Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto his wife the affection her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one her except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of control" (1 Cor. 7:2-5).

The phrase "Justified Love" has become popularized by those who would condone sexual acts such as fornication, adultery and homosexuality. Many people believe that society could dictate what the morals should be at any given time. Their plea is, "You must go with the flow. " They say since times have changed, the way society thinks should change. Their thinking is that the moral standard should reflect the prevalent attitude and behavior of society. Thus, the biblical view of sexuality becomes outdated and archaic. What the Bible deems as sinful sexual practices, society views as common and acceptable, therefore, justified love. The idea that the biblical view on sex should be interpreted in keeping with the moral standards of society has some startling consequences.

"There Is Nothing New Under The Sun"

Solomon once said, "The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us" (Eccl. 1:9-10). The immorality that man seeks to justify today is nothing new. In Leviticus 18, God gives the Israelites laws governing sexual practices. He commands them not to engage in adultery (v. 20) or homosexuality (v. 22). These practices, God says, were the practices of the Egyptians and the Canaanites (Lev. 18:3,27). The Israelites lived in the midst of a society where such sexual practices were common and acceptable, yet God did not tolerate such practices. Anyone who would be his would not be involved in such practices.

Paul also spoke of such practices that existed in his day. "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 there lust one to ward another,- men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error was meet" (Rom. 1:26-27). From the language of the text one can see that the sexual practices that were condemned by God 1500 years earlier, were still condemned by God. The sins have not changed nor has God's attitude toward the sins. What is the difference in the sins today? They were just as acceptable and prevalent back then as they are today. One cannot justify such practices and still remain in God's favor. God has, throughout mankind's existence, separated his people from the rest of society. And today he still exhorts his people by saying, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not her plagues" (Rev. 18:4).

The only "Justified Love" that is scripturally sanctioned is, "Let the husband render unto his wife the affection due her, and likewise the wife to her husband" (1 Cor. 7:3). There is no other way to practice safe sex.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 18, p. 559
September 19, 1991