Introduction
We are living in the last days; times when men are trying to change the standards and moral codes that have been set down centuries ago by God.
God is holy and just and changes not; neither will His standards adapt to meet the imaginary “progressiveness” of the twentieth century.
The so-called “new morality” professes to restate codes of conduct in the light of modern knowledge and science, when in actually it returns to the morality of Romans 1:18, 24, 28. Instead of progress, it is retrogression.
I The New Morality
Proponents of the new morality suggest two “alternative lifestyles.”
1. For unmarried people to live together as husband and wife on a “trial marriage” basis to test their ability to live happily together.
2. For married people to go outside the marriage bond and enjoy extramarital relationships to satisfy their unfulfilled lust.
This teaching says that if one indulges in these sexual experiences ( in or out of marriage) that it will give you the ability to feel at one with the universe and with God! What utter and reprehensible nonsense.
They say that right and wrong are relative terms, with the standard being the desires (needs) of man rather than the strict codes of the law.
They say that sex is an expression of love and should not be prohibited or curtailed.
Homosexuality (or lesbianism) is merely an expression of love between members of the same sex, and therefore should be legalized in order to let people express themselves to one another in a way that seems the most natural.
In the name of compassion the new morality condones adultery, fornication, etc.
However, the Scripture says, “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”; Galatians 6:7
Promiscuity leads to venereal disease and other problems.
The commands of the Lord still stand – Exodus 20:14 “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” and Mark 10:19 “Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery.”
II Immorality
Sometimes we are sked: How can immorality destroy a nation? The answer is because immorality is sin, a transgression of the laws of God Almighty.
Proverbs 14:34 “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
The word “immorality” does not appear in the Scriptures but it has two basic meanings in modern usage: 1) Sexual impurity and 2) Deceit and falsehood.
1. Sexual impurity
a. Adultery – Forbidden in Exodus 20:14; sexual union when at least one partner is married.
b. Fornication – Forbidden in Acts 15:20; sexual union of unmarried people.
c. Effeminacy – Forbidden in 1 Corinthians 6:9; for a male to become like a woman, soft, delicate.
d. Masturbation – Forbidden in I Corinthians 6:9; “…. Abusers of themselves with mankind.”
e. Whoremongering – Forbidden in Ephesians 5:5; a man who practices fornication.
f. Inordinate affection – Forbidden in Colosians 3:5; doting love that is immoderate, excessive, intemperate and disordered.
g. Homosexual sin – Romans 1:27; the sin of sodomy, Genesis 19:5; men sexually involved with men.
h. Lesbianism – Romans 1:27; women sexually involved with other women.
i. Lewdness – Condemned in Judges 20:6; wicked thoughts and devices; licentiousness.
j. Nakedness – Exodus 32:25; the state of undress follows immorality and idolatry; caution against short skirts, low necklines and immodest bathing suits.
k. Divorce – The woman in John 4:17, 18, was living in adultery for she had five husbands and her present man was not her husband.
l. Evil sensual appetite – Condemned in Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:5; lustful, sensual desires.
2. Deceit and falsehood
a. Cheating – Condemned in Amos 8:5; giving short change and poor measure.
b. Dishonesty – Renounced in 2 Corinthians 4:2; shame, deceit, unfairness, unchaste.
c. Bribery – Fire to destroy bribery, Job 15:34; Amos 5:12; refuse bribes, Isaiah 33:15.
d. Gambling – The prodigal wasted his substance with riotous living, Luke 15:13
e. Corruption – 2 Peter 2:19, false teachers promise liberty but being servants of corruption they are unable to produce it. The child of God is to be delivered from the bondage of corruption, Romans 8:21.
f. Extortion – 1 Corinthians 6:10, says that extortioners shall not inherit the kingdom of God. The Scribes and Pharisees were condemned for being full of extortion by our Lord in Matthew 23:25 (extortion means to exact unlawfully).
g. Fraud – Condemned in James 5:4; Psalms 10:7; keeping back wages by trickery.
h. Slothfulness – Condemned in Proverbs 15:19; 19:24; 21:25; 22:13; 24:30; 26:13-15. Romans 12:11 “ Be not slothful (lazy, indolent) in business.” Wasting the master’s time, property and business.
3. Distinction between morality and immorality
Sometimes this is hard to decipher but God uses His plumbline in Amos 7:7-8; and He, judging the heart, is able to discern between black and white, good and evil, dark and light grey. Learn to respect God’s plumbline!
4. How immorality destroys a nation
a. Only righteousness can exalt a nation, Proverbs 14:34. God honors those who honor Him with clean, pure, upright lives.
b. Sin is a reproach to any people, Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”
c. Immorality eats away the heart of the nation: Daniel 5:30-31, immoral Belshazzar gives way to Darus; Babylon to Media-Persia. The great Roman Empire disintegrated through internal moral corruption.
d. God cannot tolerate immorality – Habakkuk 1:13 “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.”
e. God blesses morality (Deuteronomy 28:1-14) and punishes immorality (Deuteronomy 28:15-68)
f. Immorality cannot be hidden from God – Numbers 32:23 “Be sure sin will find you out.”
g. A possible result of the new morality would be a plague of venereal disease.
h. Morality leads to heaven – Luke 10:27, 28 “This do, and thou shalt live.”
Immorality leads to damnation – Revelation 21:8.
III God’s Standard of Morality
The Apostle Paul rebuked the Church at Corinth because of immorality, 1 Corinthians 5:1, for a member had his stepmother as his wife.
We have been called to glorify God in our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20), and this can only be done as we maintain the standards of holiness and righteousness set forth in the Holy Bible, particularly in the Ten Commandments.
Romans 1:18 condemns the new morality and all immorality with these words, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.”
God’s standard of morality is set forth in 1 Peter 1:15,16 “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I (the Lord God) am holy, “Leviticus 11:44; 19:2; 20:7. This standard is also set forth in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
As Christians we have been called on to renounce the 17 works of the flesh enumerated in Galatians 5: 19-21, and to bear the ninefold fruit of Galatians 5:22,23.
1 John 2:17 teaches that the lusts of the flesh will pass away but he that does the will of God shall abide forever.
1 Timothy 5:22 “…neither be partakers of other men’s sins: Keep thyself pure.”
This would include both external purity (committing acts of immorality) but also internal purity in the realm of the mind, Matthew 5:28. This is why the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:1, “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” Girls: Don’t let a fellow touch you until you are married.
Conclusion
The so-called new morality is putting women back hundreds of years by giving a free rein to the lusts of evil men.
The late Dr. J.D. Unwin in Sex and Culture, confirmed scientifically the historic fact that productive social energy is proportionate to the sexual discipline by the two previous generations. His investigations covered the customs of 80 primitive peoples and 16 civilizations over a period of 40 centuries. There were no exceptions.
Rev. Harold J. Ockenga in the Sunday School Times says, “The answer to the New Morality is not only theological but personal. It lies in a clean heart, made so by the cleansing blood of Christ, 1 John 1:7,9; in a commitment to the will of God, to abstain from fornication (immorality), 1 Thessalonians 4:3”
Let us accept our liberty in Christ as liberty to resist all immorality and never as license to cater to the lusts and whims of the flesh.
LESSON # 100 OF ALBAN DOUGLAS
This was my meditation during lunch time. So i try to type it here so that our hearts and mind will be enlighten. I hope that this will open our minds and make a better choice in life. It will save a lot of trouble when we take hid to His word.
