In both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, we are warned against adultery. “But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell,” (Proverbs 5:4-5). Some people may argue that Everything is Entirely permissible ever since Christ came. However, this is not the case. In fact, one can clearly see in the New Testament of the Bible that adultery is still discouraged.
“We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died,” (1 Corinthians 10:8). The reason that God warns against adultery is plain. We are designed to love our neighbor as ourselves, and when we disregard the Holy Spirit that warns us from within, as well as through Scripture, we will hurt people around us and ultimately, will hurt ourselves. In that case, some may wonder, why did Christ not command that the adulterous woman brought to him be stoned to death as was advised in the Old Testament when instead, He answered, “…He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her,” (John 8:7). This is because God was tired of demonstrating so much righteous indignation against mankind and instead, wanted to set the example of His divine mercy and of what it could be to turn one’s cheek. Also, Christ knew what led up to her sin. Perhaps her husband had already been cheating on her and denying her at length to the point whence she became utterly exhausted.
This reminds me of another unrelated Scripture: “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2 Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”3 Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5 Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath,” (Luke 6:1-5). God was not mad with David and His men for eating the consecrated bread even though under normal circumstances, He would have been because God knew David’s heart. David loved God and longed to please Him; nonetheless, his life was being pursued. He had little to no choice but to eat the consecrated bread or to starve and die. In such an instance, grace and divine mercy was a Need.
Similarly, because God has created each person as unique as their fingerprints, some with high sexual needs and some with little to none, it can be difficult at times for some to sympathize with others. This is where wisdom becomes necessary. 1 Corinthians 7:2-4 states clearly that, “Because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.” Therefore, adultery is still a sin, and it is every Christian’s responsibility to avoid falling into it; nevertheless, when one absolutely has no idea what else can be done to prevent it, of course, Christ’s blood is enough to cover this sin. However, stomping all over His wonderful grace and taking it for granted is not acceptable. God is still God. He remains faithful and unchanging throughout every generation. Therefore, whatever you do, do it prayerfully, and remember, God is your judge. He knows all and sees all, no one else. He is merciful to those who show mercy to others, but He is most certainly to be feared as well!