Fornication, encompassing all sexual immorality, defiles the sanctity of marriage, which God honors as a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman. It stands in contrast to the spiritual design of marriage, bringing personal ruin, disgrace, and harm to individuals and families. As a sin against God, fornication incurs His judgment and severe consequences, potentially leading to exclusion from Christian fellowship and barring inheritance of the Kingdom of God. Scriptures like Hebrews 13:4, Proverbs 6:24-29, and I Corinthians 6:9-10 warn against it. While God offers forgiveness to the repentant, the harmful effects of such sin may persist, as seen in David's consequences in II Samuel 12:13-14.

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In Defense of Marriage

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The apostle Paul writes in Hebrews 13:4 that marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. The term fornicators covers all sexual immorality, indicating that such behavior is defiling, perverse, base, and unwholesome. This stands in stark contrast to the sanctity of the marriage covenant, which is meant to be a lifelong bond between one man and one woman, foundational to human civilization as established by God after creating Adam and Eve.

Marriage—A God-Plane Relationship (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Many young people, swayed by a highly sexualized culture, prioritize sexual compatibility in marriage, leading them to engage in fornication, often with multiple partners, and to cohabit without the marriage vow. This path, rooted in a purely physical viewpoint, significantly increases the risk of destroying any subsequent marriage, with studies indicating a 40 to 85 percent higher chance of divorce among couples who live together before marriage compared to those who wait until after. In contrast, God's design for marriage places it on a spiritual plane, emphasizing that humans are created in His image after the God-kind, and that relationships, especially marriages, should reflect this divine quality. While physical aspects exist in marriage, the most crucial element is spiritual, focused on preparation for the Kingdom of God.

The Seventh Commandment

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Fornication is illicit sex outside of marriage, and the seventh commandment covers it in principle along with adultery, homosexuality, bestiality and pedophilia. God fully sanctions sex within marriage, but its practice otherwise causes great harm. Marriage and the family are the institutions through which people learn to conduct proper relationships with other people and with God, so God does not tolerate their defilement. Fornication and adultery bring great harm and ruin upon a man (Proverbs 6:24-29, 32-35; 29:3). Sexual immorality is also a sin against God Himself and merits His judgment (Hebrews 13:4). Those who continuously and flagrantly practice sexual immorality must be excluded from fellowship, because keeping company with them damages the spiritual health of the church (I Corinthians 5:1-13). Unrepentant practitioners of such sins cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21). Yet God forgives the sexually immoral who genuinely repent and gives them eternal life, though the harmful consequences of the sin may still follow, as David's household shows.

The Curse of Teen Pregnancy

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Public acceptance of celebrity promiscuity is partly to blame for the United States having the highest teen-pregnancy rate among developed nations.

Christian Dating: Advice for Today

Article by Staff

How are the young people in the church of God supposed to approach the dating situation today? Here is advice on dating, sex and enjoying one's youth.

Sex, Sin and Marriage

'Ready Answer' by Staff

Sex and marriage are God-given experiences that Christians need a proper perspective of. Thus, God gives us His seventh commandment: You shall not commit adultery.

Purifying the Heart

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Jesus advises a repentant Christian to attack sexual sin at its starting point, making it less about sinful acts than about an immoral way of thinking.

Divorce and Remarriage

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Any given doctrine must be built layer by layer, combining and comparing scriptures rather than allowing a single scripture to determine the doctrine. When we understand that porneia includes all the hideous perverted sexual sins that go beyond ordinary adultery- including bestiality, pedophilia, homosexuality, incest, and every other imaginable sexual perversion, we understand that Jesus gave a greater latitude and flexibility in these divorce decisions than we had earlier assumed (based exclusively upon adulterous 'fraud'). Any violence against the marriage contract (stemming from unconversion) would constitute grounds for divorce, and would permit the converted partner to remarry. Mutual access to the tree of life (God's Holy Spirit) gives marriage the best (actually the only) chance to succeed.

Right? Wrong?

'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

A look at medicine, politics and religion shows that America has lost its moral and ethical foundation, unable to distinguish between right and wrong.

Bad Is The New Good For Girls!

Commentary by Martin G. Collins

The transition from girlhood to womanhood has been made difficult because of impossible societal demands requiring young women to become sexy supermodels.

The Seventh Commandment

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The Seventh Commandment—prohibiting adultery—covers the subject of faithfulness. Unfaithfulness devastates many aspects of family and society life.

Christian Marriage (Part Two)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The evil of the mixed marriages in the Book of Malachi was a spiritual defilement, yoking spiritual and worldly elements, intrinsically unequal.

