What is the proper relationship we are to have with others? What is a "suitable mate"?
Genesis records in the second chapter,
"24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed."
See, the three verses prior further describe the nature of the relationship between the husband and wife, namely as a couple,
"21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 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."
Before I progress on the topic at hand, look for a moment at verses 21 and 22 with me. Did you ever stop to think why God chose to use a "rib"? Might I suggest a theory? I have held for years that He chose the rib out of consideration of equality. Not to say a liberal ideology of equality, but that ALL men are created equal. If He chose a bone from Adam's head, it might imply that he was above the woman - a dominant position. If God placed in the woman a bone from man's foot, it might place Adam at the subordinate level to woman. Recall, we are to submit to each other, husbands to wives and vice versa.
Coming back to our discussion, Jesus reiterates to the Pharisees in the nineteenth chapter of Matthew,
"3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,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? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
So, then what is not considered a suitable mate or relationship?
1 Corinthians 6:9,18-20,
"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,18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 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?20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
Leviticus 18:22,
"22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."
Leviticus 20:13,
"13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
Romans 1:24-32,
"24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 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 recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
Romans 8 further states,
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of ighteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
Fornication, Adultery, Sexual Immortality
Adultery
Illicit intimate sex between one man and one woman whereby the offender (the Adulterer) is currently Married.
Fornication
Illicit intimate sex between one man and one woman whereby the offender (the Fornicator) is currently NOT married.
Sexual ImmoralitySexual immorality is rampant in our culture as morality is being loosely defined (and redefined), encouraging many to engage in sinful behavior. This makes a clear definition difficult to pinpoint. This, thanks to the liberal agenda, now includes pornography, homosexuality, bisexuality, group sex, sexting, bestiality, the list is endless.
Today, there are stories in my local news where older men were pleasuring themselves in a public space at a ritzy golf club. Another series of stories over the past 24 months have innumerable accounts of kids, as young as 8, having sexual relations in the classroom while peers watch. It's not right, nor is it permitted by God.
There is hope for people who engage in homosexuality, adultery, fornication, sexual immorality, or any other perversion. As with any sin, one needs to repent. This is to stop the sin, turn away, and seek God's forgiveness. We need to be honest about all of our thoughts, feelings, and actions before a Holy and Just God.
Because immoral society or the liberal agenda defines something as "ok" or"normal" doesn't mean it is. We need to look to the Bible for all of life's issues, it is our moral compass, our owner's manual.
2 Timothy 3:16-17,
"16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
God Bless,
Pastor Aaron Mathews
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