More Than Just Avoidance

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: More Than Just Avoidance
Keywords: “loyalty” “pure” “simplicity”
Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation.

Passage: 2 Corinthians 11:2-3*

2. For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.

3. But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

Questions

1. What does it mean to be betrothed to Jesus?

 

2. What is the enemy’s strategy and how does he execute it in your life?

 

3. How would you describe a life of simplicity and purity of devotion to Jesus?

 

Practical help

Remaining sexually pure is more than just avoiding the impure things around us. It’s a relational issue. Purity is an active expression of our loyalty to Jesus.

Paul uses the word “betrothed” to describe our new relationship to Christ. The English word “harness” comes from the same root. In reality, because of His redemptive work on our behalf, we are now harnessed — hitched — to Jesus. We have been joined to Him.

The enemy seeks to deceive us in much the same way he deceived Eve; craftily looking for ways to distract our minds from simple fidelity and pure devotion to Jesus. There are plenty of things around us clamoring for attention and the attacks on our loyalty to Jesus are both subtle and overt. Material and sensual temptations abound. Web porn is an extremely powerful part of Satan’s deception and attack.

Avoidance is not the answer to sexual purity. It’s only part of the answer. A relationship with Jesus characterized by simplicity and purity of devotion is the key. Jesus has made us pure — forgiving and cleansing away all our sexual sins. We can now walk with Him in His grace and purity.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."