Sexual Sins - the Sin Lists of Paul - Part 3

Sexual Sins

When I first introduced the sin lists of Paul I pointed out to you that sexual sin seemed to be at the top of most of the lists. If order is a form of ranking then overcoming  sexual sin is a priority issue.

Regulating our sexual behavior according to biblical lines is challenging. Desire and promiscuity seem to be written into our genetic code... acknowledging that raises hard questions:

if we are designed that way isn't placing limits and establishing boundaries going against nature? Wouldn’t it be more natural to simply let human sexuality operate without interference? Why would an all-knowing creator design us one way and then expect us to over-ride some of the basic programming on a regular basis?

Answer: humans are more than simply high functioning animals. We are part natural… and part spirit. Therefore, we have influences acting upon us that come from outside the natural realm. We are designed to make judgments and decisions… even decisions that contrary to our natural impulses.

We are destined to go beyond the material, to become His marital partner, to sit alongside Him, judge the world and angels. To get ready we must learn to rule over our spirit... and our bodies... in a way that benefits all rather than just our self.

But if we stay within the realm of the material... the limits and boundaries our Creator gives us are to protect us emotionally and physically... to protect those who are the weakest and most vulnerable to abuse. Also, to build the foundation of human family which is the pattern for government and working together justly, faithfully.

1 Corinthians 6:3-10 of the 8 sin lists of Paul this is the one with the most to say about sexual sin. Notice the close connection to learning judgment and participation in the rule of God. Also, Ephesians 5:5.

Those who are not working to overcome all the items on these sin lists will not have a place in the kingdom of God. Pay attention to the prominence of sexual sins here [sexually immoral, unclean].

Fornicate... Sexual Immorality

Fornicator - Pornos/Porne - G4205/G4204 - 22x KJV renders this fornication… modern translation (NKJV, NIV, ESV) render it sexual immoral which is better since the word casts a wide net and covers all types of sexual misconduct not just premarital sex. It’s at the top of 6 of the sin lists… so it’s a good place to start.

Pornos refers to males [10x], Porne refers to women [12x] - One who seeks out the services of prostitutes either male or female. 2) one who sells themself to be used for unlawful sex.

The feminine form is mostly used to describe a prostitute;  the great whore Babylon 5x / Rehab the prostitute 2x / Female prostitutes sought out by men 5x. The masculine form is used mostly concerning people who are defined by this sort of behavior.

1 Timothy 1:8-10 the laws of the Creator were put in place to curtail types of behavior. Sexual sin is lumped together with gross liars, the foulest murderers, and ends with phrase "whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine"... the word "sound" is literally "healthy" [Luke 5:31, 7:10 in context of healing from sickness]. This reinforces what I said earlier about God given boundaries begin given for our good.

In 1 Timothy is Paul warning about gnostic groups within the Church who taught that acts you did with our body did not affect the purity of your incorporeal soul. In the 21st century we might say "sexual rules are merely a construct of the human mind… therefore we will simply redefine what as normal or healthy”.

1 Corinthians 6:13-20 the false argument here is that sex is a bodily appetite meant to be satisfied. It meant nothing since the body is destroyed and only the spirit remained. To which Paul counter argues with sound doctrine… no, what you do with your body has everything to do with your relationship to the body of Christ. AND sexual immorality has consequences:

Hebrews 12:16 (it can cause you to lose your inheritance), Hebrews 13:4 (can cause you to be condemned, sentenced to destruction], Revelation 21:8 [can cause you to be subject to permanent destruction in not repentant], Revelation 22:15 [excluded from the KOG].

The Act Itself

Fornication G4202 Porneia 26x - applicable to both men and women. Also translated sexually immorality [NIV], whoremongers [KJV]

· Used in reference to accusations toward Jesus of being a bastard child. Therefore, addressing sex before marriage.

· Umbrella term covering a wide variety of sexual behavior outside the basic marriage covenant between a man and a woman; adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, or  close relatives [Lev. 18]. Specifically used to label incest 1 Corinthians 5:1.

· Use of prostitution [harlots] 1 Corinthians 5:11

· frequently coupled with "uncleanness" and "licentiousness"

· One of the few legitimate causes for divorce. Therefore includes, but is not limited to, adultery [Matthew 15:19].

· Stipulated in the Acts 15 council letter to the Gentiles. Therefore of utmost importance. To counteract claims "this is just our culture".

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 abstaining from porneia sets you apart [sanctified]. A demonstration of self control, personal honor towards self and others. Honor means to consider valuable... I think the concept of "personal honor" is important in overcoming sexual sin... have some respect for yourself... you are more than an object to give or receive pleasure.

