Introduction
Paul now turns to the issue of human sexuality. By their behavior (vs
15), the Corinthians were giving further evidence that they weren't thinking
or operating from God's perspective ("mind of Christ").
Two Misapplied Maxims (vs 12-14)
To justify their behavior, they were evidently quoting two maxims/slogans
Paul taught them—but misapplying them . . .
"All things are lawful."
Paul affirms that this is true with regard to our standing before
God (vs 11). No sin can cause the Christian to forfeit God's
acceptance. If
there ever was a place for him to qualify this, this is it! But he
refuses to back off from the radical grace of God.
But Paul denies that sin won't affect the quality of our lives
(" . . . but all things are not
profitable . . . but
I will not be mastered by anything."). God's grace doesn't rescue
me from the negative (this-life) consequences of disregarding his
moral will for my life, any more than it rescues me from the consequences
of jumping off a cliff or walking through a glass door. We can forfeit
the blessings that result from living life as God designed it. We
can forfeit the moral freedom God intends for us, and instead become
enslaved to degrading passions (2 Pet. 2:19). Nowhere is
this more true than in our sexual behavior, as we will
see . . .
"Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food."
Paul affirms that the truth of this statement with regard to food:
"Eat whatever foods you like. Dietary preference is not a moral
issue." He rejected as unbiblical superstition the idea that
eating certain foods can cause us to lose our security in Christ,
or to defile our relationship with God. God created all foods for
us to eat freely. "My stomach is growling." "Then eat
food—that's what God gave you food for." "What kind
of food?" "Whatever kind you want."
But the Corinthian Christians were applying this same thinking to
their sexual and behavior."I'm horny." "Then have
sex—that's
what God gave you sexual organs for." "What kind of sex?"
"Whatever
kind of sex you want." “Have sex whenever & with
whomever you want. Sexual preference is not a moral issue.”
Does this sound familiar? Because western culture has rejected
God's revealed will for human sexuality, it has been almost entirely
removed from the realm of morality and spirituality. In its place
we have only one guiding principle: "sexual preference."
"Sexual
preference" (with same sex; with multiple partners; before
marriage; within marriage) is a virtually amoral category, like
left-handedness or skin color. Sexual desire is now an urge to be
satisfied however I want to satisfy it. Only a strange, arbitrary,
hypocritical limitation that it should be between "consenting
adults" remains (why "consenting?" why "adults?"
[1] ).
Our culture affirms "sexual preference" as an inalienable
right—and then gasps in horror and surprise at the inevitable
fruit of it: the exponential increase of child sexual abuse, one-parent
homes (which is the major factor driving youth crime, drugs, poverty,
illiteracy
[2] ), marital failure and STD's. We are witnessing
the breakdown of our society because of our insistence on this
"right." The foundational structure in society is the
family, and sexual morality is the structure which safeguards
the family. Only a major moral reformation can reverse this trend.
Over against this, Paul reminds them and us that God has revealed
his will for human sexuality. "The body is not for immorality
(all sex outside of heterosexual, monogamous
marriage—Gen. 2:24)."
This is not some arbitrary restriction based on God's hatred of
the physical. God gave us our bodies, complete with the equipment
to enjoy sex. God values our bodies so much he will give us new
bodies when these die (vs 14). But our bodies and our sexuality
have a purpose which we must understand if we are to enjoy
sexual activity and not destroy ourselves with it! Paul now explains
this purpose, and gives us practical guidance based on that
purpose . . .
God's Purpose For Your Body: Personal Union (vs 15-18)
Read vs 15-17. The theme that unites these verses is personal union.
God's primary purpose for our bodies is to experience oneness in the context
of personal love relationship. We all have a deep-seated thirst to experience
oneness with another person ("urge to merge"). When we don't
have this, we feel lonely—like having an itch we can't scratch. This
is an essential part of personhood, as opposed to being an object or a
thing. This is the way God is (TRINITY: Jn. 17:5,21), and this is
what it means to be created in his image.
This desire is to be filled first and foundationally by union with
God himself (vs 17). We can actually be "joined to the Lord"
and become "one spirit with him." When you ask Christ to forgive
your sins, he actually indwells you through the Holy Spirit and forges
a permanent and intimate union between you and him (Rev. 3:20),
which becomes the foundational personal union in your life (AUGUSTINE’S
& PASCAL’S QUOTES). But you have to choose this and open the
door . . .
This desire is also to be filled by union with another human in
the context of heterosexual marriage (vs 16; context of Gen. 2:24).
The primary purpose of sexual intercourse is neither procreation
nor self-gratification! It is the unique expression of sharing my being
with my wife in the context of a committed personal relationship
of self-giving love—with both of us united with Christ in a love
relationship. Sex within this context is the best, most satisfying,
sexiest sex there is! And the ones who have it best here are the those
who have never had sex in any other context (ME: I didn't miss anything
by not indulging in pre-marital sex!).
