Not making yourselves abominable

In Egypt, Joseph resisted temptation to adultery at great personal cost. Image from the Vienna Bible, 1743 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

God has always called His people to holiness:

Lev 11:43-44 The Scriptures 1998+  (43)  ‘Do not make yourselves abominable with any creeping creature that creeps, and do not make yourselves unclean with them, lest you be defiled by them.  (44)  ‘For I am יהוה  {Jehovah} your Elohim, and you shall set yourselves apart. And you shall be set-apart, for I am set-apart. And do not defile yourselves with any creeping creature that creeps on the earth.

1Pe 1:13-16 The Scriptures 1998+  (13)  Therefore, having girded up the loins of your mind, being sober, set your expectation perfectly upon the favour that is to be brought to you at the revelation of יהושע  {Jeshua} Messiah,  (14)  as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance,  (15)  instead, as the One who called you is set-apart, so you also should become set-apart in all behaviour,  (16)  because it has been written, “Be set-apart, for I am set-apart.”

Sanctification is a state of purity, set apart from defilement and dedicated to God and His service. This includes keeping our bodies from fornication (sexual immorality).
To do that, Jeshua calls on us to refuse the “passion of lust” that generates sexual sins and reminds us that which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man.

Mat 5:27-29 The Scriptures 1998+  (27)  “You heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  (28)  “But I say to you that everyone looking at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  (29)  “And if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish, than for your entire body to be thrown into Gehenna.

Mar 7:18-23 The Scriptures 1998+  (18)  And He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside is unable to defile him,  (19)  because it does not enter his heart but his stomach,1 and is eliminated, thus purging all the foods?” Footnote: 1Mt. 15:20.  (20)  And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  (21)  “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil reasonings, adulteries, whorings, murders,  (22)  thefts, greedy desires, wickednesses, deceit, indecency, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  (23)  “All these wicked matters come from within and defile a man.”

Though living in this world we should not be conformed to this world, but be transformed in the newness of our mind, so that we may demonstrate what is the will of God: what is good, and what is well-pleasing, and what is perfect.
We should be an example to others, who have to see a difference of living between us Christians and non-Christians. Many in the world can not master their feelings. We should work on it and make best efforts to gain control over our bodies by renewing our minds.

Rom 12:2 The Scriptures 1998+  (2)  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim.

By living up to the renewal of our mind, that you we know experimentally what the will of God is, we can live in a pure condition according the Law of God and as such presenting ourselves to God as his worthy children, showing the world we are set apart or being holy.

Doing which is good and acceptable and perfect in the eyes of God we can use our bodies in holy ways that honour God.

Our choice to have pure love, good sanctified relationships, no escapades in our sexual and spiritual life not only honours God but shows our respect to our partner and those around us.

On the other hand, those who do not know God live to satisfy their fleshly lusts. By doing so, they dishonour themselves and God.

We as Christians are called out of sin’s defilement to be holy and pure in mind and body.

+

Preceding articles:

Part of a great team but also of gender discrimination

Reactions against those of the other sex

Leaven

What Does The Bible Say About….Fornication?

 

++

Additional reading:

1. Subcutaneous power for humanity 2 1950-2010 Post war generations
2. A Living Faith #1 Substance of things hoped for
3. No man is capable of self-improvement on his own
4. Christian values, traditions, real or false stories, pure and upright belief
5. Object of first woe
6. Gainsayers In Apostolic Days
7. Male domination and tyranny giving opportunities to defile the Name of God
8. Looking for True Spirituality 5 Fruitage of the Spirit
9. WWJD
10. Belonging to or being judged by
11. Follower of Jesus part of a cult or a Christian
12. Nazarene Commentary 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 – Flee from Immorality
13. Hebraic Roots Bible 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 – Flee fornication and be joined to our Master

+++

Related articles

• Businessman convicted of defilement
• Court remands father of four for defiling 13-year-old housemaid
• Court remands teenager for alleged defilement of 2 minors in Ota
• Hypocrites and Heretics
• Farmer jailed for defiling daughter
• Father Gets 20 Years For Defiling Daughter, 4
• Raunchy Comedian Amy Schumer Defiles Iconic Franchise Images
• Beauty of Holiness
• LISTEN: The Theology on Homosexuality: We Must Remember the Children, Part 3 (The Torch Leadership Foundation Institute’s Hill, Lutzer, McKissic Lecture Series with Daniel Whyte III)
• Reflective Moment ‘What To Be Filled With’