 We must first understand that the world and scripture have significantly different views of acceptable behavior. This study may be the first time you’ve spent a significant time reading and trying to understand what God’s word has for your life. For that, let me encourage you that putting this word into your hearts and minds will provide you with truth and ammunition against the Enemy. We get this confidence through Paul’s writing in 2 Timothy…
16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Within scripture, God is very clear about our sinful nature, His desire to keep us close to him, and the damage that this sin will create in our lives. The Apostle Paul wrote 20For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged. (2 Corinthians 12:20-21) Paul’s fear illustrated here is that ungodly behavior effects the growth of the Church by jeopardizing our own relationships. We loose respect from our families and it affects our ability to be close to our Lord. In fact, in Galatians Paul warns us of the ultimate price we’ll pay for our sins. 19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21) By starting this study, I commend you on making the necessary steps to restore your relationship with the Lord and protect your inheritance. Finding Strength in the LightUntil now, you have probably been like so many other men hiding your sinful behavior during the day only to revisit it in the darkness of a hotel room, computer room at the house, or some other hiding place. The darkness has great power, it hides us from criticisms that we might get from our wives, families, and friends. However, the darkness isn’t a place that we can hide from God. By embarking on this journey with a small group bible study of the biblical principals of sexual purity, you’ll start to live your life in the light. When the struggles come, and they will, rely on Romans 13:12-14 where Paul writes... 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. As this scripture states, you have strength in the light, strength from your small group, strength from your family, and strength given to you through your relationship to Christ. Lean into this strength and persevere, the rewards are worth it. |
(Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)
