1 Corinthians 6:12-20
12"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything.
13"Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"--and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh."
17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
The central exhortation: Flee sexual immorality. (6:18)
The biblical clarification: Flee sexual activity outside of marriage
between a man and a woman.
Supreme Court Reaction…
It is good to be grieved…about the degradation (and supposed redefinition)
of marriage. (Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:22-33)
It is right to be concerned…about religious liberty in our country.
(Mat. 22:21; Acts 4:18-20; Rom. 13:1-7)
It is imperative to be loving…toward our gay and lesbian friends and
neighbors. (Gen. 1:26-28; Mat. 22:37-39; 2 Pet. 3:9)
It is wise to be confident…in the resiliency of marriage, in the opportunity for
the gospel, and in the sovereignty of our God. (Mat. 19:4-6; Eph. 5:22-33; Rev. 19:1-10)
Clear Sexual Prohibitions…
No sex outside of marriage. (Exodus 20:14; Lev. 20:10; Prov. 6:28-32;
Mat. 19:17-18; Rom. 13:9; Heb. 13:4)
No sexual worship. (Deut. 23:17; Ex. 32:2-6; 1 Cor. 10:8)
No sexual prostitution (Lev. 19:29; Deut. 23:18; Prov. 6:25-26) or
violence. (Ez. 45:9; 1 Cor. 13:4-5; Eph. 5:25)
No homosexual activity. (Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:26)
No sex with animals (Lev. 18:23-24; 20:15-16), relatives (Lev. 18:6; 1 Cor. 5:1-2),
or children. (Mat. 18:5-6)
No sexual lust… having wrong sexual desires for others.
(Mat. 5:28; Ex. 20:14-17; 2 Pet. 2:14)
No sexual immodesty… provoking wrong sexual desires in others.
(Rom. 14:21; 1 Tim. 2:9-10)
No sexual allurement (including inappropriate emotional attachment)
outside of marriage. (Prov. 4:23; 5:1-23; 7:1-27)
No sexual looking (Gen. 9:22-24; Job 31:1-4; Mat. 5:27-29) or
touching (Deut. 25:11-12; Heb. 13:4) outside of marriage.
No entertaining ourselves with or joking around about sex outside
of marriage. (Eph. 5:3-12)
Common Practical Questions…
How far is too far between a single man and a single woman?
Three God-ordained categories…
The neighbor relationship: sexual activity prohibited.
(Lk. 10:25-37; 1 Cor. 7:7-9)
The family relationship: sexual activity prohibited.
(Lev. 18:6; 1 Tim. 5:1-2).
The marriage relationship: sexual activity commanded. (1 Cor. 7:1-5)
One God-glorifying conclusion…
Regardless of whether you are single or married, flee any and
all sexual activity outside of marriage. (1 Cor. 6:18-20; 1 Thess. 4:3-8)
What about masturbation? (Gal. 5:24; Rom. 13:14)
God designed sex to be relational; masturbation is lustful.
God designed sex to be covenantal; masturbation is non-committal.
God designed sex to be intimate; masturbation is superficial.
God designed sex to be fruitful; masturbation is fruitless.
God designed sex to be selfless; masturbation is self-centered.
God designed sex as a complex union; masturbation involves personal
isolation.
God designed sex as a complementary heterosexual act; masturbation is a
personal homosexual act.
How do I fight pornography?
Final Gospel Exhortations…
Repent of (and run from) any and all sexual activity outside of
marriage. (1 Cor. 6:18)
Rejoice in (and run to) sexual activity in marriage. (1 Cor. 7:1-5)
Receive today (and rest in) the forgiveness and freedom, hope and
healing that are found in Christ alone.
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