Pastor Ralph Posted January 1, 2013 Report Share Posted January 1, 2013 Q4. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8) Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? What effect should these warnings have on Christians? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Commissioned Posted February 7, 2013 Report Share Posted February 7, 2013 Q4. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8) Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? What effect should these warnings have on Christians? Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality because it is a sin done in the body. God calls us to live a holy life and when we reject the instructions given on sexual immorality we reject God and not man. Punishments for one sin is no more severe than for another sin. Christians should have a fear of God and heed to these warnings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charisbarak Posted February 11, 2013 Report Share Posted February 11, 2013 Severe punishments against sexual immorality are necessary because we are rejecting God directly, and harming His temple. (our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit). It should be a "heads up." We are hurting many others including ourselves when we disobey in that arena. It is incompatible with holiness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t-c Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Because these sins were rampant in the early church as Paul evangelized the gentiles. They had lived, and were use to this sinful, sexually immoral lifestyle. I think Paul had to drive home the point all the more, that this needed to stop; that it was not compatible with God's word and that the penalty was severe. Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? 1 Corinthians 6:17-19 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside the body, but he who sins sexually, sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God? You are not your own; I don't know about the punishment being more severe, but sexual sin is noted as being different from all other sins. What effect should these warnings have on Christians? These same verses pertain to us also. Our society has become very permissive and sexually liberal and this same culture has spilled over into the church. The church is suppose to affect the culture, not the reverse. These are as strong a warning to us today as they were to the early churches 2000 years ago. God's word hasn't changed, nor has His attitude on sexual sin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delivered Posted February 12, 2013 Report Share Posted February 12, 2013 Q4. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8) Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? It isn't Paul that is speaking, it is God. We must remember, the Son tells us who to "FEAR" - it is his Father. We who believe will hold dear to our hearts the Father’s laws, knowing that they teach us how to walk in "SANCTIFICATION" and to be part of this holy family. Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? As I read in the KJV verse 6, God tells us not to defraud, not to covet by taking advantage of your brother in "ANY MATTER", a deed by implication an affair; by extension, business, matter, work, etc; so my answer is punishment is severe to those who willfully defraud their brother in "ANY MATTER". What effect should these warnings have on Christians? The effect it should have on us is that we take the warning seriously. Each day we should wake up and ask God to help us in times of testing, for we know they will come, we know the flesh is powerful, we also know that the Holy Spirit that lives in us is "ALL POWERFUL", this is why we must "PURPOSE" in our hearts to "SERVE" Him, for we know that each and every day Satan will have something new to temp us by, to take us away from God's blessings. WE HAVE BEEN FOREWARNED. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 Q4. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8) Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? What effect should these warnings have on Christians? The Holy Spirit dwelts within the being of the believer making the believer a temple. The temple is a holy place. God instructed us in Lev. to be Holy as He is Holy. Sexual immorality defiles the body thus defiling the temple thus grieving the Holy Spirit and outright disobeying God. Therefore the punishment is more severe than other sins and Christians should take heed and follow God's instructions or they may not get through the gates of Heaven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion of Grace Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 Q4. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8) Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? What effect should these warnings have on Christians? Paul mentions such severe punishment for sexual immorality because when we engage our bodies in sexual immorality, we are actually using a holy vessel that houses the Holy Spirit for sin and debauchery. If we claim to believe in Christ, we become a holy Temple. To use that temple for evil and for what we are warned NOT to do, then we are in open defiance to God and all we say we believe. For sure, the punishment for sexual sin is severe, but I hesitate to say "more" severe. Revelation tells us that in the end, "Outside the city are the evil people, those who do evil magic, who sin sexually, who murder, who worship idols, and who love lies and tell lies." We are not to sin in any matter. It is true, sinning sexually is a sin against ourselves and others using our bodies set apart as holy temples and that is severe, but I've experienced too many people "excusing" lying, cheating, stealing, living in arrogance and pride, attempting to keep people out of the kingdom because of sexual sin all the while claiming their sins weren't quite so punishable or as bad. That is being foolish and being deceived. Sin is sin and we need to repent of all and all are welcome when repentance is sincere. All Christians should be warned to examine themselves and what they believe and to take heed their hearts are aligned right so they do not WANT to sin against God. How could