Fornication
Bible study on fornication.

Fornicators will not inherit the kingdom of God.

"Fornication" (Greek, porneia) denotes "illicit sexual intercourse" (Vine's) and includes adultery, homosexuality, and bestiality.

"Intercourse" denotes "physical sexual contact between individuals that involves the genitalia of at least one person" (Webster). This would include homosexuality, petting, and any sexual contact with another person's genitalia.

"Sexual intercourse" denotes "intercourse involving genital contact between individuals" (Webster) and includes heterosexual and homosexual intercourse.

Matt. 5:32; 19:9

Fornication is the only lawful reason for a person to divorce his spouse and remarry.

Fornication is any unlawful sexual act including adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, and bestiality. Metaphorically, spiritual fornication is attaching oneself to foreign gods or false religions.

Also, see ADULTERY and HOMOSEXUALITY.

Matt. 15:19-20

Fornications proceed from the heart and defile a man.

1 Cor. 6:18

Christians must flee fornication (cf. 1 Cor. 7:2; 10:8; 2 Cor. 12:21; 1 Th. 4:3).

Gal. 5:19

Fornication is a work of the flesh.

Eph. 5:3

Fornication should not be named among the saints. Christians should not be fornicators.

1 Cor. 5:1, 9, 11

We cannot keep company with Christians who are fornicators.

Col. 3:5-6

God's wrath comes upon fornicators (cf. Jude 1:7).

Heb. 12:15-16

Christians who engage in fornication defile themselves, falling short of God's grace and selling their birthright.