A Word About Sex
It’s one of those topics Christians tend to avoid. However, sex was created by God, and it needs to be discussed in order for believers to live a healthy and wholesome life. Young or old, married or single, there are a lot of temptations and snares around, but when we follow the Lord and not lustful passions, the Lord will lead us safely through. Sex is a gift from God when experienced in the manner He intended.
We must guard our hearts, keeping a watch over what we allow in and what we keep out. Guarding our eyes, ears, and thoughts from ungodly influences helps us keep our hearts pure. We need to have a heart to pursue God and not fleshly desires. As we keep our thoughts on godly things, then our minds go in the right direction.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
What we think on will influence how we act. As our thoughts go in the right direction, so will our desires and decisions, leading us to live a godly and upright life.
God’s will is for you to be set apart for him in holiness and that you keep yourselves unpolluted from sexual defilement. Yes, each of you must guard your sexual purity with holiness and dignity, not yielding to lustful passions like those who don’t know God. Never take selfish advantage of a brother or sister in this matter, for we’ve already told you and solemnly warned you that the Lord is the avenger in all these things. For God’s call on our lives is not to a life of compromise and perversion but to a life surrounded in holiness. Therefore, whoever rejects this instruction isn’t rejecting human authority but God himself, who gives us his precious gift—his Spirit of holiness. I Thessalonians 4:3-8 (The Passion Translation, TPT)
This passage is clear about sexual purity. It says God’s will is for us to be set apart for Him in holiness and that we keep ourselves unpolluted from sexual defilement. For those who are married, this means that intimate relations are only for your spouse, and this includes refraining from fantasizing about someone you are not married to. For those who are not married, this means keeping away from what the Bible calls fornication, or sex outside of marriage. And it includes steering clear of thoughts and situations that would lead a person into sexual sin.
Yes, like a soldier who is on guard against the enemy, each of us must guard our purity, not giving in to the passions that are dirven by lust and not by the love of God. God’s call on our lives is not to live like the world, perverted and unholy, but to be set apart from sin and set apart to God. We have a part and God has a part. We keep and guard ourselves from sexual impurity and He gives us the Spirit of Holiness to help us.
As we yield to the Holy Spirit, He purifies us. As we allow Him to direct our decisions moment by moment, His will becomes our will, and sin appeals to us less and less. And staying in His Word transforms our minds and strengthens our ability to keep our thoughts in line.
With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can keep ourselves pure. And as we do, no good thing will God withhold from us. God’s way is the best way; the only way to the overcoming life that we desire.
