Fornication

1. Introduction

The Oxford dictionary defines Fornication as 'voluntary sexual intercourse between an unmarried couple.' Notice the difference between fornication and adultery. Adultery is 'the act of being unfaithful to one's wife or husband by voluntarily having sexual intercourse with someone else,' whereas Fornication is 'sexual intercourse between an unmarried couple.'
The entertainment media specialises in films, radio shows, books, magazines and reports about fornicating couples. Some TV programmes even encourage young people to fornicate in order to 'gain experience' before making their marriage vows. No one will doubt but that:

Fornication occurs in every country;
Fornication is becoming increasingly popular these days;
Fornication is not being condemned as it used to be;
Fornication is the main reason for the enormous increase in single parent families.

But, you may wonder, is fornication a sin? Most parents when told that their teenage youngsters are fornicating are upset. But why should they be if fornication is a normal activity, a basic instinct? Many young people ask: Why should parents, far less the government, dictate about sexual activity? If they want to fornicate, why shouldn't they be allowed to go ahead and enjoy themselves? Who decides on moral issues anyway? Do you know? Do you care? Does it matter? I think it does. The tax payer is also concerned: or should be.

2. The Law of God

Human beings are incapable of formulating moral laws. Actions considered acceptable in one country are condemned in another. Even the people within a single country have different opinions as to what constitutes good behaviour. Parents disagree with their teenage offspring, teachers with their pupils, governments with their citizens. Everyone it seems has his/her own opinion about right and wrong. Nevertheless, I repeat: Human beings are incapable of formulating moral laws. Because of this we must look to God, the Creator for guidance on what constitutes good moral behaviour. Fornication is strictly forbidden in the scriptures. It is likened to whoredom. Unless fornicators repent, they face severe punishment on the great day of judgement - and perhaps even before.

Deuteronomy 23:	17: There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite (homosexual) of the sons of Israel.
1 Thess.4:	3: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.
1 Cor. 6:	9: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.
1 Corinthians 6:	18: Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
Acts 15:	20: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication,* and from things strangled, and from blood.*
Galatians 5:	19: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,* uncleanness, lasciviousness,*

3. How does God React to Fornication?

In Scripture fornication is linked with whoredom: both acts are strictly forbidden. Consider Yahweh's reaction when the men of Israel began to commit fornication with the women of Moab. Twenty four thousand Israelite men were slain by a strange plague sent by God. It was only the prompt action of Phinehas the grandson of Aaron the priest which stopped that awful slaughter. Here is the story.

Numbers 25:

1: And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
2: And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
3: And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
4: And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.
5: And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor.
6: And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
7: And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;
8: And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
9: And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.

4. Prophetic Warnings to Fornicators

The Bible contains many prophecies about the fate of fornicators. Popular opinion will count for nothing on the great Day of Judgement. Smug, knowing smiles will then be wiped from every face: and ignorance, for those who read this file at any rate, will cease to be an excuse.

Rev.2:

14: But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15: So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16: Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Rev.2:

20: Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21: And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22: Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23: And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were reduced to ashes for sexual sins. They are set forth as an example of how the Almighty God reacts to blatant disobedience.

Jude	7: Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

The people who lived in Noah's time were also blatant sinners. They laughed at Noah's warnings. To them he was an old fool, prattling on about on-coming judgement. Free-love was in fashion at that time. Fornication, adultery, sodomy and sexual excess were the order of the day. But God was not pleased. He wiped out the ancient world because of their refusal to give up sin. It is the same today. Millions scoff at divine warnings. And yet, a terrifying slaughter of souls is just around the corner! Here is what Jesus Christ says about our generation:

Matthew 24:

37: But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38: For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39: And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Fornicators will not enter the Kingdom of God

The Apostle Paul was also very clear in his stand against fornication, adultery and homosexuality. His prophetic warning to fornicators, adulterers and homosexuals reads as follows:

1 Cor.6:

9: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. (homosexuals)

5. Conclusion

No matter how popular fornication is, do not be foolish enough to try it: and if you're already involved, then repent immediately and forsake this soul and society-destroying sin. Marriage is the best safeguard against fornication. Get married if necessary; but do not fornicate. It may be exciting; but it is deadly. Most certainly no one should entertain the idea that he/she can fornicate and get away with it. The Day of Judgement draws near. Keep that sobering fact in mind.

1 Cor. 7:	2: Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
1 Cor. 5:	9: I (Paul) wrote unto you in an epistle not to keep company with fornicators.
Ephesians 5:	3: But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints.
Romans 14:	10: ... for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11: For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12: So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Is Forgiveness Available to Fornicators?

Yahweh will forgive any sin, as long as the sinnner repents and forsakes that sin. But He will punish known sins that are not repented of, no matter how trivial those sins may appear to be.
For information on how to receive forgiveness from sin and to learn the way of salvation click here.

SBS Vital Topics

Author: David B Loughran
Stewarton Bible School, Stewarton, Scotland
1995 ... Updated: December 1999