Jesus will bless the
pure in heart. Chastity is not a virtue that many strive for in our times. There are even many professing Christians who do not care to
live chaste, even though the Master promised the most wonderful blessing to the
pure in heart;
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
(Matthew 5:Verse 8)
With lightning-speed the 'so called' Christian un-chaste will whip
out the words "Judge not lest you be judged", and "he who is
without sin cast the first stone". Note the perversity in the sinners themselves
pasting the sacred words of forgiveness upon themself! Those words are the words of
Jesus, who will apply them to the truly penitent. They are not a cover-all shield for the carnally minded to hide behind.
God gave the law of
chastity. Some people will dare to say that Jesus changed that law, but a
house that is divided cannot stand. So, let's look at the original law, and see
how it is repeated by Jesus and the Apostles. Let's start with the words of
Jehovah (Jesus) to the children of Israel;
14 Thou shalt not commit
adultery. (Exodus 20:14)
Some Christians will say that when Jesus came to fulfill 'the law
and the prophets', that the commandments were taken away by him, even though he
himself said that he had not come to take away the 'law and the prophets' but to 'fulfill'.
See the words of Jesus that he taught the young ruler; is there anything in
this that says that chastity is no longer a commandment?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none
good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the
commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no
murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery,
Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 19:17-19)
Then, of course, you have the desperate sinners who will say that
the law was done away in the death and resurrection of Jesus, and that
obedience to the law is of evil. Is that Jesus or Lucifer speaking? Look at the
words of the Apostles, who clearly taught the commandments, time after time,
after the resurrection of the Master:
9 For this, Thou shalt
not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt
not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other
commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself. (Romans 13:9)
The law of chastity
has a purpose. By living chaste we prepare for a strong bond between one man and one woman, joined together in the presence of God.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and
shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not
ashamed. (Genesis 2:24-25)
A man and a women who
are one flesh build an endless love. The sexual act is a
strong bonding sacrament between two chaste people.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that
loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and
cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his
bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and
shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and
the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his
wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
(Ephesians 5:28-33)
By breaking the law of chastity the sacrament is defiled, the
partner desecrated, and the marriage union is weakened. Whether the sexual sin
was committed before or after the marriage union, the marriage will have been
weakened. A weakened bond between husband and wife will bring harm to the
children. God wants everyone to be happy, and as far as man and woman goes, happiness
is found in marriage, fidelity and the children that such a union brings. As
far as children goes, true happiness is found in a family where their mother
and father loves each other endlessly.
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he
which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother,
and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What
therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a
writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your
hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not
so.
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it
be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso
marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. (Matthew 19:4-9)
What Jesus said about
divorce. There are always victims in a divorce. Unfortunately, it is often
children involved, and they are always innocent victims. Sometimes the husband
or the wife have been faithful and done their utmost to be a good spouse, but
the other spouse puts her/him away for some reason. This is not acceptable in
the sight of the Lord:
7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and
cleave to his wife;
8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more
twain, but one flesh.
9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.
11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife,
and marry another, committeth adultery against her.12 And if a woman shall put
away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery. (Mark
10:7-12)
Ministers of Christ must be Clean! If chastity
is a commandment of God to everyone, it is self-evident that everyone embarked
in the service of God must be absolutely clean.
11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean
thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be
ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. (Isaiah 52:11)
The greatest blessings of the Lord are given to the pure in heart
with clean hands. They will see God and be invited into Holy Places.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand
in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not
lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness
from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy
face, O Jacob. Selah. (Psalms 24:3-6)
The sinner can
"go and sin no more". A broken heart and a contrite spirit will
lead the sinner to true repentance. And a genuine repentance will lead to a
renewed pure heart and clean hands anew. But
God will not be mocked!