The adulterers

1. 1. "ADULTERERS"...

      1. The Greek word is moichos {moy-khos'}

      2. It means to have unlawful intercourse with another's wife or husband (Thayer)

         1. This may be while they are still married...

         2. Or even AFTER they are divorced if not for the right reason - cf. Mt 5:32; 19:9

      3. So a person can be guilty of adultery either:

         1. By having relations with another's spouse

         2. By marrying someone who either:

            • Did not put their first spouse away for fornication

            • Or was put away by their spouse for ANY reason

   2. "GOD"...

      1. The Supreme Being, eternal and holy - Re 4:8

      2. Omniscient and Omnipresent - Ps 139:1-12

      3. Loving, yet just - cf. Jn 3:16; He 10:30-31; 12:29

   3. "WILL JUDGE"...

      1. The Greek word is krino {kree'-no}

      2. "the act of condemning and decreeing (or inflicting) penalty on one" (Thayer)

2. [Marriage should be held in honor, because the Bible makes it clear that God will condemn and somehow inflict penalty on those who are fornicators and adulterers who do not repent!
   
   But why will God judge fornicators and adulterers?]WHY GOD WILL JUDGE FORNICATORS AND ADULTERERS

   1. BECAUSE THEY DESTROY THE LIVES OF OTHERS...

      1. They destroy marriages

         1. Either their own, by their infidelity (trust is often destroyed)

         2. Or others, by committing adultery with another's spouse

         3. Sexual immorality is a major cause of divorce, which God hates - Mal 2:16

      2. They destroy families

         1. Where divorce occurs, families are shattered

         2. The children usually suffer the most, often with severe emotional problems throughout their lives

         3. Jesus warned about despising the needs of children - Mt 18:5-7,10-11,14

      3. They destroy friendships

         1. Read carefully Pro 6:30-35

         2. It is difficult, if not impossible, to restore good friendships after one has violated another's spouse

   2. BECAUSE THEY DESTROY THEIR OWN LIVES...

      1. Read carefully Pro 5:1-14

         1. You lose your honor (your reputation is destroyed)

         2. You lose your wealth (ever hear of alimony?)

         3. You lose your health (via STDs, perhaps even AIDS)

      2. Adultery and fornication is indeed a sin against your own body - cf. 1 Co 6:18

         1. There is emotional damage (wracking guilt)

         2. There is social damage (ostracized by others)

         3. There is physical damage (venereal disease)

   3. BECAUSE THOSE WHO ARE CHRISTIANS ARE ESPECIALLY GUILTY...

      1. They have taken members of the body of Christ and made them members of a harlot - 1 Co 6:15-16

      2. They have taken their body, a temple of the Holy Spirit, and given it to a child of the devil - 1 Co 6:19-20

      3. As Christians, who have been...

         1. Made in the image of God

         2. Redeemed by the blood of Jesus

         3. Made a temple of the Holy Spirit ...they have allowed their lusts to bring them as low as animals!

3. [When God's HIGHEST CREATION, because of purely selfish reasons, destroys marriages, families, friendship, even their own selves, we can understand why God WILL JUDGE such, and why Paul wrote what he did to the Corinthians:
   "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Co 6:9-10)
   But HOW will God judge fornicators and adulterers?]HOW GOD WILL JUDGE FORNICATORS AND ADULTERERS

   1. HE WILL JUDGE IN THE FUTURE...

      1. They will not inherit the kingdom of God - 1 Co 6:9-10; Ep 5:5-7

      2. They will suffer eternal torment - Re 21:8

   2. BUT HE ALSO JUDGES IN THE PRESENT...

      1. They become God's enemies - cf. Ja 4:4

         1. While this passage likely speaks of spiritual adultery, it would apply to literal adultery as well

         2. Adulterers are estranged of God's fellowship, care and love

         3. True peace and joy cannot be theirs

      2. They receive in their own bodies what they rightfully deserve - cf. Ro 1:24-27

         1. Those who engage in such immorality do indeed "receive in themselves the penalty of their error" (e.g., syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, AIDS)

         2. But such is only a FORETASTE of the torment fornicators and adulterers will receive, if they do not repent!

CONCLUSION

1. There are many good reasons to honor marriage and keep the "marriage bed" undefiled...

   1. The bond between a man and a woman whose relationship is built upon trust and love

   2. The joy, peace, and love that children in a strong family enjoy, and deserve

   3. The value of strong families in shaping our communities in which we live

2. But we have focused on God's judgment on those who destroy this important fabric of our society, and how it gives new meaning to the phrase "be sure your sin will find you out" (Num 32:23)

   1. It is almost impossible to keep immorality secret

      • Physical infirmities will more than likely bring it to the surface eventually

      • Or loose lips will!

   2. Even if one succeeds in hiding their immorality in this life, not so in the life to come!

3. To close on a more positive note, let's offer some hope for those who have been guilty of adultery and fornication...

   1. You may not be able to escape the physical consequences of your actions

   2. But you can be forgiven, and escape the eternal consequences!

As we consider once again what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, a city known for it loose morals...

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Co 6:9-10)

We now notice the next verse...

"And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Co 6:11)

The gospel of Christ promises wonderful blessings to all sinners who will come to Jesus in faith and obedience!

Have you been "washed", "sanctified", and "justified" in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God? (Ac 2:38; 22:16; Ti 3:5)