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Masturbation and Sexual Sin in the Christian Life

Christian theology understands sin as any lack of conformity to, or transgression of, God's law, encompassing both inward states and outward actions [3]. This includes sins of omission and commission [3]. Sin is not merely a violation of natural order but an offense against a personal, moral governor [3]. The concept of "lust" is central to understanding sin, defined as sinful longing or an inward sin that leads to falling away from God [7]. James 1:15 states that "the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, produces death" [1].

Masturbation, while not explicitly named in biblical texts, is often discussed within the broader Christian understanding of sexual sin and lust. The apostle Paul exhorts believers to "flee sexual immorality" (1 Corinthians 6:18) [5]. He emphasizes that "every sin that a person commits is outside his body, but the one who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body" [5]. This passage also states that "the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body" [6]. Protestant academic commentary on 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 explains that for Christians, the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and sexual sin violates this sacred sanctuary and the divine presence [14]. Furthermore, believers "do not belong to [themselves]," having been "bought... with a high price," meaning their bodies and lives are claimed by Christ for God's glory [14]. To be a Christian means being spiritually joined to Christ, and believers' bodies become "parts of Christ" [15].

The broader category of "lust" is considered the origin of sin, residing in the heart as the center of moral forces and spiritual activity [7]. Self-denial is presented as a necessary aspect of Christian life, involving the control of appetite and abstaining from "fleshly lusts" [2]. This includes "mortifying sinful lusts" [2]. John Gill, in his commentary on Colossians 3:5, interprets "mortify therefore your members" as an exhortation to put to death the "sins of the flesh" or "sinful actions" that are generally performed by the members of the natural body [16].

The Bible consistently condemns selfishness [4]. Selfishness is contrary to God's law, as seen in commands to love one's neighbor [4]. It is exhibited in being "lovers of ourselves," "pleasing ourselves," and "seeking our own" [4]. This aligns with the understanding that the sin of the first pair (Adam and Eve) was not merely eating forbidden fruit, but a "love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters—a preference of the creature to the Creator" [10].

The concept of sin is universal; all human beings are born with a sinful nature [8]. While the wicked indulge this nature, the godly are called to fight against it [8]. God's anger is described as a necessary response to sin [12]. Deliberate sins are committed with an "insolent or arrogant attitude," and rebellion is considered a "great sin" [11]. Those who willingly sin have no share in the Kingdom of God, and their lives must reflect the faith they confess [13]. Continuing to indulge unrepentantly in sexual sin indicates a heart that has not been renewed by the Holy Spirit [13]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on 1 John 3:8 states that "he that committeth sin is of the devil," contrasting with "he that doeth righteousness" [9]. This commentary, citing Augustine, clarifies that while the devil does not "beget" anyone, whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil through imitation [9].

Sources

  1. James “Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin; and the sin, when it is full grown, produces death. -- James 1:15”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sin — Is "any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God" (1 John 3:4; Rom. 4:15), in the inward state and habit of the soul, as well as in the outward conduct of the life, whether by omission or commission (Rom. 6:12-17; 7:5-24). It is "not a mere violation of the law of our constitution, nor of the system of things, but an offence against a personal lawgiver and moral governor who vindicates his law with penalties. The soul that sins is always conscious that his sin is (1) intrinsically vile and polluting, and (2) that it justly deserves punishment,”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
  5. I Corinthians “I Corinthians 6:18 (LEB) — Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a person commits is outside his body, but the one who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.”
  6. 1 Corinthians ““Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods,” but God will bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. -- 1 Corinthians 6:13”
  7. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lust — Sinful longing; the inward sin which leads to the falling away from God (Rom. 1:21). "Lust, the origin of sin, has its place in the heart, not of necessity, but because it is the centre of all moral forces and impulses and of spiritual activity." In Mark 4:19 "lusts" are objects of desire.”
  8. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
  9. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
  10. Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
  11. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
  12. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
  13. 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).”
  14. 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).”
  15. 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.”
  16. Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 3:5: Mortify therefore your members,.... Not your bodies, as the Ethiopic version reads, nor the members of the natural body, but of the body of sin, indwelling sin; which as a body consists of various members, which are parts of it, rise out of it, and are used by it, as the members are by the body; and intend the sins of the flesh, or sinful actions, which are generally performed by the members of the natural body, in which the law of sin is, and by which it operates; so that the mortification the saints are here exhorted to, in consideration of having a spiritual lif”
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