FORNICATION

I. UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
    A. Defined:  illicit sexual activity; a general term including adultery, homosexuality,                etc.

    B. Fornication is not:
        1. Love – 1 Cor. 13:5-6
        2. Freedom – Jn. 8:34; 2 Pet. 2:19
        3. Progress (cf. “It’s the ‘90’s…”) – Prov. 14:34
        4. “Normal behavior” – Jere. 6:15

    C. Fornication is:
        1. “great wickedness and sin against God” – Gen. 39:9
            a. Sin is transgression of God’s law – cf. Rom. 7:3-4
        2. Sin against one’s own body – 1 Cor. 6:13-20
        3. Sin against another – 1 Thess. 4:6

II. BEGINS IN THE HEART – Matthew 15:19-20
    A. We need to control our thinking – Prov. 4:23
        1. Study – Psa. 119:11, 104; 1 Pet. 1:13-14
        2. Pray – Matt. 6:13
        3. Meditate – Psa. 1:1ff.; Phil. 4:8

    B. We need to control our environment (where we can)
        1. “Watch” – Matt. 26:41; 1 Cor. 16:13
        2. “Resist” – Jas. 4:7-8; 1:12
        3. Choose friends wisely – 1 Cor. 15:33
        4. Be careful what we see – Matt. 5:28; Job 31:1

III. THE WORLD ENCOURAGES AND PROMOTES FORNICATION
    A. By atheism – no God, no standard of morality, no accountability, no judgment – cf.              Rom.1:28ff.

    B. By evolution – acting like animals because that’s what is being taught

    C. By alcohol & drugs – breaks down inhibitions, dulls the conscience, tranquilizes
         guilt – cf. Lot’s incest with his daughters, Gen. 19:30-33

    D. By a society saturated with lust – movies, magazines, immodest apparel, dancing,             etc. – cf. Jas.1:14-15; 1 Pet. 2:11

CONCLUSION: 
1. God has made provisions to prevent fornication – 1 Cor. 7:1-2
2. We must respect God’s law – Heb. 13:5

                                                                                                            - Dan Richardson