Six of the twelve books of the New Testament mentioning sexual immorality that I could find are Pauline Epistles. Reading through these six scrolls, one can wonder, “Why amid powerful topics written, such as born by the free woman, we are the righteousness of God in Christ, the Lord directing hearts into the love of God, inheritance in Christ, persevering through persecution, above all earnestly desiring to prophesy, the power of loving one another, fight the good fight of faith with the prophesies spoken over you, why Paul consistently addressed sexual immorality?” 

Paul, the Emissary of Christ, understood his task was to preach the Gospel revealing the mysteries hidden from long ago. One of those mysteries is Christ in us, the Hope of Glory. The promise through water baptism in Christ and God’s Holy Spirit and fire tabernacling within us caused every convert’s spirit to be awakened into a life led by the Spirit, putting to death the old self–the old nature. As Paul proclaimed to Colosse, “Christ has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of the Son of His Love.” Paul wrote to those in Galatia, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless, I live, but Christ lives in me.” 

As this personal journal entry continues, it will be evident that much scripture has salted this entry, highlighted to me while reading and listening to the scriptures. They will come across as thoughts, but you will recognize them as portions of scripture, some referenced and some not. Let’s continue. 

Paul, the disciples, and other followers of Jesus were in the throws of nations receiving the Good News for the first time. They were encountering God and receiving revelation from His Holy Spirit, equipped to preach. Amidst broadcasting this Good News of the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, the current state of society’s tradition accepted sexual immorality as standard. The Good News of Jesus would naturally be confronting this tradition. Since Christ was inviting humanity into a new nature, the fruit (immorality) of the old self, alive within the soul, spirit, and body of humankind, would now need to respond. Those not rescued from the fire were captive to the deceiver; therefore, the power of such captivity still cultivated sinner’s lives through the prideful lusts of their flesh. 

This thought may sound crazy, but in the spirit realm, what the demonic and its theology puts the souls of humankind through can fall under the heading of “human trafficking.” True love buried within a human soul created in the image of God longs for worship, love, holiness, and to walk in the power of choice towards honor and life. Humankind was formed not for the captivity of lifeless darkness but for the Love of God.

Around 2007, a theologian and historian taught me that the immorality found in Rome at the time of Paul was worse than what we witnessed in 2007. I wonder if his observations would differ today. Altars to baal and other false gods always demand the blood and purity of children and the enslavement of men and women into perverted false worship and love, and the Good News of Jesus would naturally be confronting such tradition.

Paul taught those rescued and transferred into Messiah’s Kingdom, in Thessaloniki, about the fruit of their lives to be one of resurrection into sanctification and stewarding their body in honor. Paul speaks of the new nature of man that would not transgress or defraud another member of Christ’s body through sexual immorality. He acknowledges the fruit of one walking in the power of holiness, which is the identity of the Spirit of God.

The incredible reality is that we have died and are hidden in Him, the resurrected Christ in God, seated with Christ in heavenly places. Daily we are to consider the members of our earthly body to be dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry; instead, alive in the Spirit through the knowledge of the One who created us. 

To Colosse, Paul said, The expression of holiness would be to receive the heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other. 

To those in Ephesus, he instructs to “walk as Children of Light, and the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth.”

To the Galatians, he wrote, “If we live by the Spirit, we should walk by the Spirit.” That living fruit activated will taste and empower one into “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” 

He wrote to those in Corinth, “The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body…and those who join their body to Christ are one with Him.” Any activity outside of such a faithful union is idolatry in the eyes of God. It is the way of the sword of the Lord to receive the truth that immorality is like uniting with a prostitute. Not only is that against Christ in us, but also a defrauding of the one we engage in corruption.

We live in days where deception is near to even the very elect. In this era, the harvest is upon us in our generations. Not only of souls coming into the Kingdom of God, but also tares revealing themselves. Such a moment empowered by God can lead to the pulling out of the tares and throwing them into the fire of the Holy Spirit. A sign that old nature has awakened into its fullness is if the “tare” is not given to God but instead met with yieldedness. Wisdom cries for us to return to truth and rejoices amidst the baptism of fire from Father God. He is worthy of a pure and spotless bride yielded to Him alone. Tares found in the inner man oft come with the need for healing and deliverance. God’s Spirit reminds us of what Jesus has spoken to us, recovering all that was previously lost. Deception cannot take hold where God’s fire dwells.

