The Ten Commandments

The 7th Commandment

“You shall not commit adultery.”

Exodus 20:14, NLT

Just like Murder, this one was addressed by Jesus at the “Sermon on the Mount”. He said this:

“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:27-28, NLT

(BTW, the same goes for women looking at men with lust.)

I don’t know about anyone else, but I have not only violated this command in the spirit of the thing just laid out by Jesus, but I have actually committed adultery. I share this, much to my shame. Still, I am forgiven by the blood of Christ, that was shed for me on the cruel cross at Calvary. “Thank you, Lord.”

And today, I still struggle with my predisposition for lusting after beautiful, young women. I have always loved the feminine form and it goes deep into my psyche. But the Lord has not given up on me and I am much better in this than I have been in the past. 

The process of Sanctification – being made into the image of Christ – is a lifelong endeavor under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and should not be expected to come instantly. And no matter who we are, no one will achieve perfection in the flesh. So if this is an expectation of yours, you might as well come to grips with your sin nature that will never go away completely. 

What we CAN do is continue to work on our faults and pray for the Lord to show us how to overcome our fallen nature inside. Paul referred to it this way:

But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:12, NLT

When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he said this:

¹⁴ So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. ¹⁶ But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

¹⁸ And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. ¹⁹ I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. ²⁰ But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

²¹ I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. ²² I love God’s law with all my heart. ²³ But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.²⁴ Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? ²⁵ Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
(Romans 7:14-25, NLT)

As bad as lust is, actual adultery is much worse. How many lives have been ruined by this sin is immeasurable. Destitution, murder, homelessness and many more horrible circumstances can be directly attributed to adultery. And think about those children. Their little lives are so vulnerable and fragile that it’s impossible to adequately sum up the impact divorce due to adultery has had on them. Please, in the name of God, don’t get involved in adultery. It just isn’t worth it. Seek help and support from anyone who will give it. There’s no telling what other sins and damage you will be held accountable for if you allow your lust to take root and grow into adultery. It could literally ruin your life and the lives of others whom you love. 

Any questions?

In love,

Gary

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