Adultery
Stay Away From the sin of Adultery.
What is adultery? Adultery is an act of sexual relation tendered by a married person outside of the sacramental vow of marriage wherein the couple makes a commitment that they will be united. When God presented Eve to Adam, Adam said, “bones of my bones and flesh of my flesh and called her woman because she came from him. God bless Adam and Eve. Many believers treated this act of union as the first marriage in the Bible officiated by God Himself.
In the Old and New Testament, adultery is clearly understood as it involves sexual relations between a married man and a woman, not his wife, or a married woman and a man, not her husband. Any sexual relation by anyone outside the sacramental vow is deemed to be a sinful act. The Bible does not mention any excuses, and even a divorced person has no exceptions, as stated in Mark 10:11-12— “In Mark 10:11-12 says: “And he said to them, whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
What’s more, if the couple is still legally married even though they are separated, is it still considered adultery? Sexual contact with anyone else is considered adultery, a sin commanded by God written on the tablet with His fingers. The scope covered under the sin of adultery was extended in the New Testament, as Paul has explained:
1 Corinthians 7:2-5- English Standard Version; “But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his wife and each woman her husband. 3 The husband should give his wife her conjugal rights and the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. So likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
Adultery is not limited to sexual contact, as Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (NIV, Matthew 5:27-28). Adultery causes pain to a peaceful companionship, and it wrecks a family. When someone is sexually attracted sometimes, it leads to an extreme criminal act. A clouded mind can cause an unpleasant result.
When you look at a woman once because you are attracted to how she dresses, the smell of the perfume she wears, or how she walks, admiration could be just average. Still, when you look the second time, it could be curiosity, but when you look for the third time and pause, there is already a seed of intent playing in your mind. Adultery could also lead to idolatry; idolatry connotes worshiping something or someone other than God. Stolen moments bring sweet moments. When you feel you are in heaven at that moment, wait until you feel what the hell will do to you. Be mindful that this is the work of the wicked prince!
Out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, and slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.” (NRSV, Matthew 15:19–20)
If adultery is just a minor sin, look at what sin of adultery is measured with. Jesus said when he was asked: And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother—.” Luke 18:18-20 ESV. Adultery is even mentioned first before the murder. Now that we know how grievous the sin of adultery is let us pray for those we witness doing these things to change their hearts and draw them near to God.
Exodus 20:14 You shall not commit adultery. Exodus 20:17: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife…
But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. (NIV, Proverbs 6:32)
Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. (NRSV, Hebrews 13:4)
Adultery has a lasting effect, and forgiveness from above will be awarded as long as a person asks for forgiveness and confess from their heart, but forgiveness from the offended is not for us to guess; it’s between the person and God.
Conjugal faithfulness is God’s delight. Praise God for His unconditional love.
God is all in all!