corruption to become so great in Noah’s and in Lot’s days that God had to destroy mankind.

“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits adultery sins against his own body.”

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!”

We can also say this about other sins, but it is plain to see that the apostle puts this sin in a class by itself. He doesn’t just write to the Corinthians like this.

“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness . . . .” Col. 3:5.

Here he mentions four words for the same thing, and then he adds covetousness. In Ephesians 5:3 we see that he again puts fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness in the same category. Covetousness is idolatry. We find the same designation again in verse 5. Because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of unbelief. V. 6. Peter also puts these two things in the same class: Those whose eyes were full of adultery and whose hearts were trained in covetousness. 2 Pet. 2:14. When Peter speaks about God’s punishment over mankind he writes: “Especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority.” V. 10. And Jude reminds us of the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them who had given themselves over to fornication and had gone after strange flesh. V. 7.

“For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray.” Hos. 4:12. “Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart.” V. 11. The consequences are terrible. It is also noteworthy that they do not know how to be ashamed. “You have had a harlot’s forehead; you refuse to be ashamed.” Jer. 3:3. “This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done no wickedness.’” Prov. 30:20. “And they declare their sin as Sodom; they do not hide it.” Isa. 3:9. We see that impudence has replaced understanding. There are many preachers who have lived in adultery and fornication and have spoken about a loving God and about the finished work of Calvary until they were revealed. Then one could think that they were ashamed and finished with preaching. Not at all! They had to be asked to be quiet, yet it was still difficult for them. This is how wide-spread shamelessness has become.

“The Lord is righteous, He is in her midst, He will do no unrighteousness. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He never fails, but the unjust knows no shame.” Zeph. 3:5.

When a person commits a sin, regardless of what kind it is, and he is not ashamed, he is among the unrighteous. If a person has a life with God, God brings His justice to light every morning. God will surely remind us if we desire godliness. He never fails. From this we realize that when people harden themselves over time, as those do who live in adultery and fornication for a while, they do not know how to be ashamed. They are among those who commit sin and have neither seen God nor known Him. 1 John 3:6. But not so with the person who falls in sin. He is ashamed. 1 John 2:1-2. “Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O Lord.” Ps. 83:16. There is no conversion without being ashamed. “And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple . . . .” Ezek. 43:11. Then there will be salvation!

This sin is so serious that Paul writes, “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from fornication . . . .” 1 Thess. 4:3. This area concerning adultery is the greatest test in a person’s life, and next to it is covetousness. Jesus says, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matt. 5:28. You cannot partake of sanctification without being faithful in the hidden life. It is significant what Peter writes: “Having eyes full of adultery.” People are driven by their lusts to look, paying no heed to God’s chastisement which they sense in their spirit. They reckon that no one sees it and no one knows it. Their eyes are being filled with adultery, and they are bold among people. Then they are in this development: eyes full of adultery instead of sanctification. Their understanding leaves them and impudence takes its place.

Therefore, flee fornication and pursue sanctification, without which no one will see the Lord!