Dead to Sin (Part 1)

Most people do not realize how harmful pornography is. For many, porn consumption is considered a normal part of adolescence, and some say that it is a healthy expression of sexuality. And God wants you to be healthy, right? Well, yes, He does. And that’s exactly why He warns us in the Bible that lust, in any context, is a sin. Whenever we lust after a person, we are dehumanizing somebody who has been made in God’s image. We are taking that person and, in our minds, using them for our own gain instead of viewing them with selfless love and honoring that person as an image-bearer of God. You may not know this, but porn consumption fuels the sex trafficking industry. There is a good chance that the people in those pictures or videos did not consent to that lifestyle; they were likely threatened, coerced, or otherwise forced into producing pornographic content. Even if the actors in some content did consent, viewing porn from any producer supports the entire industry, including those who engage in sex trafficking. The good news is that Jesus lived a sinless life for us, despite the temptations He felt (Hebrews 4:14-16). He died on the cross to take away our sin and was resurrected from the dead to give us victory over sin and death. If you or someone you know is struggling with porn, know that you have the power of Jesus’ resurrection living inside you, and He is there to help you fight sin every step of the wayeven when you fall. All your sinspast, present, and future are forgiven in Christ. Lean into His incredible, ridiculous grace. • Taylor Eising If you struggle with lust, who is a trusted Christian in your life you can talk to about it? If you don’t struggle with this temptation, how can you support your friends who do? In Christ, we are dead to sin (Romans 6). How does this affect the way we battle temptation? What are some ways you can pray for those involved in sex trafficking? And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 (CSB)

Read Verses:

Genesis 1:27; Matthew 5:27-30; 6:22-24