we take any chance that would keep us from joining the One we love so much? How could we sin against the heart of the One who has been so kind and gracious to us? How could we bear being separated from Him? These thoughts alone should invite us to heed our actions while here on Earth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parkerslope Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? I believe that it breaks down this way: we are created in the image of God - as a Christian, we have become a temple or home for Holy Spirit - God made us to have sexual desires for the opposite sex - God also has given to us marriage, one man and one woman - sexual interest and desires of passion in marriage are appropriate for bringing children into this world - and most of all Paul uses the illustration of the husband and wife compared to Christ and the church. Because of its association to Jesus and the church, Paul wanted to emphasize the importance of NOT doing sexual acts outside of marriage. Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? Man puts sins into categories of worst to the least worst. To God, sin is sin and all sin is rebellion against God. Paul uses the severe punishments to put strength into his message against sexual sins. What effect should these warnings have on Christians? Immense weight! In our world today, sex has become a very common word, but with a lot of misunderstanding. Sex is good, inside marriage, but outside of marriage, it becomes dirty and foul. The freedom of sexual conduct today only enlarges the impact it has on young people and children. We must teach our children the principles of the Bible on how to conduct ourselves each day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etheldma Posted February 14, 2013 Report Share Posted February 14, 2013 Q4. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8) Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? What effect should these warnings have on Christians (A) I think Paul were telling us what thus say the Lord we all had been warned about it ( No, to God it no big or small sins all sin is sin for what it may be © A lot effect on christians because if you do that you gone against the word of God Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanMary Posted February 14, 2013 Report Share Posted February 14, 2013 Q4. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8) Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? Paul is giving a strong warning or admonition regarding sexual sin, but I struggle with the word "punishments". I believe Jesus took the full weight of God's wrath toward sin, on His body, then said " It is finished!". "For God has not appointed us to incur His wrath (He did not select us to condemn us), but that we might obtain His Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah". I Thess. 5:9) He has cast all our sins into the depth of the sea. Micah 7:19 That said, I believe Paul's warning is regarding personal consequences which result from sexual sin, because this sin affects men and women physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In addition it dishonors the temple of the Holy Spirit whose we are, and dishonors God, as well as all that we represent as ambassadors of Christ to the world. I read that many Pastors, as well as countless men and women are addicted to visual sexual images which are as damaging as committing the physical act, as it too destroys marriages and families. Those are harsh consequences. Visual sexual images are almost impossible to "erase". When I was 5 years old, a little neighbor friend showed me pornographic pictures of her parents she'd found. Years later when I delivered our first child, this little girls mother was my nurse. I was not a Christian at that time, but I felt dirty and disgraced by her presence which spoiled the beautiful birth experience. I don't dwell on those images, but as I write this, they are disgustingly still in my memory after 65 years. What effect should these warnings have on Christians? We should heed the warning, in order to avoid the dire negative results which will follow. Chuck Smith said years ago on the radio, that this sin is like a nail being hammered into a board. The nail can be removed through forgiveness and cleansing, but there will always be a scar where the nail was driven. Paul is admonishing because he was both mother and father to the Church, speaking on behalf of our Heavenly Father. We warn those we love to stay away from danger, and sexual sin puts one in great danger in so many ways! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ann66 Posted February 15, 2013 Report Share Posted February 15, 2013 Severe punishments against sexual immorality are necessary because we are rejecting God directly, and harming His temple. (our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit). It should be a "heads up." We are hurting many others including ourselves when we disobey in that arena. It is incompatible with holiness. that is true. God speaks in his word about how fornication is wrong and we should not be a part of it. We are suppose to be clean vessels for God to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ann66 Posted February 15, 2013 Report Share Posted February 15, 2013 1. Why do you think Paul mention such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Ans-We are suppose to be like God. Paul spoke the words that men should be as he was but if they could not then they should marry. 2.Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? Ans-To me sin is sin. All sin is the same. It might sound different but it is not. There is no big sin or little sin. The only way to get into the kingdom is to live righteous. 