Peace be with you. The kingdom of God is at hand, so repent and believe the gospel.
There has been a lot of false teaching about what it is to defile the temple of God, ie our bodies in which the Holy Spirit dwells. Through the scriptures, which cannot be broken, I hope to help dispel some of those false teachings and provide good teaching. Please forgive me if any of this rubs you the wrong way, my intent is only to edify you. For the purposes of this message, the temple of God only refers to the New Covanent temple, our body, and not the old temple in the old testament, though some of the arguments might be applicable.
----------
Fornication = defiling the temple of God.
1Co 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Spiritual fornication has always referred to forsaking the real God of Israel and chasing after idols, those things which are not really God. For instance, if someone believes in Molech or Allah or Baal as their god, then they are spiritually fornicating. God is our everything, including our "spouse", and when we seek other gods that is spiritual adultery.
Physical fornication is all about sex with someone you are not married to. God ordained marriage with Adam and Eve, between people of the opposite sex, and sanctified it. When we engage in any sort of sexual activity (bj's included mr. president) with someone other than our lawful wife, be it our girlfriend or boyfriend, or whomever, this is fornication (or adultery if you're married). This defiles the temple of God, because it is rebellious against God and his wishes for us to remain faithful to one person of the opposite sex until one or both people die. Then that person is free to marry again.
When it comes to defiling a person, we see in Matthew 15, Christ says:
Mat 15:11 Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.
Those evil things which come from our evil heart, defile us, including fornication and adultery.
Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mat 15:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
There are numerous people who believe that those things which go into the mouth can defile the man. Of them, Christ says:
Mat 15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
Mat 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
So we know for a fact, because we believe Christ cannot lie, that not one single thing which enters the mouth can defile the man. This is a hard doctrine for many to accept, even Cephas, the rock, had trouble believing it:
Mat 15:15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
Mat 15:16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
The "religious people" of the day, and even of today, tout the "don't smoke don't drink" philosophy of righteousness. Muslims still do not eat pork because they believe it defiles them. Not that that's the biggest problem a muslim faces, but nevertheless, they do still believe that. Some people refuse to eat meat because they believe that it defiles them because they have killed a poor innocent wittle animal. But the New Testament is clear about the death and eating of animals.
(Luke 15:23) And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
and
Acts 10:10-16
(10) And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
(11) And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
(12) Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
(13) And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
(14) But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
(15) And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
(16) This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
So if you really believe Christ, and you really think Cephas was his apostle inspired by the Holy Spirit, then you have no choice but to believe that it doesn't matter what goes into your mouth, it will not make you unclean. It is our lack of faith in the redeeming power of Christ's blood on the cross that causes us to be so wary and doubtful about this teaching. His blood has made all things clean unto us.
Therefore, it is not fornication, not defiling the temple of God, to drink alcohol, to smoke cigarettes or anything for that matter, to eat red meat, and so on and so forth. The don't drink don't smoke crowd, while honest in their intentions, are really ones who are weak in faith. And neither I nor any christian judges them for that weakness of faith, for Christ did not come to judge the world, but that through him many would be saved. He came to reveal the truth and save us, and he accomplished that mission. "It is finished" he said.
1Co 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
1Co 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
Alcoholics have become slaves to alcohol, but alcohol itself isn't their biggest problem, it is a lack of faith in He who God has sent and raised from the dead. Personally I'm losing my taste for alcohol and smoking, but based on the above, I know it is not a sin to engage in those behaviors. However if I drink and become drunk, the other half of Matthew 15 kicks in, when I might say things that I will regret later because of a lack of judgement.
We all know God made everything, including alcohol, poppies, marijuana, and so forth. All things were made by him, and nothing that exists came into existence apart from his work. They are to be enjoyed with thankfulness if you choose to enjoy them, or they are to be abstained from in thankfulnss if you choose to abstain from them. But to judge another because they do take those things into their mouth is wrong.
Rom 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judges: for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judges do the same things.
Rom 2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things [JUDGING OTHERS]
Rom 2:3 And do you think, O man who judges them which do such things, and do the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God?
Judging others is a sign of hypocrisy in yourself, a far more dangerous condition than eating pork or taking a drink.
