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NASB | Matthew 15:19 "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 15:19 "For out of the heart come evil thoughts and plans, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slanders (verbal abuse, irreverent speech, blaspheming). |
Bible Question: What are all forms of fornication and is masturbation included? |
Bible Answer: Spiritual points about masturbation: 1. Masturbation causes you to be "mastered" by sin: The Bible says that there are only two things that we can be a slave to: sin or righteousness. There are no other masters. Paul wrote, "Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16 NKJV). Which master does masturbation bring us under? In almost every case, it is used to complement lust and the Bible identifies lust as sin in several places. For example, Jesus said in Matthew 5:28, "But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." When you consider that masturbation usually includes thinking about what it would be like to have sex with someone (i.e. lusting) while simulating the physical feeling, its easy to see that it brings us under the master of sin. God does not want people to be mastered by sin. For example, he told Cain, "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it" (Genesis 4:7 NKJV). Cain let sin rule him by murdering his brother Abel. His life was drastically affected. He lost his job, his peace, his home, and his blessing and spent the rest of his days as a "restless wanderer" (Genesis 4:12). Likewise, we have the same opportunity to choose our master. If we choose sin as our master, our life will bear the fruit that sin brings - i.e. destruction, sorrow, dissatisfaction, death, etc.. If we choose righteousness as our master, we will reap life! Paul wrote: 20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:20-23 NIV 2. Masturbation uses your body as an instrument for sin: Your body is to be presented and used as an instrument for righteousness (not sin). Paul wrote, "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God" (Romans 6:12-13 NKJV). God can best use us when we keep our "vessels" (body, soul , spirit) free of sin. Paul wrote: "In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:20-22 NIV). God bless |