This article will explore various scriptures on lust and fornication, their meanings, and how they can help us live a life that honors God.
Scriptures on lust and fornication are essential for Christians who desire to live a life that pleases God. Lust and fornication are severe sins that can negatively affect this life and the next. Thankfully, the Bible provides clear guidance on avoiding and overcoming these sins if we do.
Scriptures On Lust And Fornication
1. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20
“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
2. Colossians 3:5
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
3. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.”
4. Galatians 5:19-21
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. As I warned you before, I warn you that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
5. Proverbs 5:18-19
“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts always fill you with delight; always be intoxicated in her love.”
6. Hebrews 13:4
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
7. Matthew 5:27-28
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
8. 2 Peter 2:14
“They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!”
9. Proverbs 6:25-26
“Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life.”
10. 1 Corinthians 7:2
“But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.”
11. Ephesians 5:3
“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.”
12. Proverbs 5:3-4
“For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.”
13. 1 Peter 2:11
“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”
14. James 1:14-15
“But each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
15. Proverbs 7:6-27
“For at the window of my house, I have looked out through my lattice, and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.
And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; now, in the street, the market, and every corner, she waits in wait. She seizes and kisses him, and with a bold face, she says, “I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.
I have spread my couch with coverings and colored linens from Egyptian linen; I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; he took a bag of money with him; at full moon, he will come home.” With much seductive speech, she persuades him; with her smooth talk, she compels him.
All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver, as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.”
Understanding Lust and Fornication in the Bible:
16. 1 Corinthians 6:18
“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.”
17. Colossians 3:5
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
18. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.”
The Consequences of Lust and Fornication
19. Proverbs 6:32-33
“He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.”
20. Galatians 6:7-8
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
21. Hebrews 13:4
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
The Importance of Sexual Purity
22. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
23. 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
“For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”
24. James 1:27
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
Scriptures on the Sanctity of Marriage
25. Genesis 2:24
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
26. Ephesians 5:25
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
27. Hebrews 13:4
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
How to Resist Temptation and Avoid Sexual Sin
28. Psalm 119:9
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.”
29. James 4:7
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
30. 1 Peter 5:8-9
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that your brotherhood is experiencing your brotherhood is experiencing the same kinds of suffering throughout the world.”
The consequences of giving in to lust and fornication
31. Proverbs 6:32-33
“But whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; he who does so destroys his own soul. Wounds and dishonor he will get, and his reproach will not be wiped away.”
32. Galatians 6:7-8
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
33. Hebrews 13:4
“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
Overcoming lust and fornication
34. 1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
35. James 4:7-8
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
36. 2 Timothy 2:22
“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
Seeking purity and holiness in relationships
37. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor.”
38. Ephesians 5:3
“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.”
39. 1 Timothy 5:1-2
“Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.”
FAQ on Scriptures On Lust And Fornication
Q: What is lust according to the scriptures on lust and fornication?
A: According to scriptures on lust and fornication, lust is an intense and often selfish desire for something outside God’s will. In the context of sexuality, it is the desire for sexual gratification outside the bounds of marriage.
Q: What is fornication according to the scriptures on lust and fornication?
A: Fornication is sexual activity outside of marriage, according to scriptures on lust and fornication. This includes premarital sex, adultery, and any other form of sexual immorality.
Q: How can scriptures on lust and fornication help me overcome these sins?
A: Scriptures on lust and fornication offer guidance and wisdom on avoiding falling into these sins and overcoming them if we do. By meditating on these scriptures and applying their teachings to our lives, we can experience the freedom and peace that comes from living a life that honors God.
Q: Are there any specific scriptures on lust and fornication that I should memorize?
A: Several scriptures on lust and fornication are particularly helpful for memorization, such as 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, and Proverbs 6:25-26. However, it is essential to remember that memorizing scripture alone is not enough; we must also apply it to our lives and seek accountability and support from other believers.
Q: Can someone who has committed fornication or struggled with lust still be forgiven?
A: Yes. The Bible teaches that God’s grace is available to all who repent and turn away from their sins. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” It is never too late to turn to God and seek His forgiveness and healing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, scriptures on lust and fornication are a powerful reminder of the importance of living a life that pleases God. These scriptures offer guidance on avoiding falling into these sins and provide hope for those who have struggled with them.
By meditating on these scriptures and applying their teachings to our lives, we can experience the freedom and peace that comes from living a life that honors God. Let us continue to seek after Him and His righteousness, trusting in His grace to guide us toward a life that is pleasing to Him.