Articles
Marriage and Fornication
In our study, we have learned that God's purpose for the Home is 1) Companionship and 2) Procreation. We learn a third purpose for the home in Paul's letter to the Corinthians. "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband" (I Corinthians 7:2).
Fornication means "illicit sexual intercourse in general" (Thayer, pg.532). Adultery, homosexuality and sodomy are each the sin of fornication. Paul says, "to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband" (I Corinthians 7:2). Notice the Holy Spirit said through Paul, that a man and a woman should be married. When a man has a man spouse or partner or a woman has a woman, these relationships are called by God, fornication.
Why should we "avoid fornication"? The Word of God teaches, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9-10, emp LS).
The Home was established by God so that men and women might lawfully satisfy their sexual desires and not be fornicators. The writer of the book of Hebrews says, "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers (fornicators, NASB) and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4, emp LS).
Sexual unfaithfulness is destroying homes and marriages all over the world. Paul said, "Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency" (I Corinthians 7:3-5). The Wise man of old said, "The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense" (Proverbs 6:32 NASB).
Paul teaches, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it...So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself" (Ephesians 5:25, 28). The Wise man says, "rejoice in the wife of your youth. As a loving hind and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; Be exhilarated (Lit., intoxicated) always with her love" (Proverbs 5:18-19 NASB). The Word of God also teaches, "An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels" (Proverbs 31:10 NASB). Did you hear that husbands?
Men and women need to respect God's purposes for the Home. Sexual gratification can only be in the Home, that is, in a godly, scriptural marriage. That means that if you are not married, you are NOT to have any sexual relationships with anyone. If you cannot control your sexual desires, GET MARRIED.
