I don't see this sin we're discussing today as any different then those grouped together below, so no one is above anyone here... it's just finding the right way out for all, that I think is important.I think the biggest mistake the Church has made is to redefine "fornication" as JUST pre-marital sex. The word porneia is where we get our word "Pornography" from.It's true definition is 1) illicit sexual intercourse1a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.1b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 181c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mar_10:11,Mar_10:122) metaphorically the worship of idols2a) of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols.Whenever we engage in any sex act .... even if it is masturbation, "where" are the person's thoughts, before, during and after such events ?Even married people can commit fornication or adultry with their own spouse, if their "thought life" has not come under His Word.All sin is based on "self love" (the "I deserve" mentality), and fornication - regardless of what form it takes - is listed with all other sins below and we are just told to STOP.No other word is given by our Lord in regards to these sins. Just, 'don't'.If we begin to feel that we are more "merciful" than God, in our treatment of sin, then we border on the fault of the Church at Corinth. (chpt 5).Their "grace" had become too lenient. I'm not a "Legalist" .... I just believe from my own "extreme conversion" from "what I was" ... that we should never go 'beyond what is written'."How" do any of us stop "anything" that we're guilty of ? By... 2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ and Gal. 5:16 below.Billy, if you would, please copy these verses, because they are the ones from the Bible that speak to what you are asking.With my prayers and His Love also.AnnieAct 15:19 Therefore my judgment is that we do not trouble those who have turned to God from among the nations, Act 15:20 but that we write to them that they should abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these necessary things: Act 15:29 that you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which, if you keep yourselves, you shall do well. Be prospered. Act 21:25 And as to the nations who believe, we joined in writing, judging them to observe no such things, except only that they keep themselves from both idol sacrifice, and blood, and a thing strangled, and from fornication. Rom 1:29 being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; being full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, evil habits, becoming whisperers, Rom 1:30 backbiters, haters of God, insolent, proud, braggarts, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Rom 1:31 undiscerning, perfidious, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; Rom 1:32 who, knowing the righteous order of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but have pleasure in those practicing them. 1Co 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, 1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1Co 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. 1Co 6:13 Meats for the belly and the belly for meats, but God shall destroy both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body. 1Co 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits fornication sins against his own body. 1Co 10:8 Nor let us commit fornication, as some of them fornicated, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. 2Co 12:21 lest in my coming again my God will humble me with you; and I shall mourn many who have already sinned, and not repenting over the uncleanness, and fornication, and lustfulness which they have practiced. Gal 5:16 I say, then, Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary to one another; lest whatever you may will, these things you do. Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are clearly revealed, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness, Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, fightings, jealousies, angers, rivalries, divisions, heresies, Gal 5:21 envyings, murders, drunkennesses, revelings, and things like these; of which I tell you before, as I also said before, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. Eph 5:3 For let fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness not be once named among you, as becomes saints, Eph 5:4 neither baseness, foolish talking, jesting, which are not becoming, but rather giving of thanks. Eph 5:5 For you know this, that no fornicator, or unclean person, or covetous one (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience. Eph 5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), Eph 5:10 proving what is acceptable to the Lord. Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. Eph 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Eph 5:14 Therefore he says, "Awake, sleeping ones! And arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light." Eph 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Eph 5:16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Eph 5:18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the SpiritCol 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Col 3:2 Be mindful of things above, not on things on the earth. Col 3:3 For you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. Col 3:4 When Christ our Life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Col 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness (which is idolatry), Col 3:6 on account of which things' sake the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience, Col 3:7 among whom you also once walked, when you lived in these. Col 3:8 But now also put off all these things: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, shameful speech out of your mouth. Col 3:9 Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his deeds Col 3:10 and having put on the new, having been renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him 1Th 4:1 For the rest, then, my brothers, we beseech you and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you have received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more. 1Th 4:2 For we know what commands we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification, for you to abstain from fornication, 1Th 4:4 each one of you to know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor 1Th 4:5 (not in the passion of lust, even as the nations who do not know God), 1Th 4:6 not to go beyond and defraud his brother in this matter (because the Lord is the avenger concerning all these, as we also have forewarned you and testified). 1Th 4:7 For God has not called us to uncleanness, but in sanctification. Rev 9:21 And they did not repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
