1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,000 You may be seated. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,000 I just want to commend you. 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:12,000 You guys are a hearty bunch to come out on a Sunday where in 4 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:15,000 our Sunday schools we are learning about Leviticus. 5 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:16,000 I mean Leviticus. 6 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:17,000 Amen. 7 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:18,000 It's been awesome. 8 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,000 And then to enjoy the weather and all that. 9 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:23,000 And you are here. 10 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,000 And who loves God's Word here this morning. 11 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:26,000 I love it too. 12 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,000 And so we are going to have a good time this morning. 13 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,000 If you have your Bible, first Corinthians 7 as you know is 14 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:33,000 where we are going to be. 15 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:37,000 And I have always loved the spoken word. 16 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:42,000 I recognize this now because of my dad's affection for talk 17 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:43,000 radio. 18 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,000 He used to love, still loves talk radio. 19 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:47,000 He loves. 20 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,000 And I listen to a lot of podcasts. 21 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:50,000 I like to listen. 22 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,000 I get to do it now. 23 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:53,000 I get to be a talker. 24 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:54,000 That's what I do. 25 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,000 And when I was young I remember my dad listening to two people 26 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,000 that maybe you haven't thought about in a while. 27 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:04,000 And I know that today you just got to bear with me today. 28 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,000 I'm going to sound old. 29 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:07,000 I'm just going to sound old. 30 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,000 I have old illustrations. 31 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:13,000 We are talking about marriage and stuff like that. 32 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:14,000 I'm wearing a tie. 33 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,000 It's my birthday on Tuesday. 34 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:16,000 I'm getting old. 35 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:17,000 I feel old. 36 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:18,000 Who feels old? 37 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:19,000 I feel old. 38 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:20,000 Okay. 39 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,000 So you can be that way with me. 40 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,000 If you are young, you are so cool. 41 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:25,000 Treasure it now. 42 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:26,000 Your hip, that's awesome. 43 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,000 But I remember two shows. 44 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,000 My dad would let us sometimes, my mom and dad would give my 45 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:34,000 brother and I turns to sleep at the end of the bed. 46 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:35,000 And we put a pallet down. 47 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:36,000 Did anybody do this growing up? 48 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:37,000 Were you sleep on the bottom? 49 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,000 Yeah, anyway, we would do that. 50 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,000 And my dad had this alarm clock. 51 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:42,000 I remember this very distinctly. 52 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,000 Who had this alarm clock? 53 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:46,000 Okay. 54 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,000 If you had that alarm clock or one that looked like it, raise 55 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:50,000 your hand. 56 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:51,000 Okay. 57 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:54,000 Who does not have an alarm clock now other than on your phone? 58 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:55,000 Okay. 59 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,000 That's pretty much where we are at. 60 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:58,000 Yeah. 61 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,000 I had one too, but it was much later. 62 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:04,000 Anyway, was that wood on the top? 63 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,000 I don't know if it was wood. 64 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,000 But anyway, you guys get back to me. 65 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:13,000 Anyway, he would play, and I remember two distinct voices on 66 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:14,000 that radio. 67 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:18,000 One was a guy named Bruce Williams on Talknet. 68 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,000 Does anybody know what I'm talking about? 69 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:22,000 Okay. 70 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,000 It was a national syndicated radio. 71 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:25,000 Okay. 72 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,000 The other one was a guy named Paul Harvey. 73 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,000 Who remembers Paul Harvey? 74 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:31,000 Okay. 75 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:33,000 Teenagers, do you know the word Paul Harvey? 76 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:34,000 No, you have no idea. 77 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:35,000 Okay. 78 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,000 I'm really relating to the young people. 79 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,000 I feel like really connected. 80 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:40,000 What was his saying? 81 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,000 He's like, Paul Harvey, good day. 82 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,000 The rest of this, you got to want. 83 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:46,000 He would say good day. 84 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:47,000 I think he had two things. 85 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:50,000 One in the morning, which was like a news thing. 86 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,000 And then one at night was the rest of the store. 87 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,000 Paul Harvey was like, Paul Harvey, good day. 88 00:02:56,000 --> 00:03:00,000 And then Paul Harvey said, Paul, now you know the rest of the 89 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,000 story. 90 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:02,000 Right. 