Because this is God's purpose for our bodies, for a Christian to commit
sexual immorality is a desecration of Christ (vs 15—EXPLAIN THE DESECRATION
OF ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES). It is also a desecration of ourselves (read vs
18). Sexual immorality is destructive to us in a way that other sins are
not, since it defiles the deepest purpose of our lives. We cannot ultimately
break God's moral law; we illustrate it by breaking ourselves on it. Consider
the following modern myths:
"Casual sex is harmless." There is no such thing as
"casual sex." You may relate to another person like a KLEENEX,
but that doesn't change the fact that you have forged a profound personal
union with him/her. You can't look at the person the same way ever again.
You take that person with you into your marriage, and can never share
yourself solely with your spouse.
This is why there is unique pain when (even casual) sexual relationships
break up. A union in the very fabric of your being has been ripped
apart. The guilt and anguish and anger that results from this wrongful
union causes deep emotional pain and scars that can be substantially
healed by God, but never completely removed in this life (NAIL/HOLE).
“Pre-marital sex won’t negatively affect my chances for
marital success.” The truth is that the
more sexually active you are before marriage, the more difficulty you
will have getting married and succeeding in marriage. This is true not
only with those who are promiscuous, but also for those who live together
(COHABITATION STATS: more likely to divorce; less likely to enjoy marriage).
The commitment to marriage is more difficult for those who have lived
with the benefits of sex beforehand. The pain of broken sexual relationships
makes people more less willing to be truly vulnerable, which is necessary
for a healthy marriage. The habit of diversity in sexual pleasure makes
sexual faithfulness within marriage more difficult and sexual betrayal
more likely.
“Most marriages can overcome adultery.” "INDECENT
PROPOSAL" told the truth here—except for the unrealistic ending.
This is a betrayal so deep that, apart from the forgiveness and healing
power of Christ, it does irreparable damage to the marriage.
“It won’t seriously affect my relationship with
God.”
This is completely untrue. While you are still accepted by God
if you have received Christ, your relationship with God is profoundly
disrupted when you get involved in sexual sin. You have involved him
in a union which rejects his loving authority on a very serious level
("grieves" Holy Spirit). This is why you find your prayer
life up on blocks, your aversion to other Christians, and the Word going
dead—until you agree with him and turn away from this.
God's Provision For Sexual Restoration
"I have blown it so badly in this area that there is no hope for
me!" Apart from God and his grace, this would be true. But because
God is a God of grace, there is hope for all of us, no matter how damaged
we may be. You can experience God's forgiveness and his progressive healing.
But you have to appropriate his grace.
Be cleansed by Christ's forgiveness (vs 11). No matter how sinful
you have been, no matter how damaged you are, no matter how much you
view yourself as an unclean thing—God is prepared to accept you
and make you his child and cleanse away your guilt. Receive Christ—and
keep focusing on your new standing with God.
"Flee immorality" (vs 18). Sex is powerful. Anything
with great power for good also has great potential for damage (FIRE).
Don't toy with it—respect it and run from its misuse!
If you are sexually promiscuous, turn away from this way of life!
If you're in an immoral relationship, get out of it—even if
it means sacrificing the relationship!
Guard the sexual purity of your dating relationship. Stay out of
sexually tempting situations (FLIRTING; MEAT MARKET BARS; SPENDING
THE NIGHT; LONG MAKE-OUT SESSIONS; VACATIONS/TRIPS).
Start practicing self-control in your thought-life (FANTASIES; PORN).
Pursue spiritual growth (vs 20). It isn't enough to flee the
negative if you don't replace it the positive. "Glorify God in
your body" means making God and his purpose for your life your
first priority. Lasting change in sexual behavior is the result of solid
spiritual growth.
Focus on becoming rather than finding the right person. By relating
to God through prayer and learning his Word, and by beginning to serve
him in every area of your life, you can substantially lessen the loneliness
and facilitate God's healing in your life.
Get involved in "body life." God has designed another way
for us to experience union—with other walking Christians. Christ-
centered
love relationships provide another way to experience personal oneness.
Other Christians help you learn how to walk with God. They provide
you with reminders of God's perspective in this area, and accountability
as well. Get involved in fellowship!!! For some of you, this is why
you keep falling (1 Thess. 4:9-10 in context)
. . .
Footnotes
[1] The problem here is that
there is no authoritative voice on where the line should be drawn or if there should be
any line at all. From a secular view point, one might note that the concepts of consent
and adulthood are both tied to mature moral judgment by a developed rational-moral agent.
Nevertheless, rational-moral agency would arguably prohibit certain behaviors sanctioned
by the "sexual preference" outlook, the appropriateness of the concept of rational-moral
agency in an evolutionary-biological worldview notwithstanding.
[2] "Illegitimacy is the
single most important social problem of our time--more important than
crime, drugs, poverty illiteracy, welfare or homelessness because it
drives everything else." Charles Murray, quoted in William J. Bennett,
The Index of Leading Cultural Indicators (New York: Simon and
Schuster, 1994), p. 48.