After accepting God’s forgiveness, how does a perpetrator practically move on?

Genesis 49:4“You [Reuben] are as unruly as a flood, and you will be first no longer. For you went to bed with my wife; you defiled my marriage couch.”

1 Chronicles 5:1The oldest son of Israel was Reuben. But since he dishonored his father by sleeping with one of his father’s concubines, his birthright was given to the sons of his brother Joseph. For this reason, Reuben is not listed in the genealogical records as the firstborn son.

Everyone needs to realize that even if we have received God’s forgiveness through a repentant heart and changed lifestyle, we still will have to bear the consequences of our sins. At the least, this may disqualify us from certain responsibilities; at the most, it may require a just punishment. God forgives and forgets, but he also punishes disobedience. So does society. Fortunately, God’s forgiveness is eternal.

Romans 6:13, 19Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. . . . Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.

Romans 12:1So, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

1 Corinthians 6:15, 19-20Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! . . . Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-7God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.

We must make the choice and commitment to honor God with our bodies. When we finally realize that the body is where the Holy Spirit lives, then we will understand that he will not dwell there until we have submitted to God’s work of purification.

Psalm 119:9How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.

Ephesians 5:1, 3Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. . . . Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.

We must follow God’s example and obey what he reveals in Scripture. Our consistent reading of the Bible will keep us focused on living pure lives.

Galatians 5:16So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Ephesians 4:17-24With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. . . . Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Philippians 2:13God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Colossians 2:6-7Now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Colossians 3:5-10Put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you . . . for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

We must continually submit to God, allowing him to change our thoughts and attitudes as we get to know Christ better and better and as the Holy Spirit works within us.

2 Timothy 2:22Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

We should find godly companions. Walking with God is easier when we walk with others with the same desire to grow in faith and obedience.

1 Corinthians 7:2Because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

Those who are married must be faithful to their spouses. The seeds of incest do not grow well in the soil of a happy marriage.

1 Corinthians 6:18Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.

We are told to stand against some sins; we are told to run away from others. This means guarding ourselves against situations where we are vulnerable and people who bring temptation. We should run from all sexual sins and not put ourselves in tempting situations.