91 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:03,000 That was it. 92 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,000 I was, I would love listening to him. 93 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,000 And I love the rest of the story because it was always like this 94 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:09,000 intriguing. 95 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:12,000 He's giving you something and at the end he kind of helped you 96 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,000 know, oh, you knew all along who he was talking about. 97 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,000 You just didn't know the whole thing. 98 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:20,000 He said one, I'm going to actually give you this. 99 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:21,000 Ready? 100 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,000 This was more than 17 centuries ago. 101 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:29,000 The institution of marriage was abolished by the Roman Empire. 102 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,000 I said the institution of marriage was abolished by the Roman 103 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:34,000 Empire responsible for this edict. 104 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,000 I'm going to try to do my best Paul Harvey. 105 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,000 He had a very like deep voice. 106 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:39,000 I can't do that. 107 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,000 Anyway, responsible for this edict was Emperor Claudius II. 108 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:47,000 Some say he was insane, but there was a method in his madness for 109 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:51,000 military-minded Claudius was much concerned about the quality of 110 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,000 his army and the caliber of his soldiers. 111 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:58,000 And he grew convinced that married men did not make good fighting 112 00:03:58,000 --> 00:03:59,000 men. 113 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,000 They became too homesick for their families, he thought. 114 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,000 They could not keep their minds on the business of killing, he 115 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:05,000 thought. 116 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,000 And thus did he seek to make his soldiers more focused and his 117 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:13,000 army more deadly by forbidding by outlawing marriage. 118 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,000 Members of the early Christian church while angry about this 119 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:20,000 proclamation still feared the wrath of Claudius and kept silent. 120 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:24,000 All except one, the bishop in Tiramda. 121 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,000 Marriage was God's plan, the bishop insisted, and no earthly 122 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,000 king must be permitted to interfere with it. 123 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,000 And he underscored his insistence by encouraging young lovers to 124 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:38,000 visit him in secret whereupon he would join them in holy wedlock. 125 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,000 Well, of course, Emperor Claudius found out and he had the 126 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:44,000 impertinent church man brought before him to answer for his 127 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:45,000 insolence. 128 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:49,000 It was said that when the two met Claudius, the two met Claudius 129 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:53,000 was much impressed by the sincerity of the bishop's convictions. 130 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:57,000 So much so in fact that the emperor offered him an alternative 131 00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:59,000 to execution. 132 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,000 If the bishop of Tiramda would renounce his Christian faith and 133 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:06,000 embrace the tradition of Roman gods, then Claudius said his life 134 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:07,000 would be spared. 135 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,000 The bishop refused. 136 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,000 In fact, according to some, the church man even tried to convert 137 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,000 the pagan emperor to Christianity. 138 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,000 But in any event, following a brief imprisonment in the winter 139 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:22,000 of 270 AD, the bishop was taken to Terny, was beaten with 140 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:25,000 clubs, was stoned, and then beheaded. 141 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:29,000 And Claudius, the second, renewed his determination that there 142 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,000 would be no more marriages. 143 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:35,000 Ironically, with a little more patience, the bishop of Tiramda 144 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,000 might not have died so cruelly for within weeks in the midst of 145 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:41,000 the planning of a new military adventure, the emperor himself 146 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,000 fell ill and died. 147 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,000 On the other hand, had the bishop, had the defiant bishop not 148 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:50,000 been martyred, he would surely have been forgotten by posterity. 149 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,000 And as it is, he has been hailed down through the centuries as 150 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,000 the friend of lovers everywhere. 151 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,000 Now regarding what you've just heard, I'm aware that scholars 152 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:02,000 offer a wealth of versions, variations, and elaborations, 153 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:05,000 but on one thing they agree, the core of the story is true that 154 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:09,000 once upon a time, a man did give his life in the name of love, 155 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:11,000 and the world reveres him still. 156 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:15,000 Some remember him as the bishop of Tiramda, others refer to him 157 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,000 simply as the priest. 158 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,000 You know the sainted friend of lovers who died more than 1,700 159 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:25,000 February's ago by his Christian name Valentine. 160 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:28,000 Only now you know the rest of the story. 161 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,000 Now I don't know if that's true or not. 162 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,000 Paul Harvey thought it was true. 163 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:35,000 I like to believe stuff like that, I don't know. 164 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:40,000 But I tell that to you, who celebrated Valentine's Day? 165 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:44,000 You at least, guys who got flowers for your wife? 166 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,000 Okay, who did not get flowers for their wife? 167 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,000 Okay, don't admit it. 168 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,000 Don't admit it. 169 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:57,000 But there may be no subject that's so universally relevant to 170 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:02,000 women over three years old and men over 12 years old as the 171 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:05,000 subject of marital status. 