7th Commandment

Bible Study Lesson 5.07

The 7th Commandment Bible Verses:
God spoke all these words, saying, "You shall not commit adultery." Exodus 20:1,14 NHEB. Jesus Christ said, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;' but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matthew 5:27-28 NHEB.

Previous Bible study lesson: 6th Commandment 5.06.

Preliminary Bible Study Questions:
1) Why does the Seventh Commandment exist?
2) What is adultery?
3) How do you obey the 7th Commandment?

Disobedience to the 7th commandment may possibly be the American church's biggest spiritual hindrance.

Wait. Bigger than bad doctrine?! More serious than the love of materialism?! Yes.

The onslaught of pornography and the entrapments found in a hedonistic culture seriously derail the Christian movement.

If you're involved in adultery your spiritual life is D-E-A-D. There are no if's, and's, or but's about it. Failure to remain chaste is detrimental to the Christian faith. Don't be fooled.

Let's learn all about adultery and sexual sins in this study, with a goal of cleaning out and purifying your heart. Even non-Christians can benefit from this strong lesson.

The 7th Commandment: What Is Adultery?

God created man and woman to become one, meaning one family unit (Genesis 2:23-24). Man's and woman's hearts are meant to meld into one beautiful heart under God's watch-care and blessings. A biblical marriage will find a man and woman loving and respecting one another, trusting one another, and communicating with one another.

Of course, with sinful mankind on the scene, God's original plans and purposes became corrupted and virtually ignored. Therefore, God created the seventh commandment, which states, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," but entails much more than the technical term "adultery" indicates.

During Old Covenant days adultery was quite simple, meaning that the Jews objectively interpreted the 7th Commandment as a man or woman's direct physical sexual sin against his or her spouse.

The New Covenant, as with all ten commandments, fills in between the lines. The New Covenant probes to the heart of the sin of adultery (Matthew 15:19). Jesus challenges us to a heightened sense of obligation to the 7th Commandment.

We are incredibly influenced by the corruption of Hollywood. People believe the lie that we all have certain "rights" to have our human desires met. One of those desires is that we feel the need to be happy within our marriage. If we aren't "happy," and see no happiness forthcoming, we believe it's our duty to have an affair, or get divorced, etc.

Those ideas are popular, worldly, and unbiblical. Jesus wants to help, and he can, because he gets to the heart of the matter of adultery and all immorality found within the boundaries of the 7th commandment.

Duties to the 7th Commandment

A heart full of 7th commandment sins is a heart set on self-destruction, both physically and spiritually. Unrepentant adultery can reveal a soul that's bent on eternal physical and spiritual death. A slave to immorality is not a real slave of Jesus Christ. Open up your heart to God's word, that is, his expectations for proper Christian living which glorifies him.

"Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God, even as you are living, that you excel more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 NHEB.

People who are saved and following Christ will strive to rid themselves of all types of sexual impurities. Christ's new commandments demand that there be NO Christian guilty of these sins, ever (Ephesians 5:3).

"For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who do not know God." 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 NHEB.

The Lord wants our hearts cleaned out. He sends the Holy Spirit to blow through the temple where Christ is supposed to be King, ridding us of the destruction of dark lustful thoughts, pornography, and sexual sins of all types. God wants purity in the hearts of his followers, which includes all men, women, boys, and girls who are truly saved.

"For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you." 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NHEB.

No one said cleansing our hearts and minds of sexual filth is easy, in fact, it's not. Stay with us as we work our way to acquiring freedom from 7th commandment sexual sin. But first, let's deepen our understanding of the things that constitute immorality.

List of Sexual Sins

God's word is full of detailed instruction in the activities that he regards as 7th commandment sin. The world's people are engaged in such things, and in fact, Satan uses every means possible to take down both non-Christians and Christians.

Hollywood glamorizes many of these activities, therefore, great caution is needed when considering viewing movies, TV shows, and video games.

Here is a list of sexual sins gathered from the Bible. You'll have to meditate and examine your life by each category of sexual sin. Then commit to eliminating both the temptation and the activity from your life. 