Matthew 7:1-5
(1) Judge not, that ye be not judged.
(2) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
(3) And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
(4) Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
(5) Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Should someone who smokes crack be shot? Yet what if you drink coffee, which is a drug as well? Or have ever smoked a cigarette? Then that judgment that you judged with shall be judged upon yourself. Therefore forgive.
And finally, if you are fornicating, or cheating on your spouse, shame on you and stop it. I've done it myself, I've fornicated with my girlfriend for over 5 years, but God brought that relationship to an end, thankfully, and I have been blessed again now that I have stopped fornicating.
There are only a few things that the Holy Spirit demanded people abstain from:
Acts 15:19-20
(19) Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
(20) But that we write unto them, that they abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
4 things. The Holy Spirit knows better than we do, for he is omniscient. He makes the rules. There wsa never a commandment to abstain from alcohol, or from smoking, yet so many will continue to judge others for these harmless acts. But trust God that they who judge shall be judged.
Flee fornication. Flee it like a band of marauding barbarians. Flee it like Joseph fled Potiphar's wife.
Genesis 39:7-12
(7) And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
(8) But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master knoweth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
(9) There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
(10) And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
(11) And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
(12) And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
Its ok to flee. Its right to flee fornication. So do it. Those things which defile the temple of the Holy Spirit are clearly listed in Acts 15, and beyond those things, do not trouble the gentiles about them.
What is the work that God requires?
John 6:27-29
(27) Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
(28) Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
(29) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
IE: his only-begotten son. That faith sanctifies you.
Mark 3:28-30
(28) "Amen I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
(29) But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation"
(30) Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
Your sins are forgiven, to all who believe in Him.
Peace be with you all, may the Lord Yeshua of Nazareth reveal his light unto you. In conclusion, I leave you with the same blessing that Moses gave unto the Israelites, which also happened to hint at the trinity in the threefold blessing in 24-26
Numbers 6:22-27
(22) And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
(23) Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
(24) The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
(25) The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
(26) The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
(27) And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
And may God have mercy on your sins, which are many, but which are forgiven. Forgive others, flee fornication, and judge not.
There has been a lot of false teaching about what it is to defile the temple of God, ie our bodies in which the Holy Spirit dwells. Through the scriptures, which cannot be broken, I hope to help dispel some of those false teachings and provide good teaching. Please forgive me if any of this rubs you the wrong way, my intent is only to edify you. For the purposes of this message, the temple of God only refers to the New Covanent temple, our body, and not the old temple in the old testament, though some of the arguments might be applicable.
----------
Fornication = defiling the temple of God.
1Co 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Spiritual fornication has always referred to forsaking the real God of Israel and chasing after idols, those things which are not really God. For instance, if someone believes in Molech or Allah or Baal as their god, then they are spiritually fornicating. God is our everything, including our "spouse", and when we seek other gods that is spiritual adultery.
Physical fornication is all about sex with someone you are not married to. God ordained marriage with Adam and Eve, between people of the opposite sex, and sanctified it. When we engage in any sort of sexual activity (bj's included mr. president) with someone other than our lawful wife, be it our girlfriend or boyfriend, or whomever, this is fornication (or adultery if you're married). This defiles the temple of God, because it is rebellious against God and his wishes for us to remain faithful to one person of the opposite sex until one or both people die. Then that person is free to marry again.
When it comes to defiling a person, we see in Matthew 15, Christ says:
Mat 15:11 Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.
Those evil things which come from our evil heart, defile us, including fornication and adultery.
Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mat 15:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
There are numerous people who believe that those things which go into the mouth can defile the man. Of them, Christ says:
Mat 15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
Mat 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
So we know for a fact, because we believe Christ cannot lie, that not one single thing which enters the mouth can defile the man. This is a hard doctrine for many to accept, even Cephas, the rock, had trouble believing it:
Mat 15:15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
Mat 15:16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
The "religious people" of the day, and even of today, tout the "don't smoke don't drink" philosophy of righteousness. Muslims still do not eat pork because they believe it defiles them. Not that that's the biggest problem a muslim faces, but nevertheless, they do still believe that. Some people refuse to eat meat because they believe that it defiles them because they have killed a poor innocent wittle animal. But the New Testament is clear about the death and eating of animals.
