FACING  SEXUAL IMPURITY HEAD ON: (Part 1 of 4)

I am vexed, grieved, and angry over what is happening to us as a people in the area of sexual impurity.  Just this morning I was recalling a few of the high profile public figures who in recent memory have fallen: One of our Presidents; a recent presidential contender; a public defender in one of our key States, a globally renowned athlete, and several high profile Christian leaders of global reach.  And this is just the tip of the iceberg.  Almost daily I am working with sincere men who are fighting a life and death battle to live a sexually pure life in our sexually-obsessed society.

Following is the essence of a rather lengthy study on sexual purity and what one needs to know and do to experience victory.

MOTIVATIONS FOR VICTORY:

Comprehend God’s high calling on our lives:

To holiness: ^“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Eph. 1:4a)  (See I Cor. 6:13-20; Eph. 5:23 – 27; 1 Thess. 4:3-8; 2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 2:12-14; I Pet. 1:14-16; 2 Pet. 2:9-11, 16; 4:1,2)

To death over our sinful nature: ^“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”  (Rom. 6:6-8)

Recognize that is not God’s intention that we live in a defeated state:   ^“…In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:37-39)  (See Jn. 8:31, 32; Rom. 5:21; 6:14, 15; Gal. 5:13, 15; Tit. 2:11-14)

Understand that God’s grace does not give us license to sin: ^“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Rom. 6:1, 2)   (See Rom. 6:15; Jud. 1:4)

Next week we will continue our Motivations for Victory

This week, may you experience His grace, peace, and protection.

R. Dwight Hill