Chastity
Many Christians admit that living in a hyper-sexualised society is challenging. However, St. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6 verses 19–20 that our body belongs to the Lord who bought us at a price. What does this mean? Precisely that the Lord Jesus Christ purchased us with His blood — He died for us on a Roman cross 2000 years ago and redeemed us from a life of slavery to sin. Therefore, we have been set free. Although not free to do whatever we want, instead, set free to serve the ONE who redeemed us. Thus, our bodies should be an instrument of holiness and righteousness, which should bring forth honour to God.
See, when our Lord Jesus was ministering on Earth, He lived a chaste life.
Today, Jesus is our model of chaste love and calls His Church (the people of His pasture, the ones who hear His Voice) to live out the virtue of chastity either as a single person or a married person.
Chastity Before Marriage
It may be true that society is trying to destroy the virtue of chastity and encouraging everyone to give in to the freedom of sex, but as Christ’s followers, we mustn’t follow the crowd. As Christians, we must listen to God, who calls us to remain sexually pure. Our body should remain an instrument of holiness and righteousness, bringing forth honour to God.
Sadly many who were unaware of God’s standards of chastity or those who haven’t listened to the Lord’s counsel and have engaged in sexual activity before marriage have been confronted with many sorrows — unwanted pregnancies, rejection, sexually transmitted diseases, anxiety and depression.
Chastity in Marriage
As a married man or woman, it is truly marvellous to delight in God’s ordained institution (Genesis 2:15–25), but another thing to honour our spouse by remaining sexually pure. Sexually pure in thoughts and actions. However, chastity is crucial for a healthy marriage. How? Chastity is not solely a virtue but a standard attached to the covenant union, where God has revealed His standards of sexual purity and morality.
Moreover, Sexual purity protects the holiness of marriage, maintains its integrity and strengthens its bond. There can be no purity, neither holiness nor true love, but wickedness, debauchery, and destruction without chastity. Pope John Paul II once said, “only the chaste man and the chaste woman are capable of true love.”
Again, everything revolves around whether we Christians serve the One who redeemed us and live as He calls us.
Struggling to live Chaste
If you struggle to live a chaste life, There is hope. First, immerse yourself daily in God’s Word. Second, call on The Holy Spirit, who will lead you in truth and righteous living.
If we claim to be a follower of Christ, we need to live by Christ’s moral principles (1 John 2:6). We need not forget that chastity brings honour, pride, and exaltation to God. Let’s honour and exalt Him!
(Extract from my book: Victory with Christ).
