Part 8 of this series on talking about sin using Revelation 21:8, which is partially repeated in 22:15 (those without). Following is the verse from different translations as well as the direct Greek translation. This list does not comprise all sin, it’s a short list, please take the time to study other lists as well that are found in both the Old and New testaments. NO sin: one or many, small or big, can come into the presence of God (heaven): it is Jesus’ blood that takes away our sin and allows us to come before God.
— But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. — Revelation 21:8 (KJV)
— But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. — Revelation 21:8 (NIV)
— τοῖς δὲ δειλοῖς καὶ ἀπίστοις καὶ ἐβδελυγμένοις καὶ φονεῦσιν καὶ πόρνοις καὶ φαρμάκοις καὶ εἰδωλολάτραις καὶ πᾶσιν τοῖς ψευδέσιν τὸ μέρος αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ λίμνῃ τῇ καιομένῃ πυρὶ καὶ θείῳ, ὅ ἐστιν ὁ θάνατος ὁ δεύτερος. — Direct Greek
— tois de deilois kai apistois kai ebdelugmenois kai phoneusin kai pornois kai pharmakois kai eidololatrais kai pasin tois pseudesi to meros auton en te limne te kaiomene puri kai theio, ho estin ho thanatos ho deuteros. — Direct Greek with Roman-lettering
Coming back to the one we skipped, finally we’re at the end of this list: whoremongers/sexually immoral. From the direct Greek text, the word is “πόρνοις/pornois” which is translated to: sexually immoral, debauchee, whoremonger, fornicator.
Whenever the topic of sexual immorality comes up, people get fixated on one thing only: homosexuality. Nothing else will be heard on the topic other than lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT), despite the fact that it is a fraction of sexually immoral things. In fact, Jesus never directly addressed homosexuality, but he did speak multiple times against fornication and adultery. That said, the Bible does make it clear that the practice of homosexuality is a sin. If you disagree with that, that’s something that you will need to take up with God. The next time you go pray, you give Him a piece of your mind on the topic! I’m joking of course; don’t be foolish. Instead humble yourself and ask God to help you accept His commands.
Now, notice how I said “the practice”. Some people are born gay, have a same sex attraction, and they did not choose it. That in itself is not a sin, it is what you do with that attraction that is a sin. It is extremely important to know that! Many young people are tormented and even kill themselves over being LGBT. It further doesn’t help when people of God judge and hate them for it. There is a big difference between denouncing sin and judging someone. The latter will find you with twice the blood on your hand on judgment day. Hate the sin, but love the soul of the sinner: your fruits will show your love. If you cannot or are not willing to sit down with an LGBT person, and love them while telling them about Jesus, then Jesus is not in you.
When it comes to being gay, these are a couple of passages to consider:
The first is to give enlightenment:
Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” — Matthew 19:11-12 (NIV)
And the second is the most important of all, not only for being gay, but any commandment you have a hard time with:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” — Matthew 16:24 (NIV)
Now that we’ve addressed the fraction of what makes up sexual immorality, let’s talk about some others.
Just as it is a sin for a gay person to practice anything sexual with another person, so it is for a straight person, have an opposite sex attraction, to practice anything sexual with another person outside of the bonds of marriage. Even Adam and Eve were noted as being married before they had sex.
Adam made love to his wife Eve — Genesis 4:1 (NIV)
When I say anything sexual with another person, that’s not just confined to fornication, but it also includes making out, feeling up, and such. Additionally, having a boyfriend or girlfriend that you have no intention of marrying.
Now, don’t be deceived and think that just because you are inside the bounds of marriage that you cannot be sexually immoral with your partner. I’m not going to sit here and attempt to spell out everything, but there are some sexual acts that are immoral too. The Holy Ghost (His convictions) needs to be with you in your bedroom just as much as He needs to be in your regular everyday living.
When it comes to divorce, Jesus spoke strongly against it. Yet, despite Him speaking strongly against it, some of the same people who make LGBT a sole hot topic are guilty of this sin, and they are reprehensibly dismissive of it. Your partner is your partner for life unless he or she breaks the vow. If you don’t get along, that’s unfortunate and you can/should separate, but you cannot remarry or it will be adultery. So, choose your partner carefully! Those were Jesus’ words, not mine.
“I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” — Matthew 19:9 (NIV)
Last, I want to mention masturbation. A lot of people tend to classify it as sexually immoral. However, masturbation in itself is not sexually immoral and it’s actually healthy. Now, before you rejoice and go get your tissue, notice that I said “in itself”. What you think about or entertain while you masturbate can be a sin. So, if you decide to masturbate, always first ask yourself “what is fueling my desire?”. If you plan on getting off to the cheerleader or jock at school, the office hottie, the person at the gym, or pornography, that is not “in itself”; that is with lust and depravity: sexual lust and depravity alone are the sin. We live in a society/culture, the West at least, where everything is sexualized: from entertainment, to what people wear, to how they even talk. As you are exposed to this and absorb it, it will affect and influence you. It is vitally important that you consecrate yourself to God to overcome what is thrown at you. You could not pay me to watch some of the shows, play games, or consume media that’s out there because of the amount of filth in them.
We are human and God designed us to be sexual, which starts with puberty. Whether we like that or not, our reproductive systems and the desires that come along with them are functions of God: in a healthy person they are functioning and need to be cared for (hygiene and fluidity). When those desires kick in, and they are very VERY strong, the key to handling them is to ask Jesus to help you with them. And, that’s the thing, you must want the [His] help. If you don’t, then you will give into the temptations of the flesh.
I have not gone over all the things that are sexually immoral in this post as I cannot. Even if I tried, by the time I finished writing something new would come up. Therefore again, it is vitally important that you consecrate yourself to God and let His Spirit guide your sexuality so that you do not sin against Him.
If you are not saved/redeemed please do so today.
Come to God open, empty and without statements.
Ask him to be real to you and believe in Him.
Humble yourself before Him, confess who you are, and tell Him that you are sorry for your sins.
Ask Him to forgive you and to come into your life and start a personal relationship.
Believe this and be born again!
May God bless and keep all who read this.
May God bless and keep all brothers and sisters, new and old in the faith, in his name.
With his love and mine,
Chrom