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Sexual Sins
by David M. Curtis
"Thou shalt not commit adultery."
“This commandment forbids not only acts of impurity, but sensual thoughts and desires, or any practice that tends to excite them. Purity is demanded not only in the outward life but in the secret intents and emotions of the heart. Christ, who taught the far-reaching obligation of the law of God, declared the evil thought or look to be as truly sin as is the unlawful deed.” Patriarch and Prophets p. 308.
The subject I am decidedly choosing to investigate will with no doubt cause alarm and even opposition. “Such things just should not be addressed openly.” Some will surely say. “For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.” Luke 8:17. Sexual immorality in most cases is done in secret. The shame and embarrassment involved with openly and candidly looking into this issue makes it only human nature to cover up this subject. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13.
This is a wicked and adulterous generation! Physicians and Psychiatrists are in some cases prescribing that which is clearly called by its right name in the Bible, “SIN.” The Bible declares “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1. This command requires a straight testimony be given exposing all unrighteousness calling sin by it’s name “SIN”. The True Witness to the Laodiceans, declares the church to be in a poor, miserable, blind and naked condition thus requiring this message, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19.
"I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the strait testimony called forth by the council of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the hearer of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the strait truth. Some will not bear this strait testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause the shaking among God's people." Early Writings p. 270.
The sins of pleasure seeking, amusements, intemperance and appetite need to be rebuked. These sins are blinding the church to its true condition; and a call of repentance needs to be given. The subjects we are discussing in this series called “The Straight Testimony Series” are sensitive topics but must be agitated. "Most startling messages will be borne by men of God's appointment, messages of a character to warn the people, to arouse them. And while some will be provoked by the warning, and led to resist the light and evidence, we are to see from this that we are giving the testing message for this time... We must also have, in our cities consecrated evangelists through whom a message is to be borne so decidedly as to startle the hearers" Evangelism p. 168.
I make such an introduction to let the reader know that I understand that the subject may be of an offensive nature to some. It is not my intention to offend anyone reading this. With all of this said, let us continue on with the subject at hand; sexual sins, and you will see that such a introduction was indeed necessary.
Fornication
First lets look at the 1828 Noah Webster’s Dictionaries definition of fornication.
“Fornication
FORNICA'TION, n. [L. fornicatio.]
1. The incontinence or lewdness of unmarried persons, male or female; also, the criminal conversation of a married man with an unmarried woman.
2. Adultery. Mat 5.
3. Incest. 1 Cor 5.
4. Idolatry; a forsaking of the true God, and worshipping of idols. 2 Chr 21. Rev 19.”
Now lets look at the 1959 Websters Dictionary
forqAniqAcaqAtion
1. Illicit sexual intercourse on the part of an umarried person. Cf. ADULTERY
2.Figuratively in Scripture, idolatry.
Here is the definition found in the 2003 Merriam Webster Dictionary.
forqAniqAcaqAtion ADVANCE \d 5
Pronunciation: "for-n&-'kA-sh&n
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
: consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other
In 175 years the definition of fornication has changed so subtly that even the church does not take the stand against it like it did in the past. Now we simply say “they are two consenting adults, let them alone.” This is exactly what the 2003 Dictionary says! In 1828 it was called a “crime!” Then years later in 1959 “unlawful” now in 2003 it is just “consensual.” Has the definition of fornication in the Church changed over the years just like it did in the world? Let us remember the Bible still calls it a sin. Is there fornication among the members of the Church? There was in the days of the early church. “It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles. . .” 1 Corinthians 5:1.
There has been a creeping compromise in what the Spirit of Prophecy calls “secret vice,” otherwise known as masturbation, which is often accompanied by pornography. Before we see those quotes let us see just how plain the instruction of LORD Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul is about this subject of masturbation. These are the two verses we will consider together.
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.’ Romans 6:12,13.
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 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. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it 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.” Matthew 5:27:30.
According to Paul our “mortal body” has “lusts.” Of course we do not need the Bible to know that, because we have all felt them. In this context he commands us not to use the “members” of our bodies to fulfill these lusts. Jesus refers to these “members” in the above verse. The word “members” is the same word in the original language in both passages. These “members” of our bodies that “offend thee” are the “right eye” and the “right hand.” It is easy to see how the “lusts of the eyes” cause us to stumble. However in the context to lusting after the opposite sex how can our “right hand offend thee?” Let us put it plainly, and use a modern application.
If a man looks at pornography and lusts after a woman that is not his wife and uses his right hand to obey the lusts of his mortal body it is a violation of the seventh commandment Thou shalt not commit adultery. Jesus admonished us that it is better to give up this sinful practice than “that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” This applies of course to women as well as men. Dr. John Harvey Kellogg did studies on women that committed this act and he concluded that it was the cause of many evils including (but not limited to) schizophrenia! Are there any woman you know of that seem like they have two personalities? This may be the sin that caused it. The Spirit of Prophecy even says masturbation can be cancer causing! She called masturbation “secret vice.” I have included an entire chapter from the Spirit of Prophecy for your further investigation. In the Name of the LORD read it! Before going to that article by Mrs. White I feel there is a few more points that need to be addressed in this regard.
The first question one might ask is ‘Are not these desires “normal?”’ The Bible says they are ‘normal to the carnal flesh’
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law (THIS LAW REFERRED TO IS THE LAW OF SIN THAT IS IN HIS MEMBERS REFERRED TO IN ROMANS 7 see note after this passage). 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
NOTE: “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind (THIS IS THE TEN COMMANDMENT LAW OF GOD WRITTEN IN HIS HEART AND MIND FULFILLING THE NEW COVENANT; see Hebrews 8:12-14), and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:23,24. Galatians 5:19-21 gives in detail the list of the laws in his members.
The next question you might be asking now is how do I get victory over this mortal body? It may seem to some that the temptations are so strong that it may literally require one to pluck out his right eye and cut off his right hand to stay faithful. Is this necessary? NO! Even if you cut out your eyes and cut off your hands it would not remove the lust in your flesh. ONLY THE GOSPEL CAN DO THIS.
First, obey Romans 13:14 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil] the lusts thereof.