Consequences of Pornography Use in Christian Life
Sexual immorality, including pornography use, violates the believer's union with Christ. Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians establishes that Christians are spiritually joined to Christ in both life and death, meaning their bodies have become parts of Christ himself [3]. This spiritual union means believers are not free to violate their bodies through sexual sin, as doing so profanes what has been consecrated to Christ [3].
The Body as Sacred Space
The New Testament presents the Christian's body as the temple of the Holy Spirit [7]. Sexual sin therefore violates a sacred sanctuary and the divine presence dwelling within [7]. This is not merely metaphorical language but reflects the theological reality that believers no longer belong to themselves—they have been bought with the high price of Christ's blood, and every part of their lives has been claimed by Christ for God's glory [7]. The Corinthian church faced arguments that attempted to rationalize sexual immorality by comparing it to eating, as if the body were made for sex just as the stomach was made for food. Paul rejected this analogy outright: bodies were made for the Lord, and sexual immorality does not glorify him [8].
Exclusion from the Kingdom
Paul warns that those who willfully persist in sexual sin have no share in the Kingdom of God [4]. The lives of Christians must reflect the faith they confess, and continuing to indulge unrepentantly in sexual sin indicates a heart that has not been renewed by the Holy Spirit [4]. Sin is deceptive, and believers should not take it lightly, as if it were somehow acceptable [4]. The early church understood that heinous sins of professed Christians are quickly noted and bring reproach not only upon the individual but upon the entire Christian community [6].
The Call to Purity
Christian communities are called to be pure and holy, not bearing corrupt and scandalous members [5]. This applies both corporately and individually—each member is to purge out the old leaven of sin [5]. Regeneration, which flows from Christ's death, produces weanedness from the world and enables believers by divine grace not to mind worldly things but to live above them [1]. The company of wicked practices is dangerous and offensive to the spiritual life [2], requiring confession through good works and genuine repentance [2].
Sources
- 2 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 5:16: In these verses the apostle mentions two things that are necessary in order to our living to Christ, both of which are the consequences of Christ's dying for us; namely, regeneration and reconciliation. I. Regeneration, which consists of two things; namely, 1. Weanedness from the world: "Henceforth we know no man after the flesh, Co2 5:16. We do not own nor affect any person or thing in this world for carnal ends and outward advantage: we are enabled, by divine grace, not to mind nor regard this world, nor the things of this world, but to live above it. The”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: Commandments, keeping them the test of Christian love, 275 , 276 . Communion, of Christians, depends on holiness, 89 ; joins men to the Body of Christ, 166 ; absolute necessity of, 168 ; to be understood spiritually, 169 . Company of wicked men dangerous and offensive, 206 . Conception of the Blessed Virgin, accredited in the Old Testament, 92 . Concubinage, sanctioned by heathen philosophers, 50 . Condescension, lessens not greatness, 38 . Confession, a way to pardon, 29 ; not needful to Christ, 59 ; best made by good works, 72 ; Nathanael's and Pe”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:15: 6:15-17 To be a Christian is to be spiritually joined to Christ in both life and death (cp. Rom 6:3-11). As a result, believers’ bodies have become parts of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 12:12-28; Rom 12:4-5). This spiritual union (cp. John 14:20; 17:21-23) means that they are not free to violate their bodies by physical union with a prostitute.”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:9: 6:9-11 Those who willingly sin have no share in the Kingdom of God. The lives of Christians must reflect the faith they confess. 6:9 Don’t fool yourselves: Sin is deceptive; believers should not take it lightly, as if it were somehow acceptable (Jer 17:9). • Continuing to indulge unrepentantly in sexual sin indicates a heart that has not been renewed by the Holy Spirit. Sexual sins include adultery (see Exod 20:14; Matt 5:27-28) and practicing homosexuality (cp. Lev 18:22; 20:13; Rom 1:26-27; 1 Tim 1:10).”
- 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 5:7: Here the apostle exhorts them to purity, by purging out the old leaven. In this observe, I. The advice itself, addressed either, 1. To the church in general; and so purging out the old leaven, that they might be a new lump, refers to the putting away from themselves that wicked person, Co1 5:13. Note, Christian churches should be pure and holy, and not bear such corrupt and scandalous members. They are to be unleavened, and should endure no such heterogeneous mixture to sour and corrupt them. Or, 2. To each particular member of the church. And so it implies ”
- 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 5:1: Here the apostle states the case; and, I. Lets them know what was the common or general report concerning them, that one of their community was guilty of fornication, Co1 5:1. It was told in all places, to their dishonour, and the reproach of Christians. And it was the more reproachful because it could not be denied. Note, The heinous sins of professed Christians are quickly noted and noised abroad. We should walk circumspectly, for many eyes are upon us, and many mouths will be opened against us if we fall into any scandalous practice. This was not a common”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:18: 6:18-20 For Christians, the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (see study note on 3:16-17; cp. 2 Cor 6:16). Sexual sin violates this sacred sanctuary and the divine presence. • You do not belong to yourself: Christians can no longer claim their bodies as their own, as they have been bought . . . with a high price, the blood of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 7:23; Rev 5:9), and every part of their lives has been claimed by Christ for God’s glory (see Rom 14:7-9; 2 Cor 5:14-15).”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:13: 6:13-14 “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food”: This statement was apparently used by some Corinthian Christians to rationalize their sexual immorality on the analogy that “the body was made for sex, and sex for the body.” It is a false analogy, because our bodies . . . were made for the Lord, and sexual immorality does not glorify him. In light of his concern for our bodies and the coming resurrection from the dead, our bodies must be used for holy purposes in God’s service.”