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

Sex is not intrinsically bad. Sexual sin is the misuse or perversion of what is good. God ordained human sexual intimacy for procreation. He also made it pleasurable. But He ordained an all-important guideline that, if not obeyed, makes sexual intimacy sinful. That guideline is that sexual intimacy is to be practiced only within the confines of marriage. And He ordained marriage to be between one man and one woman who are married to each other. Any and every form of sexual intimacy that is outside of marriage as God defines it is sinful.

How sad that we live in a day and age in which that is no longer commonly understood. But we do, so it needs to be stated. Our sinfully perverted culture has veered so far from understanding and accepting this truth, many not only celebrate sexual sin, but vilify those do not join their celebration.

This widespread rejection of God’s law and celebration of sin makes it even more difficult to stay pure because perversions of God’s gift of sexuality accost our eyes and ears virtually everywhere. So how do we stay pure? Let us:

Know, believe, and be reminded of God’s will in this matter.
Do our best to avoid temptation, realizing that it is almost always everywhere in popular culture.
Confess sin and any particular weaknesses to temptation in this matter.
Pray, asking God for His grace to remain pure.

Next time: a word for both singles and married couples.