172 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,000 Girls start thinking about marriage, family and motherhood 173 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,000 from the time they're handed a baby doll, I think. 174 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,000 Guys most likely start thinking about it much later. 175 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:20,000 But 1 Corinthians 7 is a chapter that is full of practical 176 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:24,000 advice and commands helping to answer questions that the 177 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:26,000 Corinthian church had in this area. 178 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:30,000 There seems to be, and you'll see it in verse 1 of chapter 7, 179 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:34,000 that the Corinthian church had written a letter to Paul asking 180 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,000 him questions. 181 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:39,000 And Paul, at least in this part of the letter, begins to answer 182 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,000 those questions. 183 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:45,000 And in this particular section he's talking about marriage, 184 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,000 people who are married, people who are single, and what our 185 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,000 responsibilities are. 186 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:53,000 And what's interesting is he doesn't think that marriage is 187 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:55,000 for everybody. 188 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:57,000 Marriage isn't for everybody. 189 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:00,000 Some people, God calls to be single. 190 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,000 Some people are called to be married. 191 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,000 That's part of how life is. 192 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,000 But we're all called, no matter where we're at, we're all 193 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,000 called to purity. 194 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,000 And that seems to be, and we're called to peace. 195 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:14,000 That's another thing he says that we're called to. 196 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,000 We're called to purity, we're called to peace. 197 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:20,000 And so in this particular text he deals with this subject. 198 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:23,000 Every person is called to live out their marriage status, 199 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,000 whether you're married or where you're single. 200 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:29,000 Or widowed, widower, whatever you find yourself to be, we all 201 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:33,000 should live out our marriages, our family life, our single life. 202 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:36,000 We should live out our lives with purity. 203 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:39,000 And we should do that by following Paul's instructions that 204 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:42,000 we're going to see in 1 Corinthians chapter 7, 1-9. 205 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:47,000 Now, over the next couple of weeks, I love being tied to 206 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:50,000 teaching what the scripture teaches. 207 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,000 Okay? 208 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:56,000 Because if it was up to me, I'd mess up. 209 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,000 Right? 210 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,000 It is kind of up to me sometimes and I still mess up. 211 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,000 Right? 212 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:05,000 But I want to teach this and I know that not everybody in here, 213 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:07,000 Mary, not anybody in here is single. 214 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,000 There's a larger and larger growing population in our 215 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:12,000 population of people who are single. 216 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,000 And I think that's interesting. 217 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,000 I think there's a lot of reasons for that. 218 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,000 But whatever, wherever you find yourself, God has given us 219 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,000 this instruction and all of this is for all of us. 220 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:23,000 Who agrees? 221 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:24,000 It's all for all of us. 222 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:25,000 So let's dive in. 223 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:26,000 Okay? 224 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:30,000 Here's the first instruction that Paul gives in verses 1-2, 225 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,000 chapter 7. 226 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:32,000 Here's what it says. 227 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:35,000 And this is the point I want to make because I believe this is 228 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:36,000 the point that texts make. 229 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:40,000 Sexual purity is required for single and married people both. 230 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:44,000 Sexual purity is required for single and married. 231 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:45,000 Now, let's read it. 232 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,000 Verse 1. 233 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,000 Now, Paul is there. 234 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:52,000 The Corinthians, like I said, had written questions to the 235 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:55,000 apostle Paul and that's not a surprise. 236 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,000 He's been kind of dealing with them. 237 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:01,000 After six chapters of us going through this, who agreed that 238 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:02,000 Paul knew Corinth? 239 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,000 He knew those people, right? 240 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:05,000 And they knew him. 241 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,000 And he knew them enough to correct them where they were wrong. 242 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,000 And now he's instructing them to try to help them. 243 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,000 And he's instructing them to correct them where they were wrong. 244 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:18,000 And now he's instructing them to try to help them to be right. 245 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:22,000 And so he's like a father to them spiritually and they were 246 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,000 looking to him for fatherly advice. 247 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:29,000 He gives this statement and it seems like he's reading it. 248 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,000 Now, concerning wherever you wrote it into me and in our King 249 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,000 James version it has a colon and it says, it's good for a man not 250 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:36,000 to touch a woman. 