This arose as I noted that God's righteousness, expressed in the Hebrew "Torah" (or Law) proscribed capital punishment for a number of offences, including adultery. So, what are God's answers to these good questions?
ADULTERY - VIOLATING AN EXCLUSIVE COVENANT
Our English word "adultery" comes from a French word, avoutre, arise from the Latin verb adulterare, which means "to corrupt." The verb "adulterate" means "to debase or make impure by adding inferior materials or elements."
The Hebrew concept of "adultery" is very similar. It means to debase and violate the intimacy and commitment of an exclusive relationship by either "unfaithfulness" to it or "intruding into it." This violation of an exclusive relationship, defined by the promises of a covenant, was identified as heinous, sinful, a violation both of the holiness of God's character and of the holiness of the relationship. God hates when something exclusive, pure, promised and life-giving is violated by introducing what is impure, inferior, and debasing. Like all sin, adultery destroys the life of what is good and holy.
This is why "adultery" is the term used by the Spirit in Scripture to describe idolatry, the worship of other gods other than the One True God. God made people (in His image) for a love and worship relationship. Thus we are not to love nor worship what is made, but rather only the Uncreated One who made all things. GotQuestions.org explains
The Old Testament often referred to Israel’s idolatry as a wanton woman who went “whoring after” other gods (Exodus 34:15–16; Leviticus 17:7; Ezekiel 6:9, KJV). Further, the entire book of Hosea likens the relationship between God and Israel to the marriage of the prophet Hosea and his adulterous wife, Gomer. Their marriage was a picture of the sin and unfaithfulness of Israel which, time after time, left her true husband (God) to commit spiritual adultery with other gods.
"Adultery" also describes actions which violate an exclusive, love-covenant relationship between a male/husband and a female/wife. When someone pledged to exclusively love, in the marriage covenant, his/her partner, to pursue the love-benefits of that covenant-relationship OUTSIDE of that relationship is to commit adultery, and this can be done emotionally (one's affections) and physically (one's sexuality).
God created the one man-one woman for-life marriage covenant relationship for the purpose of creating life and nurturing an exclusive one-ness (i.e., "one flesh" relationship). To violate this is to destroy it and to dishonor God.
Jesus taught that to lust after another woman in one's heart (apart from the physical act) was to commit adultery.
Indeed, God's holiness and word requires that all sexual experience and pleasure be a celebration within the marriage covenant, and of the exclusive marriage relationship.
FORNICATION - SEXUAL PRACTICE and PLEASURE OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE
The Biblical word "fornication" is actually a distinct term from the word "adultery." Fornication is seeking and having the experience of sexual pleasure before and/or outside of the marriage relationship. It comes from the Greek word porneia, from which we get the English "pornography."
While it may appear remarkably "out of step" with today's widespread sexual practice, the experience of sexual union and pleasure was designed by God for three distinct reasons. First, to celebrate the exclusive marriage covenant. Second, to create a one-flesh bond between a husband and wife. And third, to provide a means for a couple to "be fruitful and multiply," having children who reflect God's image and walk with Him in the world. Sexual experience, by God's definition, should not happen outside the marriage covenant relationship. When it does, God considers it to be sexual sinning.
Soberingly, and without apology, God maintains through Scriptural revelation this moral standard. Passages like 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, Ephesians 5:3-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, and Hebrews 13:4 are crystal clear - God will judge the "fornicatious" and "adulterous."
FINALLY - THE QUESTION: Is there a line before marriage?
Perhaps the clearest passage is 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. Before marriage or between marriages, one believer should not "defraud" another believer in how one uses his/her body sexually. Sexuality is to be controlled in holiness and with the help of the Spirit of God. "Each one of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God." We are not merely to get our cues from unredeemed culture practices, as "normal" as they are argued to be.
This means that before the marriage covenant is made (i.e., before marriage), we must not stimulate one another sexually nor engage in sexual pleasure UNTIL the exclusive marriage covenant is made (i.e., marriage vows). Genesis 2 sets the steps. God made the woman for the man, brought her to the man. The man recognizes God has made the woman for him, and pledges himself to her. Then, and only then, do they become "one-flesh."
Here is where the godly leadership of the male is key. No young man should ever ask the woman he is seeking to marry to dishonor God through pre-marriage sexuality with him. He should set the pace. He should give leadership, saying to her, "Let's do this God's way. And I promise, in my pre-marriage relationship with you, not to lead you into fornication, nor will I ever, once we are married, adulterate my exclusive love relationship with you."
Out of step with today's sexual practices? Without question. Holy, and honoring to God, and life-giving to a life-long marriage? Again, without question.
In our day and age, only the enabling power of the Holy Spirit can bring about our holy obedience in sexual practice.
Indeed, God's holiness and word requires that all sexual experience and pleasure be a celebration within the marriage covenant, and of the exclusive marriage relationship.
FORNICATION - SEXUAL PRACTICE and PLEASURE OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE
The Biblical word "fornication" is actually a distinct term from the word "adultery." Fornication is seeking and having the experience of sexual pleasure before and/or outside of the marriage relationship. It comes from the Greek word porneia, from which we get the English "pornography."
While it may appear remarkably "out of step" with today's widespread sexual practice, the experience of sexual union and pleasure was designed by God for three distinct reasons. First, to celebrate the exclusive marriage covenant. Second, to create a one-flesh bond between a husband and wife. And third, to provide a means for a couple to "be fruitful and multiply," having children who reflect God's image and walk with Him in the world. Sexual experience, by God's definition, should not happen outside the marriage covenant relationship. When it does, God considers it to be sexual sinning.
Soberingly, and without apology, God maintains through Scriptural revelation this moral standard. Passages like 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, Ephesians 5:3-11, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, and Hebrews 13:4 are crystal clear - God will judge the "fornicatious" and "adulterous."
FINALLY - THE QUESTION: Is there a line before marriage?
Perhaps the clearest passage is 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. Before marriage or between marriages, one believer should not "defraud" another believer in how one uses his/her body sexually. Sexuality is to be controlled in holiness and with the help of the Spirit of God. "Each one of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God." We are not merely to get our cues from unredeemed culture practices, as "normal" as they are argued to be.
This means that before the marriage covenant is made (i.e., before marriage), we must not stimulate one another sexually nor engage in sexual pleasure UNTIL the exclusive marriage covenant is made (i.e., marriage vows). Genesis 2 sets the steps. God made the woman for the man, brought her to the man. The man recognizes God has made the woman for him, and pledges himself to her. Then, and only then, do they become "one-flesh."
Here is where the godly leadership of the male is key. No young man should ever ask the woman he is seeking to marry to dishonor God through pre-marriage sexuality with him. He should set the pace. He should give leadership, saying to her, "Let's do this God's way. And I promise, in my pre-marriage relationship with you, not to lead you into fornication, nor will I ever, once we are married, adulterate my exclusive love relationship with you."
Out of step with today's sexual practices? Without question. Holy, and honoring to God, and life-giving to a life-long marriage? Again, without question.
In our day and age, only the enabling power of the Holy Spirit can bring about our holy obedience in sexual practice.
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