“You shall not commit adultery.” (Deuteronomy 5:18)
Adultery has both a narrow and a broad definition.
In the narrow sense, it is sexual intercourse with some person other than your spouse, or it is one person is not married having sexual intercourse with someone who is married. Or if divorced and remarried, if the divorce is not biblically authorized.
You may say, “If that is so, then half of the country has committed or is committing adultery right now.”
True!
Let’s look at the wider definition of adultery.
Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28)
He did not say, “If a married man looks lustfully or if a single man looks lustfully at a married woman…”
In this case, marriage is not part of the command, and the physical act is not part of the command.
Now we have moved the guilty section from half of the country to 100% of the country.
“The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” (Romans 5:20)
Adultery abounds!
Read Romans 3.
Grace abounds much more.
You can be forgiven for your adultery. That does not mean that you are forgiven.
People do not go to Hell for unforgivable sins. They go to Hell for forgivable sins that have not been forgiven.
“And repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47)
Adultery has both a narrow and a broad definition.
In the narrow sense, it is sexual intercourse with some person other than your spouse, or it is one person is not married having sexual intercourse with someone who is married. Or if divorced and remarried, if the divorce is not biblically authorized.
You may say, “If that is so, then half of the country has committed or is committing adultery right now.”
True!
Let’s look at the wider definition of adultery.
Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28)
He did not say, “If a married man looks lustfully or if a single man looks lustfully at a married woman…”
In this case, marriage is not part of the command, and the physical act is not part of the command.
Now we have moved the guilty section from half of the country to 100% of the country.
“The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” (Romans 5:20)
Adultery abounds!
Read Romans 3.
Grace abounds much more.
You can be forgiven for your adultery. That does not mean that you are forgiven.
People do not go to Hell for unforgivable sins. They go to Hell for forgivable sins that have not been forgiven.
“And repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47)
Comments