How to Avoid Sexual Immorality

How to Avoid Sexual Immorality

Matthew 5.28-30

27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Last week we spoke about the perversion of the human gift of sexuality through sin. This week, however, I want us to look very specifically as to how to avoid such things. Most of us are probably thinking to ourselves right now, “Oh, I know how to do that!” Beloved, the truth is that sexual immorality is one of the simplest of sins to fall into, especially among younger Christians. It is the most biological impulse we have, and thus it is quite simple for Satan to tempt us with it.

Christ teaches us how we can avoid sexual immorality. He first outlines what exactly sexual immorality is. He says that “anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Beloved, this is revolutionary. This means that what we fill our minds with is the real root of sexual immorality. It is not merely the act of sexual immorality that is sinful, but the thought of it. This is why we do not indulge in pornography, why we steer away from crude sexual humor and why we refrain from indulging in our sex-crazed culture. Sin begins with a simple thought or a simple look. The story of David and Bathsheba reminds us all what damage just a little look can do. A man was killed, a child was miscarried, and David's kingdom faced turmoil all because of a simple look.

That, then, is our most effective way of dealing with sexual immorality. Our Lord says that “if your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.” Of course, this is not literal. What Jesus means here is this: don't partake in that which will cause you to sin. If you are tempted with pornography, stay away from that aisle or the internet until you have self-control. If you are tempted with adultery, cling to your husband or wife. If you are tempted with fornication, remember your body is the temple dedicated to the Lord. In all these things we are practicing abstinence. We are casting out our eyes so that we may save our whole body from sin. Jesus says that “it is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”

This is never easy, of course. The temptations are literally everywhere. One cannot even watch a prime time network show without sexual immorality either being committed or joked about. We can practice self-control by placing our focus on God during these times. We must place our faith in the spirit and not in the flesh. Romans 13.14 tells us to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Beloved, put on Jesus and cast out what would lead you away from Him. If you are tempted sexually, cling to Christ. Purify your mind and your heart. Remember the blood Jesus shed on Calvalry so that you could be sanctified. Do not defile His temple that is in YOU!

If you are struggling with sexual immorality in any form, please come and make it right with the Lord. We need not be more ashamed of it than any other sin. We know that as Christians God forgives us. Hopefully we have not reached the point where we have damaged a relationship with someone else, be it spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, family, or especially our own Heavenly Father. Hopefully we have not damaged ourselves. But if we have, beloved, know that Christ can repair any situation. We must simply put our faith and trust in Him, and He will restore us into His will! Amen.

With love in Christ,


Austin Aldrich