No Adultery
Scripture: Exodus 20:1-14
I. Adultery destroys the unity of God’s gift of marriage.
A. Marriage is very important to God. Marriage is so important that it is discussed in the very first chapter of the Bible (Genesis 1:27-28). Sex acts like superglue that binds a married couple together not just physically but also spiritually. We see the binding nature of sex within marriage in 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.”
B. Since God designed sex to be like superglue, you are in serious trouble if you squeeze out the superglue at the wrong time and in the wrong place. It’s very painful to remove superglue! An unmarried couple who have had sex have superglued themselves together whether they realize it or not. To get yourself unstuck from this person that you have joined together with is going to tear at your very soul. It will hurt – deeply. This is why God forbids adultery.
II. Adultery destroys the covenant of God’s gift of marriage.
A. Marriage is a covenant, a sacred promise made before God to be faithful to one another. God hates adultery. Malachi 2:13-14: “And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.”
B. The sin behind adultery is the sin of lust. 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.” Set your eyes on God. Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
III. Adultery destroys the witness of Christ’s church.
A. Ephesians 5:31-32: “‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Ephesians 5:33 commands, “Let the wife see that she respects her husband.” A warning against adultery and a promise of forgiveness is found in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
Application:
Kill your idol of lust and any other idols that lead to adultery and bury them.
Sources:
The Bible
Books by Philip Ryken, Jen Wilkin, J.I. Packer and Kevin DeYoung.
Sermon Discussion Questions
1) What is God’s purpose for marriage as described in Genesis 2:24? What makes adultery so destructive to a marriage?
2) How is marriage a covenant? How does God punish the breaking of the marriage covenant in the book of Malachi? What sin lies behind adultery and where should we keep our eyes if we want to avoid adultery?
3) What is the ultimate marriage according to Ephesians 5:31-32? Can God forgive adultery according to 1 Corinthians 6:11?