Sanctified

It is God’s will for His children to be sanctified, by being vessels unto honour, and “prepared unto every good work” (2 Tim 2:21). We are also commanded to “abstain from fornication!” To “abstain” means to keep oneself from doing something. “Fornication” is from the Greek word ‘porneia;’ from which the word pornography was derived. God’s word uses this term as a general description for any type of illicit sexual immoralities (1 Cor 6:18). To “abstain from fornication” means to deliberately choose not to get involved in any such immoral practices.

As God’s children, we need to be reminded that the Spirit of God now dwells in our bodies (1 Cor 3:16). Therefore, our bodies are “not for fornication, but for the Lord” (1 Cor 6:13)! When a husband and a wife is joined together in marriage, “they shall be one flesh” (Gen 2:24). That union is a picture of “Christ and the church” (Eph 5:32). Therefore, “marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled” (Heb 13:4). Fornication is committed when a person is physically joined with someone whom he or she is not married with (Mt 19:9). In order “to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband” (1 Cor 7:2). If you are married, then simply abstain or refrain from it! We must know how to possess our “vessel in sanctification and honour” (v. 4).

 Because our bodies are so frail, feeble (2 Cor 4:16), and very prone to temptation (Mt 26:41). We need to “walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:16), so that we don’t fulfil the lust of the flesh. How? By constantly abiding in Jesus (Jn 15:4); studying His word (2 Tim 2:15), praying always (1 Thes 5:17), listening to the preaching (Titus 1:3), fellowshipping with other believers (Heb 10:25), going soul-winning (Prov 11:30), and serving Him with joy and gladness (Ps 100:2)! When we are “rooted and grounded in love” (Eph 3:17), He will help us abstain from fornication! God bless you!



-Pastor Melito Barrera