For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age… Titus 2:12-13 (ESV)
A person who is involved in fornication (sex outside of marriage) has the same problem as everyone else involved in sin- a heart that is focused on self. The heart of a fornicator believes that their physical needs must be met, that because they have a sex drive and it is “awake” that it must be satisfied.
The old line, “if you love me you will” is often spoken by the manipulator who is only thinking of themselves. The other person, usually a girl will want to prove her love for him and go along with it. She doesn’t realize that he is not thinking of her at all, he thinking only of himself.
In this age, women also pressure men for sex and the peer pressure on them to be sexually active is immense so we cannot paint with a single color anymore.
The heart set on self doesn’t care what the Bible says or what they learned in church about purity. They are discontent to wait for marriage and want what they want when they want it. Fornicators are taught to believe that everyone is doing it, that no one is abstinent anymore and it is unrealistic to think that two people can have a relationship that does not include sex before marriage. They buy the lie that there is no hard in fornication because they are going to be married anyway so what's the harm?
I would suggest to you that a man who is willing to violate his morals and pressure a woman to fornicate- well he might not be the best choice for a godly husband or leader.
The heart of the adulterer is also set only on themselves. Their beliefs and desires are about fulfilling their perceived needs and having their selfish desires met.
Simply put- it is all about them.
They may proclaim they are not in love anymore or are confused and in the process throw out the window the covenant they made before God. There is little to no thoughts of the One Another’s of Scripture, and how to live for their spouse; their life is centered on, “What can you do for me?”
Often the adulterous heart is confused and stormy. They are seeking peace and comfort in another person and they may find it temporarily but it is not long lasting because unless the heart changes, these same thoughts, beliefs and desires will come back again.
Are you seeing the pattern here? All these hearts we looked at are run by the god of Self.
The sexually immoral person is an idolater. Each of us struggles with the horrendous sin of idolatry on a daily basis. As Galatians 5 tells us, idolatry is a desire of our sinful nature. It is reflected in our choices; our words, our use of time, what or who we spend our money on, and where we spend it.
There is no coincidence that Gal 5:19 lists sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure right off the top. They are thoughts, beliefs, and desires that spring out of idolatry.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group. Galatians 5:19-20 (NLT)
Idolatry is not only bowing down to statues, it is anything that means more to you than God does. It is manifested when getting what you want has become more important than what God desires for you. Anything that you love, desire, or serve more than God is an idol of the heart.
We were born to worship and we have been created to worship God, but our sinful lusts have driven us to worship and idolize the things of the world.
More about that next time.