Lasciviousness

Intro:
A.	Defined: 
	1.	"Denotes excess, absence of restraint, indecency...the prominent
		idea is shameless conduct" An Expository Dictionary Of New
		Testament Words, W.E. Vine.
	2.	"Wanton (acts or) manners, as filthy words, indecent bodily
		movements, unchaste handling of males and females" Thayer's
		Greek English Lexicon.
	3.	The word literally means lewdness or unbridled lusts.
B.	The word is used ten times in the New Testament and not at all in the Old.
C.	Because it is not commonly used in our language today, it is a word that
	many do not understand.

I.	Use Of The Word In The New Testament:
	A.	Mark 7:22 (20-23) "And he said, That which cometh out of the
		man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart
		of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
		Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an
		evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things
		come from within, and defile the man."
		1.	It is a sin that proceeds from the heart.
	B.	Romans 13:13 (12-14) "The night is far spent, the day is at hand:
		let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on
		the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in
		rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in
		strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make
		not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
		1.	The word here is translated "wantonness".
		2.	We are not to "walk" in this manner.
	C.	2 Cor. 12:21 "And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me
		among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already,
		and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and
		lasciviousness which they have committed."
		1.	Lasciviousness was a sin some of the Corinthians were
			guilty of.
	D.	Gal. 5:19-21 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which
		are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
		Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,
		seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings,
		and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also
		told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not
		inherit the kingdom of God."
		1.	In the four words this list opens with, lasciviousness
			could be considered the climax.
		2.	Adultery and fornication is sin within a specific area
			of life - sexual relationships.
		3.	Uncleanness is the general defilement of the whole personality.
		4.	Lasciviousness is a love of sin that causes reckless behavior.
			It causes a person to no longer care what God or man thinks
			of his actions.
		5.	A person may be unclean and hide his sin but if he lascivious
			he makes no attempt to hide or cover it - they have lost
			their shame!
	E.	Eph. 4:19 (17-24) "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord,
		that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity
		of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated
		from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because
		of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given
		themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with
		greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye
		have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in
		Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old
		man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be
		renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man,
		which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
		1.	It could not be said any plainer: Don't be like others!
	F.	1 Peter 4:3 (1-4) "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in
		the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that
		hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer
		should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men,
		but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice
		us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in
		lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings,
		and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that
		ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil
		of you:"
		1.	Again, it can not be said any clearer: Don't be like
			others regardless of what they say against you!
	G.	2 Peter 2:2 "And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by
		reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of."
		1.	Word "lasciviousness" is translated "pernicious".
		2.	We would do well to read all of 2 Peter 2.
	H.	2 Peter 2:7 "And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy
		conversation of the wicked:"
		1.	Lasciviousness is translated "filthy conversation"
			with "conversation meaning "way of life".
	I.	2 Peter 2:18 "For when they speak great swelling words of
		vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through
		much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who
		live in error."
		1.	Lasciviousness is translated "wantonness" which shows
			it is a source of enticement to do wrong.
	J.	Jude 4 "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who
		were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men,
		turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying
		the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."
		1.	God's grace can even be turned into lasciviousness.

II	What Can Be Learned From These Passages?
	A.	Sin of lasciviousness is not always easy to identify as a
		single sinful act.
	B.	In the passages just examined, it's more a manner or
		attitude of behavior.
	C.	It could be a:
		1.	A lascivious walk		5.	Filthy speech
		2.	A lascivious look		6.	Lascivious jokes
		3.	Lascivious speech		7.	Lascivious gestures
		4.	Lascivious kiss		8.	Lascivious desires
				9.	Lascivious movements
	D.	Three characteristics of lasciviousness:
		1.	Wanton or undisciplined action. Someone at the mercy
			of their passions, impulses, and emotions. Reasoning
			has been silenced.
		2.	Has no respect for persons nor rights of anyone else.
		3.	Completely indifferent to what is right and decent.
	E.	The terrible thing about lasciviousness is that it is the act
		of a character which has lost that which ought to be its
		greatest defense: ITS SELF-RESPECT and ITS SENSE OF SHAME!

III      Some Present Practices In View Of What We've Learned:
	A.	Modern Dance.
		1.	The difference between dancing and wrestling is that
			in wrestling some holds are barred!
		2.	Remember Thayer's definition: "unchaste handling of
			males and females" and "indecent bodily movements".
		3.	Sometime when you're "channel surfing" and come upon
			a scene showing the dance floor, mute the sound and
			just watch.
	B.	Kissing and Petting.
		1.	This action stirs a desire that petting itself cannot
			and will not satisfy.
		2.	Again, remember the definition: "...unchaste handling...".
		3.	Even people of the world recognize the dangers:
			"...not enough mothers warn their sons and daughters
			that kissing is intended by nature to be an appetizer,
			not an entire meal." (Marrion Hilliard, M.D. Chief Of
			Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital, Toronto.)
	C.	Movies. (Whether in the theater or at home.)
		1.	Scenes are depicted which incite lust and evil desires
			in the hearts of those who watch.
		2.	Instead of "R" and "X" ratings there should be "L"
			rating with "L" being lascivious.
	D.	Immodest Dress.
		1.	Shorts, halters, bathing suits, tight fitting, thigh-high
			split clothing, see-through clothing, etc.


Conclusion:
	A.	Some additional passages to keep in mind:
		1.	Phil. 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are
			true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
			are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
			are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
			there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think
			on these things."
			a.	We need to do all that we can to keep ourselves
				in the right surroundings so that we can do
				these things.
			b.	Of course, that are places where we must be and
				we do not have much of a choice:
				(1)	Schools
				(2)	On the job
			c.	But after we get out of school or get off work,
				let us not choose to want to continue to
				associate with those who are foul mouthed or
				involved themselves in sinful things.
				(1)	Let us not stop off at local pub or
					"hang-out" spot where such things
					continue to go on.
				(2)	Nor go to the dance-hall, etc. These
					things are options and we have a choice
					either to do or not do.
				(3)	Let us never deliberately and knowingly
					put ourselves into situations of temptations.
					Regardless how strong we are, we are sure
					to lose.
				(4)	That is why God repeatedly warns us
					"Flee fornication" (1 Cor. 6:18) and
					"abstain from all appearance of evil"
					(1 Thess. 5:22). 
		2.	Proverbs 4:23 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for
			out of it are the issues of life."
    

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