“WORKS OF THE FLESH: ADULTERY”

INTRODUCTION:

1. If you use or have access to the KJV, Gal. 5 lists 17 different “works of the flesh”.

2. In just a few verses Paul covered a broad range of sins.

3. Though I would not call these sins an exhaustive list of all that is wrong, most of the sins we can name are addressed in these verses.

4. If we look at the sins that are listed, it is possible to divide the works of the flesh into 2 groups.

5. Every work of the flesh is either a sin of the mind or a sin of the body.

I. THE FIRST WORK OF THE FLESH DEPENDS UPON THE TRANSLATION THAT WE ARE USING. SOME VERSIONS BEGIN WITH “ADULTERY”; OTHERS OMIT ADULTERY AND START WITH FORNICATION.

A. When it comes to the works of the flesh, sexual activity is at the top of the list.

B. The word “adultery” is a term that is very specific.

C. It refers to married people who have intercourse with someone who is not their mate.

D. Scripture consistently says that this is wrong.

E. A more general term for unlawful sexual activity is fornication.

F. Our society, to use the words of others, has brought sex out of the closet.

G. In years past sexuality has been a private topic (or more private).

H. It has not been something that has received that much discussion.

I. In fact, there are still people living who can remember that kissing scenes in movies were considered racy.

J. People thought that such a scene was too steamy.

K. Now movies are made that leave nothing to the imagination.

L. Sexuality is on TV, radio shows, magazines … all these are flooded with information about this topic.

M. We are not the first culture to bring sex out of the closet.

N. Sodom and Gomorrah were very open about sexuality.

O. In Paul’s day, sexuality was also very public.

(1) Prostitution in many places was open and accepted.

(2) In fact, in Paul’s day prostitution and worship went hand in hand.

P. One well-known Roman writer (Senneca) wrote, “Innocence is not rare, it is non-existent.” (Barclay, p. 25)

Q. It is a well-established fact that incest was often practiced.

R. Homosexuality had affected every layer of society.

S. The rich were involved with same sex lovers.

T. The poor had same sex partners.

U. The Caesars of Rome, history tells us, were recognized homosexuals.

V. This is somewhat of a shock to hear.

W. If we look at the sexual climate in Paul’s day practically anything went.

X. Sexual restraint was close to zero.

Y. The concept of being a virgin until marriage, or one man and one woman being intimate only with each other …

Z. These concepts were relatively new to those in the 1st century.

A. People were not accustomed to living like the NT describes.

B. Sexual sin was rampant in Paul’s day.

C. I’ve only touched on what things were like.

D. If we want a Biblical hint of what things were like, listen to 1 Cor. 6:9-11 – READ.

E. Ten different sins were listed by Paul.

F. At least four of these sins are clearly sexual in nature.

(1) This is significant.

(2) To this I may add two other thoughts.

(3) The word translated “fornication”, if we take all forms of it, is found 55 times in the NT.

(4) Paul uses this word 21 times.

(5) In the NT fornication is not a small issue.

(6) This was not a minor problem in Paul’s day, nor is it in ours.

G. Another indication as to what the 1st century was like is found in the gospel of Matthew.

H. Listen to Mt. 21:31-32 – READ.

I. Tax collectors and prostitutes were mentioned in the same breath.

J. It almost sounds like this was just “another job” people did.

K. Some decided to sell sex and they did.

L. This was an established part of some ancient cultures.

M. In the United States there are serious moral problems.

N. It appears that we have sunk to the level of those in the 1st century.

II. PAUL WAS WRITING TO SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE LIVING IN A CULTURE THAT SAID: FULFILL THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH. WHATEVER APPEALS TO YOU SEXUALLY, IF YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH IT, DO IT. HAVE FUN. THERE ARE NO (OR PERHAPS ONLY A FEW) RESTRAINTS.

A. This same kind of message is being promoted in our culture.

B. Our young people are told that they must choose.

C. They must decide what is right and wrong.

D. Adults have been told that affairs can strengthen failing marriages.

E. Some have argued that infidelity has no harmful consequences.

F. In fact, if a marriage is good, such can make a relationship even better.

G. In the area of homosexuality, massive efforts are underway.

H. Kindergarteners are being taught to accept homosexuality as a normal way of life.

I. College professors are encouraging students to try out the gay life.

J. In Gal. 5 Paul says, “walk by the Spirit.”

K. Paul says, “There is a standard that is to be followed.”

L. “There is a course that leads to heaven.”

M. One of the things that is not on this course is fornication.

(1) Fornication is a very broad term.

(2) It covers incest; homosexuality; adultery;

(3) Prostitution; sexual activity with children;

(4) Two people living together and engaging in sexual activity;

(5) Two people dating and engaging in sexual activity;

(6) Any sexual sin is covered by this word.

N. Though the world is not too concerned about fornication, God is.

O. In fact, God has been concerned about this sin for a long time.

P. One of the places where we see this is in the OT – Lev. 19.

(1) When we think of the word fornication we may think that it refers to lust.