Christian Marriage (Part One)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Cohabitation has led to increased divorce, marital violence, and lack of fidelity after marriage. Mass media has shamelessly used sex to promote materialism.

Deterrence

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

What is the biblical penalty for pedophilia? It is not found in the Bible, but the instructions concerning fornication and homosexuality give us guidance.

The Seventh Commandment (1997)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

For decades, sexual sins have topped the list of social issues. The problem is unfaithfulness. The seventh commandment has natural and spiritual penalties.

Natural Law

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Gravity is but one of the many natural laws. These cause-and-effect principles operate continuously in our lives. We either comply, or we suffer the consequences.

'But I Say to You' (Part Three): Adultery

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

In the current culture war, progressives have declared war against God's seventh commandment by encouraging free sex, homosexuality, and other perversions.

The Seventh Commandment: Adultery

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In Amos' prophecy, faithlessness and sexual immorality loom large, like a a prostitute chasing after lovers. Faithlessness extends into not keeping one's word.

Abstinence - Asceticism or Christian Living?

'Ready Answer' by Martin G. Collins

Some equate abstinence with religious asceticism, but abstinence is broader. Christians may need to abstain from more than just sinful actions.

The Commandments (Part Sixteen)

Sermon/Bible Study by

It is absolutely impossible for lust to bring about any kind of satisfaction. Adultery cannot be entered into without irrevocably damaging relationships.

In the Wake of an Unnatural Disaster (Part Seven)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Of the things God says He hates, including pride and hands that shed innocent blood, nothing seems to be more disgusting than the American abortion industry.

Dating (Part 2): The Proper Order of Things

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Many singles have found dating in the church difficult, consequently turning to the world for companionship, courting dangerous consequences.

What's in the Bucket? (Part One)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The last three American generations have had their minds poisoned, such that they unquestioningly embrace socialism and deviant lifestyles as the norm.

Dating (Part 1): The Purposes of Dating

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

A key ingredient in dating is faith in God's purpose. The relationship one has with God takes precedence over any relationship with any other human being.

Leadership and Covenants (Part Six)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Despite having served mankind well for millennia, marriage is crumbling under a three-pronged attack. Marriage is vital to understanding God's purpose.

Leadership and the Covenants (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Paul urges Euodia and Syntyche to follow the example of Christ rather than placing their desire to be right over unity. Godly leadership follows submission.

What Makes Generation "Me" Tick?

Commentary by David F. Maas

Over the past six decades (from the Boomer Generation to the Millennial generation), individuals have grown more narcissistic, entitled and miserable.

Matthew (Part Twenty-Five)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus contrasts the enormity of what we are forgiven to what we forgive others. Our forgiveness is directly connected with our forgiveness of our brother.

Biblical Loves

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Scripture draws from Koine Greek, offering four distinct words for 'love,' each relaying different dimensions of human connection, restoring clarity and depth.

Whose Morality Are We Following?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Moral legislation over the years has steadily eroded because liberal leaders have rejected biblical standards of morality in favor of personal choice.

America's Conscience Seared with a Hot Iron

Commentary by David F. Maas

'Righteous' Lot represents those who become accustomed to the sin around them, progressively searing their consciences, similar to spiritual neuropathy.

Whatever Became of Sin?

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. Maas

Jesus Christ did not preach collective salvation and did not remove the responsibility from any of us for overcoming or qualifying for His kingdom.

Modesty (Part Two): Put On Righteousness

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The immodesty of current fashion exposes the nakedness of our children as though they were prostitutes. Swimsuits have evolved into 'legalized' nakedness.

'But I Say to You' (Part Four): Divorce

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

When divorce takes place, spiritual growth from the relationship stops, but when conflict escalates within a dying relationship, no growth can occur either.

In Search of a Clear World View (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The apostle John warns us to be vigilant about the world, not loving its attitudes, mindsets, and frame of mind. We cannot both love the world and love God.

What's So Bad About Babylon? (2013) (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Babylon's way is the culture of the Western world, having the same religious, economic, and political systems, enslaving people to the state.

Pentecost and Time

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Because of our 'time-bound' state, unless we sync with God's timetable, we are squandering our God-given time to become members of His family.

Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Many professing Christians have rejected major tenets of the Bible, fashioning their own religions, giving themselves license to sin in selected areas.

Hebrews (Part Fifteen)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

We dare not allow a root of bitterness to spring up in us as a result of trials - those burdens intended by God to strengthen us and perfect us.