251 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:39,000 There are some who believe that that was like him quoting what 252 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:42,000 they were saying, okay, in the text. 253 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,000 In their text. 254 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,000 You see they wrote a letter to him. 255 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:48,000 You see that in verse 1, right? 256 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:51,000 Concerning the things you wrote into me, answering questions. 257 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:55,000 And so it seems like he's definitely getting at the thing 258 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:56,000 that they wrote. 259 00:10:56,000 --> 00:11:00,000 There were some that taught this asceticism that like you're 260 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:04,000 just holier if you don't have sex no matter if you're married 261 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:05,000 or not. 262 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,000 And that's kind of what they were saying. 263 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,000 It's better to be single than to be married. 264 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,000 That's kind of what they were asking. 265 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:16,000 And so this particular statement, this phrase to touch a woman 266 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:19,000 was a Jewish expression that's used in the Old Testament many 267 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,000 times, multiple times. 268 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:24,000 It's not talking about the kind of touching that would include 269 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:26,000 simply a handshake or a high five. 270 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,000 So this is not forbidding us. 271 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:32,000 Did anybody shake the hand of someone of the opposite sex when 272 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:33,000 you came today? 273 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:36,000 Did anybody pound, who pounds it? 274 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:38,000 Did you do that? 275 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,000 Did you and Lauren, you guys high five real quick. 276 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:41,000 Okay. 277 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,000 They didn't violate anything just now. 278 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,000 You guys understand that? 279 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:49,000 This is talking about beyond just a normal greeting. 280 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:52,000 This is talking about sexual activity. 281 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:56,000 He's saying that's good for a man here not to be, they're 282 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:59,000 asking is celibacy inherently better? 283 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:05,000 Or is celibacy is staying away from that bad by definition? 284 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:07,000 And I will say that. 285 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:11,000 And I think what Paul gives is this answer is it's not bad. 286 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:15,000 Of course, one could imagine then that the question they were 287 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:17,000 asking was something along the lines of the following. 288 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:20,000 Is it okay for a man to be unmarried and have no intention 289 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:21,000 of getting married? 290 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:25,000 This then was his answer yet he gives a caveat. 291 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:26,000 Yeah. 292 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:30,000 Nevertheless, verse two, to avoid fornication let every man 293 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:34,000 have his own wife and let every woman have her own husband. 294 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:38,000 Paul understands that not every person has the ability to be 295 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:41,000 single and to live a single lifestyle in a way that honors 296 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:42,000 God. 297 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:47,000 We see in verse two what he says, to avoid fornication. 298 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:52,000 Who agrees that God's plan is for all of us to avoid sexual 299 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:53,000 sin? 300 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:54,000 That is God's plan for us. 301 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:55,000 That is God's will for us. 302 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:56,000 That is what he wants. 303 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:00,000 Sexual expression of any kind outside of the bonds of marriage 304 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:04,000 is fornication. 305 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:08,000 Marriage is not simply to be taken on as a means of avoiding 306 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:12,000 sexual sin, but Paul is saying that celibacy and singleness is 307 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,000 not possible for everybody. 308 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:16,000 So both of these things are in view. 309 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:17,000 It is good. 310 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:22,000 It is acceptable for a person to be single and not to be engaged 311 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:23,000 in sexual activity. 312 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:24,000 That's okay. 313 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:25,000 It's even good. 314 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:29,000 It is also good to be single and not to be engaged in sexual 315 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:30,000 activity. 316 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:31,000 It is also good. 317 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,000 It is acceptable for a person to be married and to enjoy what God 318 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:38,000 intended for married couples to enjoy in family life and child 319 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:39,000 bearing. 320 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,000 Paul is expressing that both paths are good and acceptable 321 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:43,000 before God. 322 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:49,000 What is bad is when non-married people do married people things. 323 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:51,000 Is that clear enough? 324 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:52,000 Okay. 325 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,000 We're keeping it PG because that's what the scripture does, 326 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:55,000 but you get the point. 327 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,000 What is bad is when married people do married people things with 328 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,000 people who they're not married to, right? 329 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:06,000 And the definition of marriage given to us by God who ordained 330 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:11,000 and designed marriage, this design is that all marriages include 331 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,000 a man and a woman. 