3. What effect should these warnings have on christians? Ans-It should make us live right and want to be more like God everyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haar Posted February 15, 2013 Report Share Posted February 15, 2013 Paul had to emphasied on the severe punishment that awaits deulters of God's warning because sexual sins were very prevalent and new converts who were used to uncontrolled sex before conversion needed to be sereriously warned so that they will heed and be saved from purnishment. The purnishment seems to be more severe for sexual sin than other sins. This shows how serious God considers sexual sins and wants every one to control their sexual desire that if not controlled will defile them and render them unfit to see God. Every Christian should take the warning serious and heed them or else the same purnishment spelt out for the Church in Thessalonica will be metted on him/ her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wjcargile Posted February 15, 2013 Report Share Posted February 15, 2013 Sexual immorality is against God's will and the plan he have for us. I believe all sins are servere when we make a habit of daily sinning. All christians should avoid sexual sins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanks Posted February 15, 2013 Report Share Posted February 15, 2013 Q4. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8) Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? What effect should these warnings have on Christians? I feel that sexual immorality is not only a sin against our Lord and against other people, but it is also a sin against our own body. “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18). No, in our world today, I do not think the punishments for these sins are more severe than other sins. Most offences of this kind are not even punished in our criminal courts today. We should take special heed of these warnings. As believers we are to live lives of holiness and purity. If not, we will be playing with fire as we ignore and rejectict our Heavenly Father. We cannot be indwelt by the Holy Spirit and then indulge in sexual sin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elizabeth kerr Posted February 15, 2013 Report Share Posted February 15, 2013 God, Who determined the punishment for sexual immorality, has given reasons for making the punishment so severe in the Bible, including this description of our relationship with Him: In the OT, God described Himself as the husband of Israel, and in the NT, Jesus is the bridegroom of the church; so, when the Israelites, or the Christians, practice sexual immorality, they commit spiritual adultery, turning their backs on God and choosing someone else to "love." People have judged some sins as worse than others, but I'm not sure God does. Is homosexuality more sinful than adultery or incest or forced intercourse with adults and children (female and male!) enslaved in brothels? Is abortion more sinful than murdering a 7-year-old or a teenager or an adult? Is raping a woman more sinful than torturing a man? These are all horrid evils, but I cannot say that one is more sinful than the others. And the Bible does not tell us for sure that God thinks so either. As we read Paul's warnings about sexual immorality, we should look to ourselves and examine ourselves and our actions to see if we commit any form of sexual immorality, and if we do, we must repent and cease that behavior immediately. Only then may we exhort others who are committing sexual immorality to repent and stop that behavior, and we must do so with agape-love as our motive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thanking Joan Posted February 16, 2013 Report Share Posted February 16, 2013 Once we are born again we become the children of the Most High God. The Holy spirit dwells in us and our bodies become the temples of the Holy spirit. Therefore indulging in sexual immorality is grieving the spirit of God and puunishments are obviously severe. Any sin small or big is a sin and punishments is a consequence you have to face whether it is less severe or more. As Christians we have to take a serious note of this teachings and warnings and continually renew our mind and heart from any sinful desires by reading the word of God, spending time with the Lord and having fellowship with the right people in Christ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonesjp Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 Q4. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8) Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? What effect should these warnings have on Christians? Ans. Paul mentions the severe punishments because it is sin to the body and not against man but against God. This would be considered sin of omission. Knowing the Word of God and to continue on sinning separates you from Him. Christians need to be mindful of what the Word of God instructs us to do. As I said earlier if we love Him then we would obey his Word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eudora Posted February 17, 2013 Report Share Posted February 17, 2013 Q4. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8) Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? What effect should these warnings have on Christians? The believers at Corinth were surrounded with the most corruptible and vulgar environment known in its time, the hub of the evilness of a sexual pleasure-seeking environment. The church was being undermined by plagues of issues however most propounded was the spirit of sexual immorality. Because of spiritual immaturity of the body of believers at Corinth, they were reacting to these types of destructible behavior in-appropriately. The urgent need at Corinth for corrective action was imperative if they were to survive in their faith. Yet if any group of believers needed to be an effective witness for the Lord it was the church at Corinth because of its sin seeking environment. If they ever needed a message of the healing power of Christ, it was now. In order to be ‘an effective tool in God’s hand,’ they would need to walk in purity. This is no different for the folks at Thessalonica, or for us. Our complete loyalty must first be to God. However, with in the body there are cuts and bruises along the way that might need our attention and rather than allow satan to tear the body deeper through cuts or bruises, we absolutely must repair these before they become infected. An infection with-in the body can cause it to become sicker and sicker and we can actually die should an infection take over the whole body. Our quick attention to cuts and bruises are extremely important to deal with immediately because once a body becomes