By bro Lee Tian Seng
God teaches that we should avoid fornication, and have sexual intimacy with only our husbands or wives.
1 Corinthians 7:1-2 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
Unfortunately, this is not what the world thinks about sexual intimacy. Let us be wise to know that our morality should not be based on what the majority think is right. Many have ignored God’s teaching of sexual purity before and after marriage, but Christians should keep themselves pure concerning sexual intimacy.
Besides the need to maintain sexuality purity, God teaches that it is the duty of those who are married to give sexual affection to their spouses, and to receive it from them.
1 Corinthians 7:3 - Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
One of the reasons for this duty is that husbands and wives belong to each other bodily. Each has authority over the other in matter of sexual intimacy.
1 Corinthians 7:4 - The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
To the extent that there is no excuse one can offer for denying satisfaction to his or her spouse’s sexual needs, except for seeking a period of devotional time with God. Even for that purpose, we are reminded that it should only be for a short time, because prolong abstinence can cause the spouse, who needs the affection, to be tempted.
1 Corinthians 7:5- Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
To keep ourselves pure, we need to avoid tempting circumstances and conduct. We need to stay away from places, activities and people that will cause us to be tempted. The access to our thoughts is through our senses, and if these thoughts are impure, it will cause us to sin.
1 John 2:16 - For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Jesus teaches that even a lustful look upon a woman is enough to cause adultery in the mind.
Matthew 5:27-28 - “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
We should also dress modestly and be careful not to conduct ourselves flirtatiously. When we do that, we let Satan use us to tempt others and cause them to sin.
As Christians, let us be mindful to be holy as God desires us to be.
1 Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
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