What does Paul mean when he says that all other sins are out of the body but he who commits fornication sins against his own body?
I have read about this in Matthew Henry's commentary but it is still unclear. When you have sex with someone is it true that you form a lifelong bond with them which can only be broken at death? And do you live with the uncleanness in your members for the rest of your life? What about people who are raped?What about people with bi- polar who have a manic episode and commit sexual sin because they have no control over themselves? There is very little information available on this. Perhaps someone could mention books that deal with this subject.
1 Corinthians 6:18
ESV - 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
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A Lamb
This is a complex question that delves into many facets so let me try to break it down to the most simplistic view based on my understanding. Our body – The Bible teaches that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and God’s Spirit lives in us. We can see this in scripture as an example 1 Cor 6: 19 – “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own” Sexual Intercourse - When we have sexual intercourse with someone we become one with that person. 1 Cor 6:16 – “Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."” You can read this all the way back to the book of Genesis with Adam and Eve in Gen 2:24 - “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Notice how in Gen 2:24 above it states that a man unites with his wife and they become one flesh. God always intended sex to be between a husband and wife so anything outside of that is not from God. Now lets take the two together and combine it. If your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and God’s Spirit resides in you and then you fornicate then you end up defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit. In short you sin against your own body. People who are raped and those suffering from sexual disorders – This is something that is out of the control of the person being raped as it’s an atrocity being committed against them. The person being raped is not committing sexual sin against their body but the person doing the act is. Deut 22:25-27 states that the punishment for a man doing such an act is punishable by death. Bi-polar, depression and many other afflictions are a result of curses and demonic influence on a person’s life. Again these can be broken and people can be set free. I know because I myself was addicted to pornography and I used to pray for this curse to be removed. It was affecting my life and I felt like it was dragging me down to self-destruction as I even remember coming from Church and going to my computer to feed my addiction. Then one day out of the blue someone brought a Pastor home and he placed his hands over me and prayed and it was like someone flicked a switch in me. I didn’t tell him of my addiction as I was too ashamed but what I experienced was the awesome power and love of God and have not been inclined ever since which was back in 2008. Jesus Christ my Lord set me free and has given me power to overcome. Now just imagine if I go back to my old ways it would be like crucifying Jesus all over again and I would most definitely be sinning against my body and Christ. Hope this answers your question, Shalom.
Lynda Hickman
The idea of bonds formed between sexual partners is an extra biblical concept & is not supported by Scripture. Many use verses in 1 Samuel 18 to support this idea but the truth is, David & Jonathan were as close as brothers, their love for each other was the deepest of friendships & evidence of total commitment. Nothing more. I know a woman who is involved in the Unity Church. She believes that she can have a lasting relationship with a tree because she was taught that their god lives in trees. That is as much mysticism as is the idea of soul ties. The only bond that is broken at death is marriage that was committed to the GOD of the bible. Sexual sins are no different in the eyes of GOD than any other sin. All sin is rebellion against Him. He does not have a scale or a color chart by which He measures sin. Paul spoke of "uncleanness" many times. In Romans 6, speaking to believers, he said that they (we) have been set free from sin. That doesn't mean that we won't sin, but it does mean that now that His Holy Spirit resides in us, we can make a choice as we are no longer slave to sin. Paul said he spoke in "human terms" because of the weakness of the flesh. But we can make a choice that shows whether we are a slave to Christ or still lingering in the slavery of sin. Consider again the words of Paul in Romans 6:21-23, "What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, & having become slaves of GOD, you have your fruit to holiness, & the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of GOD is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD." Yes, "uncleanness" often effects a person for their entire life as the following statistics show. According to the CDC, in 2013 there were 1,401,906 cases of Chlamydia; of Gonorrhea, there were 333,004 cases. Then there was Syphilis with 17,375 cases which does not include the 348 cases of "congenital" Syphilis, babies born with Syphilis because their mothers had the primary infection. It is evident that sexual sins can have a life changing effect, even to the next generation. But GOD's grace is sufficient, regardless of the sin. The fix for all sin is easy. Jesus said His yoke was easy & His burden light (Matthew 11:30). And in 1 John 1:9 we read, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful & just to forgive us our sins & to cleanse us from all unrughteousness." As for those mentioned, rape victims & those with mental disorders, this comes to mind; we live in a fallen world where sin runs rampant. The propensity to sin causes terrible atrocities such as rape & sexual assault. But, as with mental disorders, GOD in His infinite wisdom understands that humans are broken, He knows that the effects of sin, of mental disease & how it often interferes with our understanding of His precepts making it more difficult to follow Him. But, we still must obey Him. In all situations, to the true believer, Romans 8:37-37 should be our banner. I am adding a bit of a post script here in regards to Romans 6:21. We all produce fruit. From the moment we take our first breath, we are producing fruit. At some point along the way we either accept Christ as our Savior or we don't. If we have accepted His gift of salvation, then all of our sin, "not in part, but the whole" (Horatio Spafford) is taken from us. But still, all those years of producing bad fruit, the sin of all the bad choices, more often than not, has a life long effect on us. Consider what Paul asked, "what fruit did you have in the things of which you are now ashamed?" So to those who are young I would say, set your heart & mind on Christ. Follow Him. Depend on Him to guide you in the choices you make in life. Don't get to be old, looking back on all the fruit in the things that now cause shame, at the wrong choices made & the sin that has likely changed the direction of your life in ways you can not imagine.
Kristy Howell
I support the answer provided, but desire to add these thoughts based on observations of many of whom I have counseled. There is a bonding, a "super-glue" that does take place when sexual intercourse takes place. It is what God intended in the intimate bonding between a husband and wife. Sex outside of marriage forms unholy sexual bonds (often called soul ties). This can happen, even without intercourse (i.e., emotional affairs, petting, etc.) When repentance takes place, we can do something about those unhealthy and demonic soul ties. Renouncing verbally, in the presence of a confidential counselor or trusted Christian, can have a powerful effect in spiritually severing these ties. The steps of remorseful repentance and renunciation must be genuine and from the heart, which the Holy Spirit can aid and/or observe in the conviction of sin. These steps are vital- not only in preserving the intimacy for marriage only (Hebrews 13: 4 "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." NIV) but in one's obedience to the Lord.
Jermaine Locke
There is no other sin a man can commit that impacts the the body so instantly and deadly, immediately weakening the brain and the rest of the body. The bible gives an account of the effects on the body in 1 Cor 11:30: "...not discerning the body (not knowing its purpose and hence abusing it) many of you are weak, sickly and even more sleep; both a natural sleep and the sleep of death." Of course carried out by unclean spirits who have gained access to your body by becoming one with another person other than your spouse. The spiritual reasoning behind phenomena is that the body was created for a spirit to dwell in besides our spirit. To be exact, the other spirit should be the holy spirit, 1 Cor 6:19. However, when we become one with another apart from our spouse, the two becomes one flesh and one spirit, hence unclean spirits, including hers,have legal rights and a bridge to enter into your body and destroy it. The weakening usually begins in the mind. The same happens when we lust for another woman and look at pornography.
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