The City

Comment from : Wayne Grudem talks about how scripture distinguishes between legal guilt and results in life and in relationship with God

1) Legal guilt. In terms of our legal standing before God, any one sin, even what may seem to be a very small one, makes us legally guilty before God and therefore worthy of eternal punishment.

2) Results in life and in relationship with God. On the other hand, some sins are worse than others in that they have more harmful consequences in our lives and in the lives of others

Paul apparently did not argue in 1 Corinthians 6:18 that sexual immorality is a sin of unparalleled evil, and yet sexual immorality is a very serious sin. This is substantiated by three facts from Scripture:

(1) Numerous sexual sins were capital offenses under the Mosaic system – Adultery ( Lev 20:10 ; Deut 22:22 ); rape ( Deut 22:25 ); incest (Lev 20:11 –12); homosexuality ( Lev 20:13); and bestiality ( Exod 22:19; Lev 20:15–16).

(2) Adultery is one of only two legitimate grounds given for divorce. Matthew 5:31–32; 19:3–12. The other is desertion ( 1 Cor 7:15). This viewpoint is of course debated; however, under most interpretations, the point concerning the seriousness of sexual sin still stands.

(3) Sexual immorality is denounced repeatedly and vigorously throughout Scripture. Particularly significant is the preponderance of sexual sins in the vice lists of the New Testament ( 1 Cor 5:9 –11; 6:9–10 ; 2 Cor 12:20 –21; Gal 5:19 –21; Col 3:5 ; 1 Tim 1:9 –10; 1 Pet 4:3 –4). It should be noted that “sexual immorality” heads the lists in 1 Corinthians 5:9–11; 6:9–10 ; Galatians 5:19–21; Colossians 3:5; 1 Peter 4:3–4.)

(BSac Vol 151 #604³Oct-Dec 1994 – Can Fallen Leaders Be Restored to Leadership? – New Testament Principles)