6:15-20 Does what Paul says here only apply to prostitutes or is all sexual sin harlotry?
6:15-20 Does what Paul says here only apply to prostitutes or is all sexual sin harlotry?
All sexual sin is harlotry because the believer's body is the temple of God - the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (CP V19 with Ro 8:9; 1Cor 3:16-17; 2Cor 6:14-16; Eph 2:19-22; He 3:6; 1Pe 2:5; 4:17). As the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, believers' bodies are members - bodily parts - of Christ, and believers cannot take a part of Christ and involve Him in any form of sexual sin (CP 1Cor 6:13, 15).
In the course of sexual sin believers violate the sacredness of their bodies because sexual intimacy is strictly reserved for the marriage relationship and is approved and blessed by God only in that state. It is only through marriage that the husband and wife become one flesh, as God purposed (CP V16 with Gen 2:24; Song 2:7; Mt 19:4-6; Eph 5:28-31; 1Th 4:3-5; He 13:4).
Adultery, fornication, impure desire and degrading passions - evil concupiscence - are grave sins in the sight of God, and believers who commit them, except they repent, will forfeit their place in God's eternal kingdom (CP 1Cor 5:9-11; 6:9; Ga 5:19-21; Eph 4:22-24; 1Th 4:3-7; He 12:14-16).
See also comments on Ro 1:29-31; 1Cor 3:16-17(A), 6:9-10, 7:1-2, 10:1-5; Eph 4:25, 5:3-4; He 3:7-11, 4:11-12, 6:4-6, 10:26-31; 2Pe 2:20-22 and author's study Christian - Beware of Failing God's Grace and Forfeiting your Salvation in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).