(Luke 15:23) And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
and
Acts 10:10-16
(10) And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
(11) And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
(12) Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
(13) And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
(14) But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
(15) And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
(16) This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
So if you really believe Christ, and you really think Cephas was his apostle inspired by the Holy Spirit, then you have no choice but to believe that it doesn't matter what goes into your mouth, it will not make you unclean. It is our lack of faith in the redeeming power of Christ's blood on the cross that causes us to be so wary and doubtful about this teaching. His blood has made all things clean unto us.
Therefore, it is not fornication, not defiling the temple of God, to drink alcohol, to smoke cigarettes or anything for that matter, to eat red meat, and so on and so forth. The don't drink don't smoke crowd, while honest in their intentions, are really ones who are weak in faith. And neither I nor any christian judges them for that weakness of faith, for Christ did not come to judge the world, but that through him many would be saved. He came to reveal the truth and save us, and he accomplished that mission. "It is finished" he said.
1Co 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
1Co 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
Alcoholics have become slaves to alcohol, but alcohol itself isn't their biggest problem, it is a lack of faith in He who God has sent and raised from the dead. Personally I'm losing my taste for alcohol and smoking, but based on the above, I know it is not a sin to engage in those behaviors. However if I drink and become drunk, the other half of Matthew 15 kicks in, when I might say things that I will regret later because of a lack of judgement.
We all know God made everything, including alcohol, poppies, marijuana, and so forth. All things were made by him, and nothing that exists came into existence apart from his work. They are to be enjoyed with thankfulness if you choose to enjoy them, or they are to be abstained from in thankfulnss if you choose to abstain from them. But to judge another because they do take those things into their mouth is wrong.
Rom 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judges: for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judges do the same things.
Rom 2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things [JUDGING OTHERS]
Rom 2:3 And do you think, O man who judges them which do such things, and do the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God?
Judging others is a sign of hypocrisy in yourself, a far more dangerous condition than eating pork or taking a drink.
Matthew 7:1-5
(1) Judge not, that ye be not judged.
(2) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
(3) And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
(4) Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
(5) Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Should someone who smokes crack be shot? Yet what if you drink coffee, which is a drug as well? Or have ever smoked a cigarette? Then that judgment that you judged with shall be judged upon yourself. Therefore forgive.
And finally, if you are fornicating, or cheating on your spouse, shame on you and stop it. I've done it myself, I've fornicated with my girlfriend for over 5 years, but God brought that relationship to an end, thankfully, and I have been blessed again now that I have stopped fornicating.
There are only a few things that the Holy Spirit demanded people abstain from:
Acts 15:19-20
(19) Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
(20) But that we write unto them, that they abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
4 things. The Holy Spirit knows better than we do, for he is omniscient. He makes the rules. There wsa never a commandment to abstain from alcohol, or from smoking, yet so many will continue to judge others for these harmless acts. But trust God that they who judge shall be judged.
Flee fornication. Flee it like a band of marauding barbarians. Flee it like Joseph fled Potiphar's wife.
Genesis 39:7-12
(7) And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
(8) But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master knoweth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
(9) There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
(10) And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
(11) And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
(12) And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
Its ok to flee. Its right to flee fornication. So do it. Those things which defile the temple of the Holy Spirit are clearly listed in Acts 15, and beyond those things, do not trouble the gentiles about them.
What is the work that God requires?
John 6:27-29
(27) Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
(28) Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
(29) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
IE: his only-begotten son. That faith sanctifies you.
Mark 3:28-30
(28) "Amen I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
(29) But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation"
(30) Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
Your sins are forgiven, to all who believe in Him.
Peace be with you all, may the Lord Yeshua of Nazareth reveal his light unto you. In conclusion, I leave you with the same blessing that Moses gave unto the Israelites, which also happened to hint at the trinity in the threefold blessing in 24-26
Numbers 6:22-27
(22) And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
(23) Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
(24) The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
(25) The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
(26) The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
(27) And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
And may God have mercy on your sins, which are many, but which are forgiven. Forgive others, flee fornication, and judge not.