332 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:14,000 Okay. 333 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:16,000 What is good is purity. 334 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,000 We ought to be pursued. 335 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:23,000 What ought to be pursued is God honoring purity. 336 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:24,000 Okay. 337 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:25,000 Is that clear? 338 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,000 Not a surprise probably to most of you. 339 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:32,000 We live in a culture that says that what God sees as impurity is 340 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:33,000 normal. 341 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,000 Let me say that again. 342 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:39,000 We live in a culture that says that what God sees as impurity is 343 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:40,000 normal. 344 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:44,000 We live in a culture that denies the very idea of impurity. 345 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:48,000 In fact, that has been the normative in most cultures and most of 346 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:49,000 the world. 347 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,000 It's pretty clear that this was the case in Corinth. 348 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,000 It is certainly the case with us. 349 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:58,000 Yet God has made his design and his intention for sexual 350 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,000 expression and marriage known. 351 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:04,000 It is clear that this vision that God had for marriage in the 352 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:08,000 way that he revealed himself to us is for one man and one woman to 353 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:13,000 be committed to each other in a covenant of lifelong marriage. 354 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:17,000 I believe that God's intention is for parents to be committed to 355 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,000 each other in raising their kids. 356 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,000 And that is at least part of the reasoning for demanding that 357 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,000 lifelong commitment before participation in the act that 358 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,000 brings children into the world. 359 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,000 Does that make sense? 360 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:31,000 This is God's intention. 361 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:34,000 And that leads us to the next idea, number two. 362 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:41,000 Sexual expression is promoted in the marriage relationship. 363 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:47,000 So there's two ditches when it comes to this idea of sex. 364 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:51,000 One is that sex is really, really bad and icky in all of 365 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,000 circumstances, right? 366 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:54,000 That's not true. 367 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,000 And that God made it for married people. 368 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,000 That's his gift to married people. 369 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,000 It's good for married people. 370 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:05,000 The other ditch is to say that it's no big deal and you can just do 371 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:08,000 whatever you want with whoever you want. 372 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,000 Here's what God promotes. 373 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:11,000 Verse three. 374 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:17,000 Let the husband render unto his wife due benevolence and likewise 375 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,000 also the wife unto her husband. 376 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:23,000 Paul expresses a principle that comes from the idea that we said 377 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:27,000 this last week, two become one. 378 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:28,000 That's what marriage does. 379 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:32,000 It makes two people one. 380 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:35,000 He tells married people not to keep themselves from each other 381 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,000 within the bonds of marriage. 382 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,000 And trying to be sensitive, let me be clear. 383 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,000 Let me just say it this way. 384 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:44,000 Physical expressions of love for each other, physical expressions 385 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:48,000 of love for each other should be the normative rhythm in a healthy 386 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,000 marriage relationship. 387 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:51,000 Okay? 388 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,000 That's what he's promoting here. 389 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:54,000 Look at verse four. 390 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:58,000 He says, the wife hath not power over own body but the husband 391 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:02,000 and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body but 392 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:03,000 the wife. 393 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,000 Now this verse is not saying that individuals in a marriage should 394 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:07,000 be abused. 395 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:11,000 It is not saying that there is a slave to master relationship 396 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:13,000 within the bonds of marriage. 397 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:17,000 Remember, what is the husband's responsibility to the wife? 398 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:21,000 Husbands love your wives how? 399 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:24,000 As Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. 400 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:28,000 Wives see that you reverence your husbands, right? 401 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:33,000 What is, what is, it's not saying that there's a slave master 402 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:34,000 relationship here. 403 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:37,000 What it is saying is that the physical relationship between a 404 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:40,000 husband and wife is a powerful thing and once that begins, it is 405 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,000 something that should continue. 406 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,000 It is right and good for each spouse to give themselves to each 407 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:46,000 other. 408 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,000 There are some who would read this and express that this seems 409 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:52,000 patriarchal or chauvinistic. 410 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:56,000 Notice that he tells the husband the same standard as the wife. 411 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,000 Do you see that? 412 00:17:58,000 --> 00:17:59,000 It's the same standard. 