IS SEXUAL SIN PARTICULARLY DEFILING?

It is true that sexual sins seem to be particularly defiling (corrupting). Often, in the Old Testament, they are called “abominations”:

·       Leviticus 20:12-13 “If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have committed perversion; their blood is upon them. If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.”

The same warning seems to also pertain to the NT:

·       1 Corinthians 6:18-20 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

·       Romans 1:27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

However, our Lord is all-merciful to those who confess and sincerely intend to turn from their sin:

·       1 John 1:8-9 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Consequently, some of the worst sinners have been forgiven and washed clean:

·       1 Timothy 1:15-16 …Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

As with Paul, some of these same foremost sinners have been called to foremost positions within the Church.