Spiritual Morality

Introduction:

When we hear the word adultery, our minds immediately register sin.  And so it should, for adultery is sin, a transgression of God’s law.  (I Corinthians 6:9-10)  Today we live in a time when physical adultery is accepted almost without question by the majority.  Some in the Lord’s church are openly living in adultery!  We have not taught fully or correctly on this subject in many congregations nor in our homes.  There are some who “Do not want to offend anyone.”  So they do not teach on it at all.  This is to our shame.  For God teaches that those who die in an adulterous state will be lost!  (Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 22:15, I Corinthians 6:9-10)

From a human standpoint, one might understand the non-christian committing adultery; and possibly an “unlearned” new convert doing so.  But for one that knows the truth and the consequences of living and dying in that condition, it is impossible to understand.

However, there is another kind of adultery, which we do not take seriously enough in our teaching.  That is spiritual adultery.  But the consequences of an unrepentant spiritual adulterer, carries the same consequences as physical adultery.

Body:

Ancient Israel committed spiritual adultery in forsaking the Lord God of Heaven, who had taken them for His own.  (Judges 2:11-17)  We need only to read the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel to determine their fallen condition.  (Ezekiel 16:15, 32, 38)

Someone may ask, “What is spiritual adultery?”  “How may we commit the same today?”  Once a person has been baptized for the remission of sins and added to the Lord’s church, we become His bride.  (Revelation 21:2,            Revelation 22:17)  Then when one follows after religious error, doctrines of men, perversions of the scriptures and leaves the church of the Lord; that person commits spiritual adultery!

Sometimes this is done through ignorance.  A lack of knowledge and proper understanding of the scriptures can cause a person to become weak.  It is at that point that Satan walks in and leads us astray.  Over and over, we as christians are admonished to study and know the truth.  (II Timothy 2:15-16)  We are to, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of truth.”  In II Timothy 1:13-14 we are admonished to “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.  That good things which were committed unto thee; keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”  While each of us has the obligation to know the truth, we must also be able to teach it to others.  While teaching the truth in its purity, we must admonish others to hold on to the truth lest someone lead us astray by a perverted gospel.  Read James 4:4-5.

The apostle Paul also warns us in I Timothy 4:1-11 that in later times, some would depart from the faith.  Timothy is told to put the brethren in remembrance of the things which were taught of God.  Verse 11 says, “These things command and teach.”  Our ignorance of these will not stand in the day of judgment!  (Matthew 25:31-46)

Today, there are Christians being drawn into error by smooth talking teachers and preachers on the radio, television, and internet.  (Revelation 2:20-22)  Others are being drawn into groups who openly pervert the scriptures because of a lack of wanting to be as “narrow as the scriptures.”  (Galatians 1:6-10)  So, we not only teach the truth; but we should be aware of false prophets who would pervert the flock.  You surely cannot tell them by their looks!  (Matthew 7:15-20) 

Conclusion:

Spiritual adultery is a very serious matter.  We must be diligent so as not to be led away from Jesus Christ, from His body, the church. 

Bobby Stafford                                                                                                     

July 21, 2013