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Commending the Commandments.
The Seventh Commandment.
Exodus 20 v 14.
I was reading the teletext news service on one occasion, the headline read 1700 babies born in N. Ireland to teenage mums.
Twenty five percent of girls claimed to have sex before 14. Thirty three percent of boys made the same claim. The so-called sexual revolution has gone out of control
In 1631 a new King James version of the Bible was published, however the publishers made a mistake when it came to this verse they left out the word not.
Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt ‘not’ commit adultery.
It is obvious from society that the so-called wicked bible is to be preferred.
In a survey in the USA among evangelical Christian young people, 43% claimed to have sex before the age of 18.
I have to confess that this commandment always causes us embarrassment and it is not easy to write about it, but surely the forgoing facts make it all the more important.
Movies, television and magazines have all have done their best to promote, encourage and idolise what is condemned here in the seventh commandment.
People don’t like ‘thou shalt not’ to be addressed to them.
No mater what television and the media say about the sin of adultery we must look again to the word of God.
The book of Job calls it heinous.
Job 31:11 For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
The book of Jeremiah calls it villany.
Jeremiah 29:23 Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord.
God created us male and female and has given us certain desires, which are not sinful. The world has taken sex and made it filthy sex is something that was a gift from God.
Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Eccles. 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
God has given us the gift of sex for procreation and enjoyment. God put a hedge around it and placed it within the bounds of marriage.
The world has used it to sell everything from toothpaste to cars.
Surely we need this commandment to be sounded out to this land of ours.
How serious is this commandment?
The breaking of this commandment not only is it infidelity but perjury. As you can see from this extract of the marriage ceremony.
---------------------------- Wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together according to God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honour, obey and keep him, in sickness and in health and forsaking all other keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live?
Committing adultery involves the breaking of an oath.
Breaking this commandment dishonours God.
God the father has given us life. How sad to waste a life in lax behaviour. It insults God the father.
It insults God the son.
1 Cor. 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
It is an affront to God the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
This commandment is serious. It breaks an oath and dishonours God, it is needless.
1 Cor. 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
God has given us marriage to enjoy the gift of sex.
This commandment involves theft of the most series nature.
Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
By committing it you steal away someone’s flesh.
This sin debases the culprit.
Jeremiah 5:8 They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.
Those who commit it behave like animals.
Joseph described this sin as, "Wickedness and a sin against God."
Genesis 39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
David recognised this also.
Psalm 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Under the law the punishment was swift and final.
Leviticus 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
By way of introduction I just want to emphasis how serious God treats this sin. It is possible for us to become watered down by the world’s standards. Let’s also remember we could be guilty of spiritual adultery.
By having close association with the world.
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Christians are described as:
2 Cor. 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
We are espoused and are married to Christ unfaithfulness to Christ is spiritual adultery.
Rev. 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
What This Commandment Confirms To Us.
It reminds us that the marriage bond is the only place for sexual activity, so this commandment strikes not only at adultery, but also fornication.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Leviticus 20:15-16 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast. [16] And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
2 Samuel 13:4 And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.
Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Romans 1:26-27 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: [27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
1 Cor. 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
This Commandment puts a hedge around the marriage bond. God condemns everything else outside of that. Does our society not need this commandment?
1 Tim. 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Matthew 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
Romans 7:3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
John 2:2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
Ephes. 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
What This Commandment Challenges.
Mark 6:22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
Ephes. 5:3-4 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; [4] Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Col. 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
1 Peter 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
Do we fill our minds with unhealthy thoughts through what we read?
Philip. 4:8 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.
Genesis 39:10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
Psalm 106:18 And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
Do you dress attractively or suggestively?
Proverbs 7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
1 Tim. 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
This sin begins with the thought moves to the will and then the act. It is sin from thought to act.
What do we feed our minds with?
Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
2 Samuel 11:4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
Ezekiel 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
Jeremiah 13:27 I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?
Proverbs 5:18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
What did the Lord say after he had told us on the Sermon on the Mount that adultery could be committed in the heart?
Matthew 5:28-30 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. [29] And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. [30] And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
In other words do whatever is necessary to avoid this sin. Turn the TV off, avoid certain people and situations, don’t read certain publications, don’t use certain words and don’t be looking in certain directions.
Watch your words, your behaviour, your company, and your dress and protect your thoughts.
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
The Consequences Of Breaking This Commandment.
Proverbs 5:11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
Proverbs 6:32-33 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. [33] A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
Luke 11:17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
1 Cor. 6:9 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,
Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Hosea 4:11 Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
Someone has said, "After a study of 88 civilisations I have come to the conclusion that a human society is free to choose either to display great energy or to enjoy sexual freedom it cannot have both."
"Unless there is a change in America we are doomed to the ash heap. No civilisation, no nation, no empire has survived obsession with sex and impurity. This disease is eating the heart out of America."
Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Society is a union of families this sin destroys and eats at the very heart of a stable society. Personally, nationally, economically and spiritually it has disastrous consequences.
Cleansing.
It was once taught that this was the unpardonable sin. Praise God there is mercy and forgiveness with the Lord.
John 8:6-7 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. [7] So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
There must, however be true repentance.
Zech. 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
Forgiveness for the house of David an adulterer.
Prevention is better than cure.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Keep in mind the precept, the promise and the power, that this sin would be kept from our lives.
As God’s people what should our attitude be to those who have fallen?
A man came to open a new church building on one occasion and he read these verses.
1 Cor. 6:9-10 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, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
People thought it a strange reading but then he read the next verse:
1 Cor. 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Remember he said, "You are just a church full of forgiven sinners."
Ephes. 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
1 Cor. 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
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