“You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14

There is a technical difference between adultery and fornication. Technically, adultery is about unfaithfulness of married people to their spouses. Fornication a broader term referring to sexual activity that is not associated with marriage. With all due respect, this is a distinction without a difference as an attempt to create a loophole to allow for sexual sin involving unmarried people.

The fact is, God created human beings male and female and established marriage between one man and one woman as the only place in which sexual intimacy is allowed (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:22-25). Therefore ANY sexual activity outside of marriage is a violation of the sixth commandment. That is obvious for married people. Unmarried people engaging in sexual activity are still violating the commandment because they are violating the sanctity of marriage, by engaging in sex outside of marriage. This too perverts the marriage parable about Christ’s relationship to His Bride, the Church.

I will not include a list of the kinds of sexual activity that qualifies as adultery except to say:

ANY sexual activity that is not between one man and one woman who are married to each other.
Extramarital sexual thoughts, even if they do not become actions, as per Jesus’ in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:27-28) is sin.

Last thought. Virtually everyone who is honest will have to admit guilt before the Lord in this matter. Confess your sin and be forgiven. Cry out to the Lord, repent, and sin no more! (John 8:3-11).

Next time: What about adultery as a grounds for divorce?