infected, it can fall apart quickly and when the unity of a body begins to fall apart, death could be the result. Band-Aids can cover up a wound, but it is more important to apply the healing ointment as soon as possible to avoid infection and keep the body in good health. This, in and of itself is our loyalty to God because the body is re-presenting Him to the world. The body of Christ must be healed of all afflictions if it is to continue to move toward a healthy righteous body that pleases the LORD. Like a good doctor would, Paul analyzes the problem and presents the first line of defense in this letter. Their healing would come if they took the good doctors’ advice. Properly understood, healing sometimes does take a while, but it does come. We cannot go around indulging in sex just because we can. We need to remember that God has given this act as a way of physical communication between a man and a woman for the purpose of pro-creating and an extension of our love and affection. He honors us by giving us the human body and it is our way of blessing and glorifying Him to bring honor to what He has given. Basically Paul is saying that what we are given, we are not to be immorally in-appropriate with what He has given. There is for good reason that there are punishments for sexual sin because marriage is sacred and our bodies are sacred. Our bodies are given to us to present to God as a sacrifice. HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE. If our bodies are broken and bruised by a lifestyle that is ugly and blemished then our hearts are left defiled and our bodies are useless organism’s good enough for only burning. Like Pastor Ralph said, anything less, constitutes rebellion against God Himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RD35 Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit and when we sin in our body we defile the temple of God. Sexual immorality is a sin like others and there fore failure to control our selves in this area also results in severe punishments. Punishment for all sins is severe. Christians should take these warning seriously as Paul is teaching this with the authority of Jesus Christ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raph Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 Q4. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8) Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality because God wants us to abstain from such behaviour and continuing with it is disobeying Him, thus the severe punishments. Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? I think it is not necessary that these punishments are more severe than for other sins. What effect should these warnings have on Christians? These warnings mean Christian should avoid sexual immorarity and whenever they fall into temptation, they should repent and ask the Lord to help them not to fall again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar Jim Posted February 21, 2013 Report Share Posted February 21, 2013 Q4. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8) Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Because sexual immorality was so rampant. In our day it's also rampant, so we need to take seriously the passage we're studying at present. Sexual Immorality is rebellion against God, according to both the Old and New Testaments. Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? Let's talk about punishments for a moment. We are punished in this life for the sins we commit so that we'll hopefully change our ways. God described Israel as a stiff-necked people and today we're no different. It's important to recognize God's discipline when we're on the receiving end of it. Are things continually going wrong in your life? Do you take one step forward and then get forced to take two steps back by circumstances that appear random but you know in your heart they can't be? It could very well be that God is allowing calamities to happen in the hope that you'll (I'll) wake up to your (my) disobedience and do something about it! I'm undergoing just such circumstances in my own life right now. It certainly seems like pretty harsh treatment on God's part, but consider this: God has said in the Bible that His Spirit will not always strive with man. What would be worse: troubles in this life that God hopes will turn you (me) from the paths of unrighteousness . . . or God simply giving up on you (me) as a lost cause because despite all His punishments we're (I'm) seemingly hell bent on continuing our (my) rebellious behavior and consigning us (me) to hell upon death? The doctrine of God Is Love is flawed if we only look to God for Love and not consider all the Scriptures where God is described as a consuming fire and where He is said to prune even good branches to make them even more fruitful. The worthless branches are thrown into the fire! Do we want to be knocking on Heaven's Door and be told: Depart from me, I never knew you? What effect should these warnings have on Christians? It is to be hoped we'll take them seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammie7 Posted February 27, 2013 Report Share Posted February 27, 2013 The punichment is serious because our body is the temple of God, The punchment is for sin we have to be mindful of the sin the we do. and when we know that we are doing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joy irowa Posted March 2, 2013 Report Share Posted March 2, 2013 because it is a sin against the body which is the temple of the holy ghost all sins are punishable christians should be ware and flee sexual sin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csreeves Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Q4. (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8) Why do you think Paul mentions such severe punishments for sexual immorality? Are these punishments more severe than for other sins? What effect should these warnings have on Christians? I think effects from sin are all severe punishments, but sexual sins cause greater destruction. These punishments are a warning to be given only if we step out of the bounds of marriage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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