Where do we get our information regarding Christianity, it’s doctrine, and it’s practice?  It would be pretty safe to say, from the Bible, of course.  According to the Bible, is sex outside of marriage a sin?  Need we ask?  The Bible is very clear about sexual sin.  The Scriptures declare that fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

In dealing with the woman taken in adultery, Jesus is often quoted for His statement; He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her (John 8:7).  He is rarely quoted on the last thing He said to her; ….go, and sin no more (John 8:11).  

Sexual sin is associated with the former way of life experienced prior to becoming a new creature in Christ; ….and such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus……. (I Corinthians 6:9-11).

Did Jesus associate with fornicators and adulterers?  The Pharisees criticized Him for eating with publicans and sinners, so we would assume that there was a fornicator or an adulterer or two among the sinners at the table.  As believers we should reach out to all unbelievers, regardless of their sin, because except for the grace of God, there go you and I.

What does the Bible say, however, when those who profess to be Christian live in or practice disobedience to the direct commands of Scripture?  Paul writing in I Corinthians 5:9-11 says; I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world,…………; for then must ye needs go out of the world.  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, …; with such an one no not to eat. 

The exhortation, not to eat with such an one, likely refers to their participation in the Lord’s Supper (see vs 7&8).  “Christian” fornicators are to be excluded from Christian recognition and Christian fellowship.  Verse 13b wraps up Paul’s instruction with this command; Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Jesus stated in John 14:24a; He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings.  The apostle John, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, continues this instruction in I John 2:4; He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

God said it, not me.

•  The word “fornication” is a general term which covers all sexual sin.  The immediate biblical context may determine if a specific sexual sin is being addressed.
• A distinction should be made between sinning by slipping up versus an unrepentant way of life.  Slipping up or backsliding is a temporary condition accompanied with and/or followed by guilt, conviction of sin, and repentance.  
• The apostle John wrote that a Christian does not commit sin.  Commit is a present tense, continuous action word, better translated “practice”.   A Christian does not practice sin as a way of life.  The indwelling Holy Spirit will not let him.
• A true son living in sin will be chastened by the Father.  If you are without chastisement, then you are not a true son.