Adultery is....

[hugnluvable]

This is something that only hit me last night and actually made sense for the first time in my life! Ha! Funny, how I've conquered it and I can now fully explain my reasons behind it..... I'll stop rambling and get on with it..... Adultery is having sex OUTSIDE marriage. That means having sex with someone who isnt our husband or wife... therefore having sex before marriage with our S/O is not right!

And there is so much in the bible that calls us to be free from adultery - especially things said by Jesus....

Does that make any sense to anyone else? Or have I got things completely out of perspective? This is the first time I've mentioned this finding.......

Love and hugs
Erica
xxx

 

[Sketcher]

Well, mostly, but for two single people who are having sex it carries a different label called fornication. Adultery is only adultery if one or more of the people are married.

 

[TJMan2050]

Well, mostly, but for two single people who are having sex it carries a different label called fornication. Adultery is only adultery if one or more of the people are married.

I think that your definition is correct in terms of the way it is defined in the world, but I still think the point that adultery as in sex outside of marriage, regardless of whether either of them are married or not is wrong! It is wrong, but it is true, in today's time, the act of sex between to unmarried people is called fornication.

 

[Sketcher]

I think that your definition is correct in terms of the way it is defined in the world, but I still think the point that adultery as in sex outside of marriage, regardless of whether either of them are married or not is wrong! It is wrong, but it is true, in today's time, the act of sex between to unmarried people is called fornication.

Actually, that's how the Bible defines them. Scripture makes a distinction between the two, but doesn't consider one better than the other.

 

[Glorianna]

Agreed.

 

[TJMan2050]

ok, apologies on the misinterpretation, but again I guess the point like twistedsketch said is that the bible doesn't say one is better then the other.

 

[MagicStar723]

Agreed!

 

[fluffy_rainbow]

If adultery is only for married people, then why does it say if a man even looks upon a woman with lust in his heart he has committed adultery? True, modern-day definition of adultery is extra-marital sexual relations; however, I would hasten to say that adultery would be looking at pornography, looking at other people and having lustful thoughts, emotional infidelity, etc. If adultery is limited to having sexual intercourse with someone other than your spouse, that gives a whole lot of leeway for a married person to fool around with someone other than their husband or wife.

 

[Fatolia]

If adultery is only for married people, then why does it say if a man even looks upon a woman with lust in his heart he has committed adultery? True, modern-day definition of adultery is extra-marital sexual relations; however, I would hasten to say that adultery would be looking at pornography, looking at other people and having lustful thoughts, emotional infidelity, etc. If adultery is limited to having sexual intercourse with someone other than your spouse, that gives a whole lot of leeway for a married person to fool around with someone other than their husband or wife.

You're right! I've definitely looked at porn before. That means technically I've lost my virginity, and so have the rest of us guys. But I'm so thankful for Jesus' forgiveness that this doesn't have to bring me down with worry.

 

[Cordelia]

Biblically speaking, twistedsketch is actually right about definitions. It's worrying, really, when people start labelling everything not between married people 'adultery'. We need to remember what fornication is, too.

 

[bshaw96]

If adultery is only for married people, then why does it say if a man even looks upon a woman with lust in his heart he has committed adultery? True, modern-day definition of adultery is extra-marital sexual relations; however, I would hasten to say that adultery would be looking at pornography, looking at other people and having lustful thoughts, emotional infidelity, etc. If adultery is limited to having sexual intercourse with someone other than your spouse, that gives a whole lot of leeway for a married person to fool around with someone other than their husband or wife.

I interpret this verse to mean you don't have to engage in the actual "act" with someone other than your spouse to commit adultery, even thinking about it is just as bad as doing it.

 

[hugnluvable]

In some bibles the word fornication never shows up... thats why so many get confused and led astray. Thats why alot of people ask on here for bible verses about sex before marriage and then the verse given isnt very straight to the point...

If adultery only involves people who are married then why did Jesus tell ALL men, not just husbands, that if he looks upon a woman with lust in his heart then he's committed adultery? Do you see what I mean?

OK, fornication is another word for it but adultery can also be a term for "SEX or anything lustful/sexual OUTSIDE MARRIAGE!"

Did that make sense? I dont think I've confused myself too much!

Love and hugs
Erica
xxx

 

[Sketcher]

I interpret this verse to mean you don't have to engage in the actual "act" with someone other than your spouse to commit adultery, even thinking about it is just as bad as doing it.

What Jesus is saying is that lusting is as bad as having sex with whoever, and the crowds I would assume were mostly married. Logically, it would apply to single people as well.

Talk about a nitpicky thread.

 

[Sensisim]

What's more important to me, is about what is right and wrong, rather than trying to play with semantics to get definitions.
The practice of a married person having sex, act or thought, with anyone else is wrong - basic biblical meaning of "Adultery".
Everything else is grey and open to opinion.
Sex is gift from God, and should be treated as any other gift, wisely and received in the right place at the right time for the right reasons.
The question is - what is right time, place and reason ?
Is it only after marriage ?
Before anyone gets married they should assess mutual values and determine compatibility with that other person, to help ensure a happy, and long lasting marriage.
It may or not be relevant to check sexual compatibility, probably after many other checks have been made.
When I got married, many years ago, I didn't do this, and was heartbroken to find out after we got married that my new wife and I were not sexually compatible. Many years of unhappy marriage followed eventually leading to divorce.
So now I am single and wouldn't make this same mistake again, but would only consider physical lovemaking to someone who I wanted to marry.
If you are familar with the Alpha Course, you may know a publication called "Searching Issues" written by Nicky Gumbel, where 4 dangers of sex before marriage are mentioned . 1. Unwanted pregnancy 2. Sexually transmitted Infections. 3. Sexual Jealosy (having had many partners when you eventually get to the marriage bed) 4. Continued interaction (relating to someone you have broken up with, but had a physical relationship with).
Well, I have had a vasectomy, been checked for every STI in the book and don't have anything, have discussed pervious sexual partners openly and freely with my girlfriend without any problem, and can interact with previous partners no problem.
But despite me dealing with the "problems" of sex, this doesn't give me carte blanche to do what I like - absolutely not. I still have a responsibility to act in a responsible matter treating everyone with dignity and respect, not harming anyone and searching for the right outcome in everything I do - to be happy.

Loving thoughts
God bless - Simon

 

[Trident]

Let's keep up the sexual preoccupations, guys -- we're not advancing in our Christian walk unless we're constantly thinking and talking about sex, and how wicked it is. Remember -- God calls us to be perfect. Perfectly obsessed -- with sex, that is. And never have any, because that might take the obsession away.

 

[Fatolia]

What do you mean you weren't "sexually compatible"?

 

[Fatolia]

Talk about a nitpicky thread.

This is a nitpicky topic. It's so easy to turn it into a "rule" interpretation instead of a true life by the Spirit sort of thing. That's exactly what's happening here!