• Adultery (Galatians 5:19). What is adultery? Adultery is a spouse looking, thinking, lusting, scheming, flirting, pursuing, and finally sharing any type of sexual experience with someone other than his or her spouse. It begins as a sin rooted in marital unhappiness and unfulfillment, which nine out of ten times makes both spouses culpable. Adultery advances by capturing the mind, the heart, and finally the body. It is both a physical and spiritual sin which God despises and condemns. All efforts should be geared towards eliminating each step, from the marriage relationship to the final physical act during the adulterous "slide."
• Fornication (Hebrews 13:4). What is fornication? A good definition of fornication is the "voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons or two persons not married to each other." The New Covenant forbids all types of temptations and activities that lead to fornication. This activity amounts to cheating on one's future spouse, because of the lack of trust in God's provision of a spouse. It's a lack of sexual self-control, and rebellion against God's ordained behavior for those who follow Him. All sex outside of the marriage covenant is forbidden. Breaking this sin sets a person up for a shipwrecked faith, which we'll discuss in the next section.
• Rape (1 Timothy 5:2-3). What is rape? Rape is forced sexual activities of all types upon a defenseless victim. Rape is actually criminal behavior and so obviously disgusting and sinful that it doesn't need to take up space in this column. 
• Incest (1 Corinthians 5:1). What is incest? Incest can be defined as "a crime of sexual intercourse, or cohabitation, or even marriage between related persons." Like rape, incest is so vile and criminal in God's eyes that it needs little instruction. Both rape and incest are so vile even America has laws against the activities.
• Sodomy and bestiality (1 Timothy 1:8-10; Leviticus 20:15). These two activities are abominations in God's eyes. The activities disgust Him because they are so filthy and unnatural. Bestiality actually crosses creature domains, meaning that bestiality finds one type of creature crossing-over in sexual relations with another type of creature. It breaks God's ethical code at every level. 
• Unnatural lusts (Romans 1:24-27). All homosexuality activities and lifestyles are considered abominations by God Almighty. Friend, you may have inclinations and tendencies towards this type of behavior, but you are not obligated to indulge by anything other than sinful desires to fall into Satan's grip, which is strong in this area. Satan loves homosexuality, effeminate behavior (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), and all types of lewd, unnatural desire and shameful acts. Protect yourself and flee from this free and easy, one-way ticket to self-destruction (whether "Christian" or otherwise). 
• Unclean imaginations, thoughts, purposes, and affections (Matthew 5:28; Colossians 3:5).
• Corrupt and filthy communications, and the watching of such; speaking of such; and listening to such (ex. pornography, sexual jokes, etc.) (Ephesians 5:3-5). 
• Dressing immodestly (1 Timothy 2:9). Women especially, you're as guilty as a lusting man when you wittingly tempt him to conjure up immoral thoughts. Men, turn your eyes away from immodestly dressed women. Take control of your eyes and heart. 
• Unbiblical marriages (Mark 6:18; Malachi 2:11-12). Seeking marriage that doesn't have God at the center is asking for failure. This includes gay marriage, open marriage, and all forms of "practical" marriages. 
• Polygamy (Matthew 19:5-6). One spouse is good and plenty for every man. 
• Unjust divorce (Matthew 5:32). Despite what we hear, nothing really good comes out of divorce, meaning that the ultimate situation is both marriage partners submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Giving up your rights to God, and to the partner you selected, mends broken marriages.
• Desertion (1 Corinthians 7:12-13). A sinner who deserts his or her spouse and family asks for the punishment of Cain (Genesis 4:14). 
• Unchaste company (1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Corinthians 6:14–15). The saying goes, "Bad company corrupts good morals." That is so true and wise of you to take heed. If your motive is to expressly win the soul of a sinner to Jesus Christ, and you can withstand spiritual attack, then by all means, win their soul. However, if you enjoy the company and shenanigans of sinners you'll want to flee from the temptations. God desires your personal holiness more than your misguided evangelistic efforts.

Grave Consequences for Sexual Sin

Please read the following discourse God gave to Paul to pass onto the Christian man and woman.

"Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, "the two," says he, "will become one flesh." But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin that a man does is outside the body," but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 NHEB.

Adultery in ALL of its forms constitutes idolatry. An adulterer basically bows to another god, the god of their heart. He or she dismisses Jesus Christ, his work, and his Spirit, and pays homage to their god (Hebrews 10:26-31). It is hedonism.

Hedonism results in a dead spiritual life. A Christian wants to do everything possible to avoid shipwrecking his or her spiritual life through sexual misconduct (1 Timothy 1:19). Sinning against your conscience, your spouse and family (future or present), and against God almighty brings guilt, shame, despair, and a lost, cold spiritual life.

Obedience to the 7th Commandment

So, wow, after all that information we're all feeling badly - feeling guilty, shameful, and foolish. Humans are defiled from within (Mark 7:20-23), and often, the defilement spreads to the body (1 Corinthians 5:1).

