FORNICATION
Defined and Described: The word “fornication” is זָנָה zânâh, pronounced zaw-naw in Hebrew H.2182 and only is used four times in the Old
Testament and is defined as a form of adultery falling under the seventh
commandment, usually involving a female in whoredom (prostitution). It can also
be used figuratively as idolatry in the Hebrew language. In Greek, πορνεία porneia, pronounced por-ni'-ah
G 4202 and 4203. The word proneia is
defined as harlotry. The word pornography originates from porneia. Webster’s
classical definition of fornication is: Voluntary sexual intercourse between an
unmarried man or woman, especially a man (1Cor 5:1). Many times during pagan
feasts temple prostitutes (harlots) were provided for the worshippers. Even
today in modern India though it is illegal this evil is still done; even more
alarming are children as young as six or seven being sold to these temples. Of
course venereal diseases, and now HIV is a huge problem, as these sexual transmitted diseases were in
ancient times by participating in these vile ceremonies. According to statistics of these current temple servants
numbering around 20,000 in just one city in India, the number of HIV infections
is a staggering 14,000. Viewing pornography can also be classified as a form of spiritual fornication, and to be discussed later in more detail, as idolatry.
Most expositors hold to a simple definition: “Illicit sexual relations
between, single or unmarried, persons-voluntarily, or with consent.” It is
clear that sexual intercourse outside of a lawful marriage is a work of the
flesh, and is sinful. No one who professes to know Christ Jesus and commits
sinful acts can be saved. If someone occupying the pulpit makes light of these
mandates the Bible is clear regarding this type of behavior, “Know ye not that the unrighteous
shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with
mankind,
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall
inherit the kingdom of God” (1Cor 6:9-19).
Fornication Relative to Adultery and Divorce
The Bible makes allowance of only one cause
for a divorce, and that is fornication:
“But I say
unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication,
causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced
committeth adultery” (Matt. 5:32).
Some misinterpret fornication as permission
to remarry due to the unfaithfulness of a spouse. It is fornication for
someone who is single (no living spouse) to be married to someone who is
divorced (with a living companion) even though they may be considered legally
married. This is why Paul warned the Corinthians to make sure when considering
marriage that they married someone who did not have a living companion, “Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have
his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband (1Cor 7:2). It could be
possible to marry someone else’s spouse.
Some feel
that if they are divorced and involved in a relationship with someone who is
single (does not have a living spouse), the relationship can be made legitimate
by marriage. A legal ceremony in this situation does not change the status of
the single individual. God does not divinely sanction a legal ceremony in which
one of the marriage partners has a living spouse. It takes two elements to have
holy matrimony (male and female). Same sex marriage is also not recognized by
God and is an assault on the divine institution of marriage:
(1) A legal, or lawful ceremony, and (2) Divine
sanction making two one flesh.
In the
eyes of God the relationship mentioned above is a legal ceremony without divine
sanction. A person with a living companion who engages in another intimate
relationship (marriage) with someone other than their spouse, in the sight of
God, is an adulterer. The person who is single in the sight of God is always
the fornicator. Fornication is a form of adultery that always refers to the
single person who does not have a husband or wife in the sight of God. No one
whose marriage is God-ordained can be a fornicator. As mentioned earlier, many
misinterpret fornication as permission to remarry due to the unfaithfulness of
a spouse. People married in the sight of God CANNOT commit fornication. Fornication
is always related to a state of being free to marry in the sight of God.
Many religious organizations use the
fornication exception to mean “unfaithfulness” by one party to the other in a
lawful marriage bond. This cannot be since God’s word has already declared the
two - “one flesh,” a sacred relationship which man cannot put asunder. In the
sight of God two lawfully married persons (male and female) will be “one flesh”
as long as they both shall live. Divorce, or a plea of “unfaithfulness,” cannot
dissolve that which God hath joined together, even though one be a harlot-or,
presumably, a whoremonger:
“What? know ye
not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall
be one flesh” (1Cor 6:16).