I remember the day Christ came with an alert regarding an assignment of satan coming against someone I loved. He said, “Satan is coming to tempt through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” It is through our gates of life and the windows of the eyes of our hearts that pride’s greed attempts to come in and walk the paths within our souls. Hearing from Jesus such warnings empowers one to have compassion for the targeted one. Strength to stand and watch, praying in the Spirit until victory wins. 

Paul admonishes us to #1,” Keep the faith,” and #2, “keep a good conscience.” One who has had their conscience burned has lost trusting faith, consequently suffering shipwreck. The superiority of title or position opposes faith and does not manifest Christ’s way, nor does it work amidst the war of temptation. For what do we have that we did not receive from God? Temptation is active, it is to our advantage to turn to God and the power of His Word walking in humility and boasting about the Lord and Him alone. In this present age, there is an acceleration of darkness with the nearer coming of Christ; hence immorality “seems’ rampant. Be on the alert, even as Christ required of His disciples. Pray without ceasing.

I found interesting the definition of immorality in the Torah writings. Zimmah is the Hebrew word for Immorality, which comes from Zamam. Zimmah means wicked mind, lewdness, and mischief. Zamam means thought, to consider, and to plan. Before the debauchery of immorality captivates one, there is always a thought. Quiet or loud, there is a thought and emotion to be recognized and responded to in either agreement or rebuke. God the Father knew what He was doing as He empowered Paul to write to us, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. The battle is in the mind, and God has given the strategy for a victorious win toward holiness. 

A noticeable battle is often expected before we define the moment as “Warfare.” A ‘thought’ entering one’s mind usually does not come with alarm bells announcing, “Warfare!!” or “Incoming assault!!” With a chuckle, I write this next portion. As someone from the Mideast, when warfare is impending, we do not look for a thought; instead, we often passionately look for arrows or maybe a javelin. On second thought, that is biblical. God instructed, “Take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” The original thought was the assault; therefore, it is good and wise to remember that the onslaught often begins with a deceptive view of thought. Example: Joseph disagreed with Potiphar’s wife’s thoughts. Potiphar’s wife lusted after what she saw with her eyes. This woman’s societal standing puffed her up as she postured herself in the pride of her life situation. She demanded a response to the sensuality of her flesh. 

Like Joseph (manager of Potiphar’s estate), although we are amidst a God-permitted assignment, we too cannot be drawn through the lust (energy) of the flesh, the desire of the eye, nor the pride of life (the position). If temptation comes, it doesn’t matter if the tempter has hold of the collar of our rightfully given mantle, turn around and run. It is better to lose a mantle temporarily than to lose our ability to please the Lord.

Please permit me to address lust for a moment. Humanism’s throning of self-worship through demonic doctrine has enthroned lust to manifest its pinnacle once again. Lust demands the sensuality of the flesh to be fed, holding the notion that self-acknowledgment, applause, and fulfillment are the goal and gospel of the generations. “Follow your heart” or “Do whatever makes you happy” are dangerous to those who strive to follow Truth. Yes, we are family to God, but we are not the author of life.

God began all things with and through His Son. If we could take seven steps back and look at the entrance into Life, we would not see ourselves as the framework of the ancient gate; instead, we would see Jesus covered in His Father’s mantle of love. The veil tore open, welcoming all who believe into their life created by THEM–He who is the One True God. The Author of Life invites us to come in and become what was written of Him upon the tablets of our hearts. 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men… And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-4, 14

Draw close to the love and fear of the Lord into holiness. Vessels of honor are baptized into the newness of life through repentance, chosen to be found faithful, and embracing union with Christ. For it is true of what Paul proclaims of Christ Jesus. “Great beyond all question is the formerly hidden truth underlying our faith: He was manifested physically and proved righteous spiritually, seen by angels and proclaimed among the nations, trusted throughout the world and raised up in glory to heaven.” 1 Timothy 3:16

“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason, I found mercy so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:15-17

In the Grace of God, one daughter redeemed by the King of kings.