Church matters: sexuality

1 Corinthians 6:9-20 ESV

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. "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. "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. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 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! 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." But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 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, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

The world's view on sex has caused much damage, pain, and suffering. The church can some much light and restoration here.

God's design for sex

Paul was fighting this idea called dualism.  It saw the body and spirit as separate. This thinking meant that the body was seen as unimportant. Sex was just like eating; an appetite to be sated. Others saw sex as dirty and marriage something to be avoided.

Paul advocates neither of these. He told Christians that their body matters. It was not to be denigrated. It was the temple. In addition, we get a resurrection body.  Jesus was resurrected  with a body, with scars. He even ate fish. This implies the body is  neither bad or unspiritual. It is to be used for God.

By God's design, the only proper context  for sex, and any form of sexual contact is in marriage, between a man and a woman. Both sex and marriage serve as an illustration of the Gospel.

Sex illustrates the Gospel these ways:
For procreation (bearing fruit)
To communicate exclusive love (to give everything to another, no other)
For bonding (intimacy and union)

Distortion of sex

The culture tells us to just go with what feels right. To be true to ourselves. Waiting for sex sounds old-fashioned. Marriage, so outdated.

Our desires can be twisted. Pedophiles illustrate this.  Wanting sex with young children is wrong regardless of what we desire.

In addition,  we are free in Christ. We need not worry about dietary restrictions. But we cannot do what we wish without consequences. We find ourselves enslaved by our twisted desires. This is idolatry. We have placed our twisted sexual desires above God. Idols promise but cannot deliver. So the desires increase, but the fulfillment is not to be found.

Dealing with sex as a church

Sex and any sexual contact is reserved for marriage.

We are to treat those we date as a brother and sister in Christ.

When we dress consider how we might be stumbling others.

Be open about our sexual struggle; don't stigmatize those who have persistent sexual struggles.

Homosexuality is not something exclusive. It is listed along with adultery, thievery, greed, and idolatry. These lifestyles can disqualify you from the kingdom. Not the desire, but the consistent lifestyle of living this way. Fighting  these desires is hard and sometimes lifelong. But we win in Christ, for we have been sanctified, justified and raised in Him.