PROTECTION AGAINST A DEADLY SIN

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness … Galatians 5:19

All believers need to be aware of the danger of walking in the flesh. The works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21a is one of those warnings. The first four works of the flesh mentioned concern sexual sins.

One of the saddest experiences for any believer is hearing about a person who loves God and is an effective servant of God falling into sexual sins.

There are sins one can commit and still be respected as a servant of the Lord. We might call these the respectable sins. They are things like anger, resentment and jealousy. Sexual sins are not respectable sins.

A person guilty of sexual sin will no longer have influence as a Christian leader. In addition to that loss, he will possibly live with a deep sense of guilt for the rest of his life. Some have noticed that often a Christian leader who continues in sexual sin dies an early death. Perhaps this is a judgment of God or perhaps it is for grief about what he has done.

In addition to the damage one does to himself, he does much harm to the cause of Christ. He gives hardened sinners another opportunity to say, “If that is Christianity, I want no part of it.” One cannot even describe the hurt he brings to his family.

It is reported that there has been an increase of involvement in pornography—even among church people. This could be a major cause of an increase of Christian leaders committing sexual sins.

Whatever the cause of temptation to commit sexual sin may be, one needs protection from that cause. There may be times when a firm resolve not to engage in sexual sin will protect the tempted believer. However, God has provided a greater protection. Romans 8:5 says, “… those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5).

We walk according to the Spirit and not in the flesh when we experience the crucifixion of our flesh by living out our oneness with Christ.