Breaking The Law

Adultery/Adulterer - moichos G3432[1]/G3428 35x - sexual intercourse violating the bounds of marriage, the act itself or the perpetrator, can be male and female. Adultery is a breach of covenant with God and another person. Therefore, often used to symbolize spiritual devotion to false Gods [Hosea 1-3], or "the world" James 4:4.

The 7th commandment is the beginning of our Creator's instruction about sexual activity that is healthy... or avoiding what is unhealthy. IE what is good for us emotionally, psychologically, culturally, and spiritually. This is a law we would not become aware of by observing the natural world around us... it is not self evident... it is revealed / given / for our well being as beings who are both natural and spiritual at the same time.

As the data about the effects of the sexual revolution continues to come it confirms that what we are doing is not making us happier or more fulfilled.

Men are not thriving... women are not thriving... children are not thriving... society is not thriving.

Outside the Bounds of Natural Laws

Some laws are self evident through observing the created world. Here are some items on our sins lists that relate to this category:

Effeminate - malakos G3120 3x - literally "soft to the touch". Can be used in reference to things but also used by Greeks in reference to a man who offers himself up to be used sexually by another man... therefore usually meaning young boys.

Sodomite - arsenokoites G733 2x - literally "lays down with men".

These two words are used side by side in 1 Corinthians 6:9 covering  both the passive and proactive participant in the act.

Inordinant Affection - pathos G3806 3x - passion or desire - to the Greeks it could be good or bad, in the NT it means passions which are dishonorable, impure, and the result of hardened hearts. Its used in the sin list of Colossians 3:5... then in connection to women having sex with women in Romans 1:26.

1 Thessalonians 4:5 a less specific passionate craving for that which is forbidden [lust of concupisence] . That brings leads to our next word:

Craving What is Forbidden

Concupisense - epithumia G1939 38x - strong desire which also can be good or bad depending on the context. In the NT its mostly used in the negative sense... lust of the flesh... lusts of the world... deceitful lusts etc. Its also the NT word for coveting!

Romans 7:7-8  somehow knowing that something is "off limits" makes us want it all the more. Proverbs 9:13-17, 20:17. I believe this goes all the way back to the desire to test "good and evil".

God forbids certain things because they are not good for us. As previously mentioned the results of our 50 year experiment with sexual freedom are beginning to show... and people are suffering. However, there appears to be a strange conspiracy to hide and cover up this clearly documented suffering [and social fallout] with bold affirmations of freedom, liberty, and pride.

See also 1 Peter 2:11 the word "soul" means your whole being, your life force, your body mind and spirit. Sexual activity outside the covenant marriage between a man and a woman are forbidden for your good.

Thinking About Sexual Immorality

Human sexuality is different from animal sexuality in that our behavior is driven by what we think about our sexuality... as much as it is hormones… then our actual sexual activity reinforces how we think... which leads to even more experimentation.

The realm of thought is where the last two words on our list work. These are:

Uncleanness G167 10x - in three of Paul’s sin lists fornication is directly followed by uncleanness showing Paul saw a connection. The word is also used 2x to describe false or deceptive teaching. In the adjective form (unclean 30x) the dominant association is with demons (unclean spirits) found mostly in the gospels.

The choice of word evokes the ceremonial uncleanness of the OT... a state which prohibited a person from coming before YHWH. Likewise, uncleanness will keep us from inheriting the kingdom of God.

To me putting uncleanness together with bad sexual behavior indicates ethical,  philosophies, even doctrinal teachings that promote sexual confusion and sin Romans 1:24-26, Ephesians 4:18-19.

Paul's talking of the effect pagan culture and teachings have on people. It affects their sexual behavior. When I was a kid people would say "whatever turns you on baby"... now people say "all categories of sin, or virtue, or gender are only what we make up in our own minds"... so I am free to think and do as I please. Philosophies which repeated often enough and loud enough harden our thoughts and let us justify all sorts of destructive behavior as good for us… even righteous. But they are not.

Laciviousness G766 9x - means without restraint... without feeling... calloused and hardened. We just read Ephesians 4:19 where Paul pairs up uncleanness and laciviousness ]. He does it again in Galatians 5:19 which is one of our sin lists.

2 Corinthians 12:21 associated with lack of repentance

2 Peter 2:18 associated with pride and vanity

Our culture is filled with false teachings and ideas which are changing the way we think and leading us into all sorts of sexual immorality. Then active sexual immorality (pornography, hookup culture, seeking strange flesh) … further change the way we think... which then acts out in more awful ways than before.

The end result is hearts and minds that are becoming hard, bitter, cynical, unfeeling, and depressed.

This is type of world Christ will return to. Such Hearts and minds that are not ready… not suitable… for the kingdom of God... However, we should be ready.