"WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT FORNICATION"

(Since the first article that dealt with this issue back in August of 1995, we have received a few derisive responses advising us to "get real" and/or to avail ourselves of other selected methods of facing "reality." This second installment is a serious attempt to face reality regarding the issue of fornication.)

The Bible says that people have been fornicating for ages (2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 5:1; Jude 7). (Fornication comes from a Greek word, porneia, and is correctly understood as any form of sexual immorality.) The Bible says that even Christians have been guilty of committing fornication or immorality (2 Corinthians 12:20-21). This is a reality.

The Bible also says, however, that God has always condemned sexual immorality (Ephesians 5:3,5; 1 Corinthians 6:13,18; Hebrews 12:14-17; Colossians 3:5). This is a reality.

The Bible says that fornication or immorality is an abomination, and considered as "filthy" before God (Revelation 17:4). This is a reality.

In order to avoid immorality, the Bible says that God created marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1-2). In Hebrews 13:4, the Bible says, "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge." This is a reality.

In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, the Bible says, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites," {10}"nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." This is a reality.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:3, the Bible says, "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality." The Bible says we can and should abstain from fornication or sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 10:8). The Bible also says that fornication (immorality or adultery) is one of the only reasons a person may rightly divorce and remarry (Matthew 19:1-9). This is a reality.

The Bible says that if a Christian is sexually immoral, other Christians should separate their company and fellowship from him/her (1 Corinthians 5:9-11). Likewise, in Revelation 21:8, the Bible says, "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." The Bible says that fornicators (sexually immoral people) will be found shut out of heaven like an animal outside the door of a house (Revelation 22:15). This is a reality.

Therefore, according to all that the Bible says, fornication (sexual immorality) even though it is a common act among human beings, is not what God commands. And, that He will punish those who disobey His command to abstain from it. This is a reality.