Where do we go from here? What can be done about my past sexual sins? What can be done about the current sexual struggles and sins? Finally, what can be done to protect myself in the future? Help!

First, to clarify, true Christians can fall into sexual sin. However, God will save the true believer from utter destruction. He will give the Christian a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). This isn't to say that there won't be terrible repercussions - more than likely there will be (1 Corinthians 5:5). For the true, but sinning, Christian the constant companion of shame will follow you, overshadow you, and unceasingly haunt you (Psalm 32:3-4). Get started on the road to recovery.

The Christian must first and foremost begin the process of repentance. Repentance happens through your agreement with God that your sexual sin is against his law (Psalm 32:6). The next step entails stopping the sin in its tracks. Then stop with your justification of the sin. Admit your guilt of the sin. Finally, apologize to God and the affected parties, accepting all consequences as just punishment (Hebrews 12:10-11).

The smoke will eventually settle, and when it finally does, move on by forgetting the past, and guarding against the sin in the future (Philippians 3:13-14).

Fruit of the Spirit Response to the 7th Commandment.

Satan and his worldly system are duping you, my friend. They are lying to you regarding your so-called "rights" (Mark 8:33). You've fallen into their trap like a little helpless pawn.

Christians have no "rights," other than the right to lay down one's life. Therefore, pick up your cross and follow Jesus to Golgotha. Die to yourself, your sinful desires, your schemes, and your dreams. As a disciple of Jesus Christ you're called to deny the empty and vain pursuits with which the world entices you (Romans 8:5-8).

Cleanse your mind with daily Bible reading, deep study, and devotion to following Jesus, on his terms. Scripturally guided prayers of repentance and commitment are to be the norm. True disciples obey Jesus Christ (John 14:15). Real disciples give up their rights, including their sexual "rights," in order to become slaves to Jesus Christ (Romans 6:19-20).

Our bodies MUST honor Jesus Christ at all costs, at all times (Ephesians 5:3), with no exceptions. When failure occurs, and it may, seek repentance, praying that God forgives your rebellious soul.

Churches must exercise caution in disciplining someone who fails the 7th commandment. The last resort in handling a cold-hearted, unrepentant sinner is to excommunicate him or her, in order to save the person's soul (1 Corinthians 5:2). However, the church must be careful to not destroy the future of a repentant sinner (2 Corinthians 2:6-8).

7th Commandment: Grasp This!

Christians must stop treating sexual sins casually, because of the sins' serious nature. The 7th Commandment is adamant in its message that sexual sins destroy faith. They destroy the hope of the lost, and they destroy the spiritual life of true Christians.

Sexual sins ruin everyone who falls prey to them, which is why Satan uses the seduction of the flesh to destroy the spiritual lives of millions of people. Do not become his next victim. Recognize that your own sinful lusts are what open the door to temptation (James 1:14), so flee from sexual sin! You'll be glad you stopped it in your mind, before it reaches your extremities.

Be careful, too, because Satan will try and ruin you after God straightens out your life. You'll turn from sexual sin, make everything right with everyone, receive forgiveness from God; but then Satan moves in to finally deceive and destroy you.

Know and believe this my dear friend, God can, and WILL, totally forgive all of your sins, no matter how horrible, i.e. as long as you don't forever forsake him (1 John 1:7-9). Accept his graceful forgiveness, which saved you in the first place (Romans 7:21-25). Accept Jesus' forgiveness here: Sinners Prayer.

Your welcomed to join our next Bible study lesson: 8th Commandment #5.08.

7th Commandment Bible Study Questions:
1) How can seemingly "perfect" human love be so terrible according to the Bible?
2) "Shacking up" has exploded in growth recently. Why is this such a bad thing if the people will eventually become husband and wife anyway?
3) If a Christian soul experiences powerlessness in his fight with porn, how can he defeat the sin? (see Romans 6).

More 7th Commandment Bible Verses:
But we know that the law is good, if a man uses it lawfully, as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for men who have sexual relations with men, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine. 1 Timothy 1:8-10 NHEB.

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV.

The 7th Commandment Prayer:
Lord God, please forgive the sexual sins that haunt my past. Release me from the torment of my guilty conscience. Show me the way to have joy that can only be experienced by your complete forgiveness. God, heal me once and for all time. Father, I pray for all the people within the church. I pray that they understand the terrible consequences of slavery to sexual sins. Show us how to live a holy life. Give us strength to withstand the temptations that Satan and his world send my way. O Lord, heal and protect me, both now and in the future. All this, Lord, for the sake of your name, and the glory that belongs to You alone. In Christ's name, Amen.

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