Moral purity. In the Law of Moses there are prohibitions governing adultery, fornication, incest, and homosexual behavior.

The same is true under the new covenant, so it certainly would be misleading to suggest that we no longer are under the Divine prohibitions governing lustful conduct but under grace, or that Christ has put an end to the ordinances regulating moral behavior.

Concerning adultery:

Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: (II Peter 2:14)

Concerning fornication:

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. (I Corinthians 6:18)

Concerning incest:

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. (I Corinthians 5:1,2)

Concerning homosexual behavior:

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (Romans 1:26,27)

And notice further:

But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (I Corinthians 5:11)

But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (I Corinthians 5:13)

If any member of our assembly is overtaken in a fault we are to restore him or her, considering ourselves that we also be not tempted.

If, however, an individual persists in sin, refusing correction, being proud, arrogant, justifying himself, then we are to put him or her out of the assembly.

This fact reveals to us that moral impurity is not permitted under either covenant. This is true both for the member of God's elect and also for the citizens of the nations of the saved. Righteousness and holiness are required of all saved people, but especially for the Lord's royal priesthood. They are the firstfruits of mankind unto the Lord.

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (I Corinthians 6:10)

It is evident that God would not accept impure behavior under the old covenant and that He will not accept it under the new.

To be continued.