Single Sex
When Jesus tells us "FORNICATION" is a sin that defiles us, He lists it with equally serious sins like "THEFT, MURDER, ADULTERY" etc. However today there are lots of unmarried couples living together, many of whom are openly proud of saying they are Christian and even bragging they are studying the bible together, ignoring that God considers fornication a sin. Yes, some will cause others to think their life style is okay with God, which may "CAUSE PEOPLE TO SIN". Jesus says in the end times there will be an "INCREASE OF WICKEDNESS". Many live a sinful life style and Jesus says, "BROAD IS THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, AND MANY ENTER THROUGH IT", which Jesus calls "ETERNAL PUNISHMENT" and describes as a place where "THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED", which is also called hell. 1
What is the other choice? Jesus mentions people who "STAY SINGLE FOR THE SAKE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN". Although that statement is usually considered for people who spend their lives single, it can apply to single people before marriage or between marriages. Are we afraid to recommend that people including those who are older, avoid fornication until they are married? Many will tell young people they should stay virgins and avoid sex until they are married but what about their divorced parents or widowed grandparents? Notice Jesus does not say "FORNICATION" is a sin just for young people. Staying single means not having sex or being celibate. Sex includes fornication, adultery or even activities involving private thoughts of "LUST". Many Christians considering divorce would work harder on their marriage, if they realized God would want them to refrain from sex if they were single. How do we help those currently unmarried who sin by living like they are married? Encouraging them to get married is a start, although many non-Christians and nominal Christians do not realize they are doing wrong in God's eyes. Many naively think they are preparing for a better marriage by living like they are married, even though statistics show that couples who live together before they are married will have a greater chance of failure in their marriage. God does not want anyone to "BE LOST". Before you try to warn someone who is engaging in spiritually risky sexual conduct remember Jesus encourages us with a story to "TAKE THE LOG OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE" before you tell someone about the sawdust in their eye. The purpose of the story is to encourage you to correct your faults before you try telling others their faults. If God clearly tells you to warn someone of the risk they are taking by living together without being married, you need to be obedient. If you fail to warn them, remember what God told Ezekiel that if he failed to warn someone and they do wrong "I WILL HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE" for their punishment. 2
How do we treat people who are unmarried but living like they are married? We have an example of a foreign woman who was married and divorced five times and was not married to the man she was living with. Jesus offered her eternal life and God used her in ministry to go tell the men in her village about Jesus. 3
1. Mk 7:21-22 (NRS); Mt 18:7, 24:12, 7:13, 25:46; Mk 9:48 (NI)
2. Mt 7:13 (CE); Mt 5:28 (NKJ); Mt 18:14, 7:3; Eze 3:20 (GN)
3. Jn 4:6-30
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