The Sin of Adultery
Exodus 20:14
Introduction: Braden’s story on having broken the seventh commandment.
Like murder, adultery has been an issue since the beginning of human
history. It remains a very serious issue as we begin the 21st Century.
Although adultery is indeed a grievous sin, it is rarely portrayed in that light.
Adultery is not only trivialized, it’s glamorized. It’s the pass time of princes
and presidents, movie stars and sports hero’s. Adultery is a favorite theme of
moviemakers, songwriters, novelist and advertisers.
It’s commonly referred to as an affair or a fling, something fun and exciting,
something that couldn’t be wrong because it feels good, and after all,
everybody’s doing it.
Adultery was declared by Time magazine to be ‘genetic’ and unavoidable
for many people.
One sociologist said, “Adultery seems better suited to the emotional
capacities and requirements of many people, particularly men; it offers
renewal, excitement and continuance of expressions of personal rediscovery;
it is an answer to the boredom of lifelong monogamy. We are by nature
polygamous”.
Adultery is not only a problem in the culture at large; it’s a problem in the
church today as well. We quite often hear of pastors and church leaders
committing sexual sin. The now famous 1988 Christianity Today survey
revealed that one fourth of its readers had committed adultery, and one half
of its readers had done something that they themselves deemed sexually
inappropriate.
I. What is Adultery?
a. Adultery is voluntary sexual relations between a married person and a
partner other than the lawful spouse.
b. Fornication - Sexual relations between partners who are not married to
each other. Greek word - pornos is used in NT for all kinds of sexual
immorality.
II. The penalty for adultery shows the seriousness of the sin.
a. Adultery was punishable by death under the Old Covenant.
The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, the adulterer and
the adulteress, shall surely be put to death. Lev 20:10
b. The New Testament tells us that adulterers will not be permitted to enter
the kingdom of God.
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?
Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers… will
inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor 6:9-10
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lewdness etc…of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told
you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the
kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21
c. This of course refers to unrepentant adulterers.
III. Why is adultery so serious?
a. It brings unimaginable pain and suffering. It crushes the human spirit.
b. Potentially destroys the family. Adultery is the number one cause of
divorce.
c. Adultery is a sin against society. "The adulterer is the enemy of the state.
My personal persuasion is that it is an act of treason to the state to allow
adulterers and adulteresses to go free and unpunished. The greatness of a
people depends upon the purity and strength of the people, and in every
nation where the marriage relation is violated with impunity the virus of
death is surely and certainly at work." G. Campbell Morgan
d. Adultery is a sin directly against Christ.
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 harlot? Certainly not!
Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her?
For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." But he who is joined to the
Lord is one spirit with Him.
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 the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you
have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a
price…1 Cor 6:15-20
IV. Causes of Adultery.
a. Lust- epithumeo, to set ones heart upon, to long for. Sexual fantasizing
whether it be toward an actual person, someone on film, someone in a
magazine, or a recorded voice on the telephone are all considered by Jesus
as adultery in the heart, as a man thinks so he is. Pornography is a great sin
in the church today.
b. Ego/Pride- Maintain image etc.
c. Selfishness- Rod McKuen’s wedding vows: Ministers part- “This vow is
forever. If forever should end for the two of you, or one of you, tomorrow,
or next year, stay together only as long as you need each other. Go only
when your need for the other ends”. Pathetically selfish!
V. Close: Safeguard against the sin of adultery.
a. The heart- Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life. Prov 4:23
b. The eyes- I have made a covenant with my eyes;
Why then should I look upon a young woman?
For what is the allotment of God from above,
And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
Is it not destruction for the wicked,
And disaster for the workers of iniquity?
Does He not see my ways,
And count all my steps? Job 31:1-4
c. Remember your pledge to love and be faithful to your spouse. God does!