(2) People commit this sin to gratify a fleshly desire.

(3) This is not always true.

(4) Lev. 19:29 – READ.

(5) Parents have turned their children into sexual slaves. God said this is wrong.

(6) This is an example of fornication.

(7) Early in Moses’ law God said he opposed sexual slavery.

Q. Unlawful sexual behavior was looked upon very seriously.

R. If you have turned to Lev. 19, skip to Lev. 21:9 – READ.

S. Under certain conditions sexual sin meant death.

T. People not only were to die for fornication, they were to be burned.

U. Not everyone who committed this sin was to be killed.

V. Another interesting rule is in Deut. 22:28-29.

(1) I want to put this passage into a modern day setting.

(2) Two 18 year olds go out on a date.

(3) They park in a secluded spot.

(4) The young man becomes sexually aggressive.

(5) He insists that intercourse occur and it finally does.

W. This would certainly be fornication. Here is what the OT said: READ – Deut. 22:28-29.

X. In the scenario that I gave, the young man and the young woman would have to get married.

Y. Not only would these two be required to marry, the young man would have to pay some money to the girl’s father.

Z. Not only would there be a marriage and the payment of money, there could never be a divorce. Divorce in this case was illegal.

III. IN THE OT THERE WERE SOME STRONG PENALTIES FOR FORNICATION.

A. In some cases death by stoning was required.

B. I read from another text about being burned to death for fornication.

C. In other instances fornication forced people to marry.

D. The condemnation of fornication in Gal. 5 is no surprise.

E. The other NT passages that deal with this sin are not surprising.

F. Earlier 1 Cor. 6:9-11 was read.

G. Paul said that there are going to be some people who miss heaven.

H. Those who engage in fornication are going to be lost.

I. Paul said that these people, unless they are forgiven, cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

J. If we were to back up from 1 Cor. 6 to 1 Cor. 5, we would uncover another piece of information concerning fornication.

K. Paul said that this sin is one that allows a congregation to disfellowship a person who is guilty of it.

L. At Corinth there was a man who was involved in this sin.

M. This brother would not repent; he would not leave this sin alone.

N. Paul said, “withdraw from him. Excommunicate him.”

O. This fellow was not to be burned with fire; he was not to be put to death; he was to be cut off from God’s people.

P. When people in our day are involved in fornication and they will not repent, we have the authority and we have the duty, to cut them off.

Q. This information shows us how serious fornication is.

R. Another passage that really drives the point home is Mt. 19.

S. As most of us already know, this is where Jesus discussed divorce.

T. Nearly every day in America divorces occur.

(1) Mates grow apart and get divorced.

(2) Spouses find someone else that they like better.

(3) Some couples just get bored with each other or want a change.

(4) Some conclude that they are not very compatible.

(5) Others finally get fed up with the annoying habits of their partner.

(6) Some find themselves married to abusive partners.

(7) Divorces come in all shapes and sizes.

U. If people divorce, that is not a sin.

V. NT law gives all couples the right to divorce.

(1) The issue in Mt. 19 is not really divorce – it is remarriage.

(2) If a husband and wife divorce, can they remarry?

(3) Rom. 7 and Mt. 19 give two reasons for marrying a second time.

(4) If a mate dies, the living partner has a right to contract a second marriage.

(5) If a mate’s partner is unfaithful …if fornication is committed … a divorce and another marriage is allowed.

(6) A divorce is not required, but it is allowed.

(7) The partner who stayed sexually faithful is the one who can remarry.

B. How serious is fornication?

C. The passages I have given from both testaments show that it is very serious.

D. Whether we are married or not, 1 Cor. 6:18 is a verse to remember. QUOTE.

E. Fornication is the only sin we are told to flee.

F. Not too long ago I came across an interesting story.

(1) A husband had become unfaithful to his wife.

(2) This man wanted to be cured of his desire to be with someone else.

(3) This husband sought treatment from 2 psychiatrists.

(4) These men (in a London hospital) used shock therapy on him.

(5) This man was taken into a darkened room and for six days (30 minutes per day), the doctors flashed pictures on a screen.

(6) One picture was of this man’s wife; the other was of his mistress.

(7) When the wife’s picture was flashed, the man heard a tape recorded message.

(8) When the picture of the mistress was flashed, a 70 volt electric shot was sent into his wrist.

G. I am not recommending shock therapy.

H. This point may be drawn from this illustration:

I. This sin is one that needs to be avoided at all costs.

(1) Whether we are young or old, married or unmarried …

(2) Dating or not dating …

(3) Paul says that fornication is one of the tools that the devil will use.

CONCLUSION:

1. We have a duty to God to “walk” (present tense) the Christian way.

2. If we are not tempted by fornication, there is some other work of the flesh that will tempt us.

3. If fornication is a sin which is pulling or could pull us away from God, we need to remember who we

are and where we are going.

4. If you are someone who has been overtaken by fornication, there is a way out.