4th Apr 26 | 21:01
Daily Study
Victory over sexual sin in the inner man
Acts 15 - Series 1/Episode 71 - Thu, 02nd Apr 2026 - Victory over sexual sin in the inner man - Acts 15:01-21 - THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL - Romans 08:11
Acts 15:19-21 Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, (20) but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. (21) For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."
...abstain from ... sexual immorality...
Abstaining from sexual immorality has another aspect that concerns those who place their faith in Jesus. I Corinthians 6:17-20 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (18) Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. (19) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (20) For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
We are one spirit with the Lord when we receive Him as our personal Lord and Saviour. We are to glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits. Sexual immorality affects not only our bodies, but also our inner man.
This is what our Lord taught us. Matthew 5:27-28 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.' (28) But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Temptation to sin sexually enters through our bodies, but it affects and impairs our decisions to be faithful before God in the inner man. II Samuel 11:1-4 It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. (2) Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. (3) So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" (4) Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.
Joseph, as a young man, was wise. He safeguarded his body so that sexual sin would not contaminate him in the inner man. Genesis 39:9-12 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. *How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?*" (10) So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her. (11) But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, (12) that she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.
Sexual sin pollutes our souls. I Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
When we come to Christ, we have come to obey God from the heart. Romans 6:17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. We have now become slaves of righteousness. _Romans 6:18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness._
We were not just indulging in sin; we were slaves to sin. Even if we wanted to do good, we were not able. Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
It is from this slavery of sin that we have now come to be slaves of righteousness for holiness. Romans 6:19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
It is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus that sets us free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
It is by the Holy Spirit that we live out the righteousness and holiness of God in our bodies. Romans 8:4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to live out righteousness and experience holiness in our mortal flesh. Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.