A
hypothetical case:
One partner in a lawful marriage becomes dissatisfied with the relationship,
even for a logically good reason. If a simple act of fornication
(unfaithfulness) were a biblically legitimate cause for divorce, that unhappy
partner could deliberately commit an act of unfaithfulness with another person
outside of the marriage union, provoking the other to file divorce, or creating
his own “cause.” Or an unhappy married couple might agree together for one or
the other to commit the act of unfaithfulness in order to get a divorce. It is
immediately evident that God would be no partner in such conniving, and that He
would not have meant the “exception clause” to be such a flimsy “loophole” in
an otherwise strict commandment.
When a
person who is single, in the sight of God, legally marries a person who is
divorced with a living companion, God places the emphasis on the single person.
They are living in a state of fornication and there is no divinely sanctioned
relationship in His sight. God recognizes the authority of civil law to make a
relationship legal:
“But I say
unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of
fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her
that is divorced committeth adultery” (Matt. 5:32).
Jesus revealed
the will of the Father and reestablished what was intended from the beginning
during his ministry. He decreed that the person who is single in the sight of
God has the legal right to set aside a legal relationship with a person who has
a living companion. Jesus placed the emphasis on the single person’s right to
legally undo this situation. Although the couple were legally married, God did
not make them one flesh. Man joined them together legally and man is free to
“put asunder” legally this relationship. The single person is Legally and
spiritually free to marry someone who has never been married in the sight of
God.
For this
cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and
they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh.
What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matt. 19:5,
6).
In a
marriage where neither person has a living companion, man cannot dissolve the
one-flesh relationship. God has bound them together until death. If they break
their marriage vows, they are adulterers, NOT fornicators. In a
marriage where one person has a prior living companion, and the other is single
(no prior living spouse), there is no divinely sanctioned marriage in the sight
of God. The single person is free to have civil law, legally dissolve the
relationship which God did not sanction. In this case man is not putting
asunder what God joined, man is putting asunder what man made legal. We are
taught by the Word of God to obey every ordinance of man which does not
directly conflict with the Word.
“Submit yourselves
to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as
supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the
will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of
foolish men” (l Pet. 2: 13-15).
Any action
which is done legally must also be undone legally whether God approves or
disapproves of the action. A legal marital ceremony is not necessarily a holy
marriage in the sight of God. Fornication always refers to the single person,
indicating that the person is in a marriage where God has not sanctioned a
marital covenant although they are in a legal relationship. The legal ceremony
does not make the single person any less single in God’s sight although he/she
is legally married to a divorced person with a living spouse.
The single
person does not have a husband or a wife in the sight of God. If a person who
is single wants to have an intimate relationship, the Scripture instructs them
to get their OWN husband or wife. Intimate relationships are only acceptable to
God when they are with a person’s own husband or wife. Fornication is an
intimate relationship (marriage) in which the single person does not have a husband
or wife of his/her own, they have married someone who has a living companion;
fornication indicates the absence of a God-ordained marriage covenant.
“Nevertheless,
to avoid fornication, let every man have his "OWN" wife, and let every woman have
her "OWN" husband” (1 Cor. 7:2).
Fornication
is a manifestation of the uncleanness of the flesh. It defiles the body by
subjecting it to an unholy intimate legal relationship not sanctioned by God.
The body is supposed to be holy, prepared for the indwelling of the Holy Ghost.
The body must die to the works of the flesh and live by the Spirit.
“Flee
fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that
committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that
your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of
God, and ye are not your own?” (l Cor. 6:18, 19).
Additional
Scripture For Study on Fornication: 2 Chronicles 21:11, Ezekiel 16:15, 20-29,
Act 15:20, 29, 1 Cor 5:1, 6:18, 2 Cor 12:21, Jude 7.
If you have never accepted or if you have fallen away from Jesus Christ here are three steps you need to take to be saved:
You must admit you are a sinner, confess your sin to Jesus, repent (turn from all you know is wrong), ask Jesus to come in your heart, and begin to follow Jesus by reading and obeying his word and go to a bible believing church that teaches his word. And tell someone what Christ Jesus Has Done For You (Rev 12:10)
May God through Christ bless you!
If you enjoyed this blogpost and believe some else can be helped and may be blessed pass it along:
If you have a prayer request or have questions that need clarification please contact me at: neverstoppraying8@gmail.com
Fornication is separated several times in scripture from adultry and so many don't see that the "except be for fornication" is not the same as adultry. This is a clear explanation.
ReplyDelete