The term most commonly known as "SPIRITUAL FORNICATION" is actually a misnomer. The correct designation should be "DOCTRINAL FORNICATION"" because it is both a sin and a doctrine based on the practice of this sin. The belief and practice of this doctrine is exemplified in the Church at Thyatira in the book of Revelation Chapter 2.
The Sin of Fornication can be thought of as a category of sins. Just as the sin of Stealing can be thought of as a category of sins. In the case of Stealing we have such types as - - -
All of the above actions fall into the Category of "Stealing" for the Bible says
The doctrine of fornication is the only doctrine directly attributable to Satan himself. It could be ventured that Satan has his hand in all three categories of unsound doctrine, but generally, his methodology is to utilize our own sin nature and appeal to our - - -
However, it is the third category which Satan is most proud. It is this category which catches the small as well as the great, the strong and well as the weak, the educated as well as the uneducated. Some of the best Bible expositors and preachers of our time have fallen victim to this doctrine.
Boastful Pride of Life is manifested by Fornication. However, the desire to believe, practice, and promote doctrinal fornication is acquired in one of two ways ---
These two practices are displayed and presented by our Lord Jesus himself in his letters to two of the seven churches of revelation as follows:
Similarly, the Doctrine of Fornication can be thought of as a category of sins. However, there is a significant difference between this sin and other sin types. This sin comes in two varieties - -
The unmanifested form is called the "Doctrine of Partiality". This is the belief that God treats the Christian with favor and the wicked with disfavor while on earth. It also extends to the belief that "ALL" Christian adversity is the direct result of their SIN. This idea does not supplant the fact that God does indeed judge certain types of sin committed in the flesh as opposed to sins committed in the heart.
God used the circumstances of Job in the Old Testament book of Job to flush out this doctrinal error held by the three friends of Job. The book has more to do with exposing the doctrine of Partiality (Fornication) than revealing how to deal with physical and emotional adversity. This explains why God brought this adversity on Job without cause.
Notice what God had to say when He confronted the friends of Job at the end of the book - -
Job 42:77 And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My WRATH is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have NOT SPOKEN of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.
This is the one and only unsound doctrine (among six) mentioned in the Bible that arouses the WRATH of God. It is also the only unsound doctrine that is directly attributable the working of Satan
The manifested variety is a latter day phenomenon of which every Christian is aware and will occur (and is occurring) before the return of Christ. About 120 years ago, this manifested doctrine was unknown to the Christian community. The starting point of this latter day phenomenon is considered to be officially launched on Azusa street in California in 1906 although this was not the first occurrence of the practice of "Doctrinal Fornication".
Doctrinal Fornication will be the introductory practice of the Church leading into the Tribulation Period. Because the practice of this sin will be so widespread in the last days, it will provide what is called in the Electrical Control Systems world as a "Bumpless Transfer" from one system to another.
This means there will be a smooth and unnoticeable transition by which the world will be deceived by the Anti-Christ and thus usher in the Tribulation period. Just as the automatic transition of an automobile shifts from 2nd gear into 3rd gear is normally undetected by the driver, so this sin will provide a relatively undetectable transition from the Church age into the Tribulation period.
The Sin of Fornication can be thought of as a category of sins. Just as the sin of Stealing can be thought of as a category of sins. In the category of manifested Fornication we have such types as - - -
Christians who commit doctrinal fornication are known to select many Old Testament promises for healing under in this Church Age (the Age of Grace) for healing. Sometimes they make poor choices in this selection process. For example, the following is entirely inappropriate to apply to a bedridden patient - - -
Deut 226 "If a bird's nest happens to be before you along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young;
7 "you shall surely let the mother go, and take the young for yourself, that it may be well with you and that YOU MAY PROLONG YOUR DAYS.
This is why the prayer and supplication of a sincere Christian for God's grace and mercy is always appropriate and is always answered in times of need...
The practice of doctrinal fornication is categorized in the Bible as having three forms of manifestation which include:
Doctrinal Fornication (past) refers to the utilization and enforcement of Blessings to Israel under the old covenant. This is where a Christian forfeits God's Grace by supplication and demands that God honor any number of Old Testament promises (blessings) which He made to Israel and manifest His glory through these promises either to himself or to some other Christian. The "Healing" verses seem to be the most popular. This technique is properly referred to by the Apostle Paul as --
They were certainly not fables to Israel under the Old Covenant but are indeed fables used by Christians under the New Covenant. This is not only doctrinally incorrect, but it arouses the wrath of the Lord as we shall see. Our relationship to our Lord is now through Grace and not through the Law with its associated blessings and glory.
Doctrinal Fornication (present) refers to the utilization and enforcement of. what is commonly known as the "Sign Gifts" which our Lord gave to the early Church. With the exception of the gift of tongues, these gifts were indeed temporary until the Church could grow, mature, and edify itself in love. These gifts did not survive or exist by the year AD 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed.
However, the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues did exist until AD 70 at which time their purpose as a sign to Israel was complete and the Old Testament (Covenant) was officially replaced with the New Covenant and the Church age began for the first time to exist without the presence of Israel, Jerusalem, and the Jews as the revelators, ministers, guardians, and enforcement of the Word of God.
That role would now be performed by The Elders with the exception that divine revelation of the Word of God would be complete with one exception. The book of Revelation would be written by the last living Apostle John after AD 70 whereby our Lord Jesus would dictate his final message to the Churches before His return.
This practice is also fornication is referred to as - - -
That this doctrine would not enter the Churches, the Apostle Paul was given instruction by our Lord to administer a "Test" to see if potential Church Elder candidates would succumb to this doctrine of fornication.
If they passed "The Test" then they could serve as Church Elders and would be classified as - - -
All of the above actions fall into the Category of "Fornication" for the Bible says
There are three unsound doctrinal categories found in the scripture and are found to be in violation of Christian teaching. Any unsound doctrine which teaches the doctrine of Christ incorrectly will fall into one of three categories and they are - - -
The belief, practice, and promotion of "Doctrinal Fornication" is a ---
First of all, the opposite of committing Spiritual Fornication is called "PERSEVERANCE". This word and the meaning of this word is often obscured because it can be found translated into any of the following:
The common definition of perseverance means - Persistent Determination through adversity or opposition
The common Christian definition is - Persistent Determination to live the Christian life against adversity, opposition, or temptation
However, a closer look at this word in the scriptures will reveal that the actual proper use and definition is - -
PERSEVERANCE - Persistent Determination to live the Christian life against adversity, opposition, or temptation WITHOUT God's divine manifested Power and Glory through signs, wonders, or miracles.
In other words, the challenge is to go through life with Faith, Hope, and Love which are in Jesus Christ with an attitude and understanding that God's will "WILL BE DONE" through Perseverance, that is WITHOUT God working SIGNS, WONDERS, and MIRACLES in the situation. This is quite shocking when we realize that most Christians hope and believe that God will do some "Miraculous" work especially in times of dire need to reveal himself to ourselves or to others.
Perhaps one of the clearest examples of perseverance is shown in the following - - -
Luke 2116 "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.
17 "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.
18 "But not a hair of your head shall be lost.
19 "By your patience (PERSEVERANCE) possess your souls.
Jesus is talking to his Disciples and they would certainly expect some help from the Lord in these perilous times, but Jesus is saying that his manifested POWER and GLORY will NOT be present during this fateful time.
Hebrews 1035 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
36 For you have need of endurance (PERSEVERANCE), so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by FAITH; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
The Hebrews writer is saying that perseverance and faith go together, and that if perseverance is NOT used, then destruction comes. Not eternal destruction for the believer, but the fruit of the war faring Christian is destroyed.