It is obvious that we are living in a world where sex is rampant. Pornographic publications and videos are available everywhere, pornographic venues are all over the place, and even more frightening, pornographic media has penetrated into homes. As long as your home is equipped with cable TV or interactive TV, or if you have a computer and a telephone line, you can press a button and instantly access onto pornographic media. It is very convenient and you do not have to worry about being seen by people outside.

Modern culture encourages people to be morally indulgent. In this passage Paul was specifically addressing a philosophy that was popular in Corinth at the time, which is still popular today. This philosophy is that if you are hungry, you should eat; if you are thirsty, you should drink water; if you have sexual needs, you should satisfy them. There is no absolute moral standards. I do whatever I like and everything is acceptable. It is my business to indulge in my lust. As long as I do not infringe on your freedom, I am free to do whatever I want. What does it have to do with you who I sleep with? As long as you and I are willing, it will be fine. When it comes to sex, the moral standards of this era are becoming increasingly fuzzy. A school social worker said that more and more secondary students had sexual experience, and junior high school students aged 13 or 14 who were still virgins are a minority.

This is indeed a society where sex is ravaging. Almost everyone has weaknesses and struggles with sex, Christians are no exception. How to protect yourself in a sexual world? There are two secrets:-

1. Acknowledge that promiscuity is a sin

Having sex with someone before or outside of marriage is considered promiscuous. If you do not clearly acknowledge that promiscuity is a sin, you will give yourself many excuses not to deal with it and end up being controlled by lust. In God's eyes, promiscuity is a very serious sin because "all other sins a person commits are outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." (v.18)

Sex is not just a purely physical act, but involves the whole person. Sex is a committed relationship. The reason why pornography is a sin is not because of being scantily clad, but because it separates sexual behavior from relationship commitment, and considers sex as purely an activity. In this way, sex becomes a form of bestial release! This is something that God hates.

2. Escape from temptations

"Flee from sexual immorality." (v.18) Escape is the key to facing sexual temptation. There are some things in your life that you must avoid:

a. All pornographic media, including pornographic magazines, CDs, adult channels on cable or interactive television, and pornographic pages on the Internet.
b. Dating lovers should not stay alone in the same room. A survey conducted by the Family Planning Association found that the vast majority of extramarital sex occurs in such situations.
c. Dating lovers should avoid overly affectionate behavior. The principle is that as long as an action arouses sexual excitement in either party, such intimate behavior is excessive and should be avoided. Generally speaking, men are more likely to be impulsive, so women are asked to play the guarding role in this regard.
d. Develop the habit of avoiding lustful thoughts. We cannot control the first thought, but we can control how we deal with it next, and we are responsible for it. Whenever the first unclean thought comes, you can pray and declare 1 Corinthians 10:13, and you will become stronger in overcoming it.

Facing the temptation of lust, some may feel defeated and guilty. But there is good news: sexual immorality is a forgivable sin. Jesus never turns his back on people who sin sexually. The blood of Jesus can cleanse us from all our impurities. No matter how much you have failed in the past or are failing now, as long as you acknowledge that fornication is a sin and are determined to escape from it, you can always have a new beginning in Jesus Christ. Do not give up!

 Protecting Yourself against Sexual Temptation