The problem of sexual immorality in the Corinthian church
is due, in part, to the fact that such conduct was not
considered sinful or illegal by the pagan Corinthian
culture. The Corinthians lived more in conformity to the
standards of their culture than to the standard set by
Christ. If a certain practice is legal, some Corinthian
Christians considered it moral. The Bible has a much higher
set of standards than this. If something is illegal, it is
usually immoral for the Christian. When the laws of the land
allow certain forms of conduct, we must ask ourselves if
Scriptures permitted these forms of conduct. Then there are
those things that both the law and the Bible allow. These
“liberties” may or may not be advisable for the Christian.
The use of any Christian liberty should be subject to the
following questions,
(1) Does this practice contribute to my own spiritual growth
and maturity?
(2) Does this practice contribute to the growth and maturity
of fellow-believers?
(3) Does this practice further the gospel?
(4) Does this practice glorify God?
The unbelieving world likes to look down on Christians who
have a biblical view of morality, as though they have no
appreciation for sex, as though they think sex is evil or at
least unspiritual. The truth is that only a Christian can
appreciate the true value of sex. In the Bible, the sexual
union is a part of the marriage relationship, and this
relationship portrays or symbolizes the union of Christ and
His church. If sex is a kind of symbol, and what it
symbolizes is, the ultimate value then sex is a most
benevolent gift and privilege. It is a great blessing.
Let us look to Christ to satisfy this need, and every other
need as well. Jesus Christ is all we really need.
Is it possible that you have already fallen, that you are
already guilty of sexual immorality? There is forgiveness
through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of
Calvary. The good news is that those who have made
themselves sexually “unclean” can be cleansed completely.
This can be seen in the forgiveness granted the woman at the
well in John 4, or in the forgiveness of the woman caught in
the act of adultery (John 8).