413 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,000 They would have been very different in the ancient culture that 414 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:05,000 did not have our modern, feminist extensivities. 415 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:08,000 In Paul's estimation, expressed in the inspiration of the Holy 416 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:11,000 Spirit, the husband had obligations to the wife and not just 417 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:13,000 the wife to the husband. 418 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:17,000 He goes on and to express his intention in verse 5. 419 00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:21,000 He says, defraud ye not one another. 420 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:22,000 You know what he's saying? 421 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:28,000 He's saying, don't manipulate the spouse with your body. 422 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:32,000 Don't try to get something out of them by keeping yourself from 423 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:33,000 them. 424 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:34,000 Does that make sense? 425 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:36,000 Defraud not one another. 426 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:41,000 Give, he says, do benevolence, here it is, to each other. 427 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:42,000 But he gives this caveat. 428 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:46,000 He says, accept it be with consent for a time. 429 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,000 What is with consent, man? 430 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,000 He literally is saying, unless you agree that for a time you are 431 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:53,000 going to do that for a time. 432 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:56,000 He says, for a time. 433 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:57,000 Right? 434 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,000 If you are going to keep yourself from each other physically, 435 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,000 talk about it, he says. 436 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:04,000 In the verse, there is a legitimate reason for keeping 437 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:06,000 yourself from your spouse for a time. 438 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:11,000 He says, here that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer. 439 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:14,000 If there is a reason where there is a focus on the Lord and it 440 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:17,000 means you avoid your spouse for a time, he says, that's okay. 441 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:21,000 But he says, communicate about it because it could be confusing 442 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,000 for the other spouse. 443 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:26,000 The other spouse may think, is she mad or does he still love me? 444 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:27,000 What is going on? 445 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,000 This would not be good for the marriage relationship. 446 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:33,000 That's what he says, hey, don't defride one another. 447 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,000 Don't keep each other from each other. 448 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,000 Don't manipulate each other. 449 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:41,000 Give yourself, unless you are doing it for some spiritual reason 450 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:44,000 that you communicated about, then it says at the end of verse 451 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:48,000 five, come together again that Satan tempts you not for your 452 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:50,000 incontinency. 453 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:53,000 The idea is that these seasons of prayer and fasting are not to 454 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:56,000 last for years, they are short seasons. 455 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:59,000 And he says that at the end of these times, come together 456 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:01,000 physically again. 457 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:02,000 Why? 458 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,000 Because fornication can become a temptation when someone is 459 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,000 deprived of a pure way to satisfy the physical desires that 460 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:09,000 come. 461 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,000 Satan can use this to damage and even destroy a marriage 462 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:14,000 relationship. 463 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:18,000 So Paul's command is this, be careful. 464 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:24,000 Now, God has given appetites to us and that's not a bad thing. 465 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,000 It's a good thing. 466 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:29,000 It aids in the forming of the next generation. 467 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,000 That does not mean that we do not have the ability or even the 468 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:35,000 responsibility to exercise self-control. 469 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:38,000 And within a marriage relationship it means that the husbands 470 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,000 ought to pursue their wives even after they get married. 471 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,000 Don't stop loving your wives in every category and arena 472 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:45,000 possible. 473 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,000 Same thing with wives. 474 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:49,000 The marriage bed is undefiled. 475 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,000 He that loves his wife loves himself. 476 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:53,000 It means that wives ought to understand the needs of their 477 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,000 husbands and seek to be a help to him. 478 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:58,000 It means that we ought to be careful with our kids and the 479 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,000 things we allow them to see and where we allow them to spend 480 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:03,000 their time. 481 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,000 Did you catch that? 482 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:08,000 Who agrees we have to protect our kids? 483 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:11,000 We really need to. 484 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:16,000 So that's what he's, I'm just trying to tell you what he means. 485 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:17,000 Okay. 486 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:18,000 Is this helpful? 487 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:19,000 I hope it is. 488 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:20,000 Number three. 489 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:24,000 Sexual abstinence is necessary for single people. 490 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:25,000 Here's what he says. 491 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:26,000 Verse 6. 492 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:31,000 But I speak this by permission and not of commandment. 493 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:32,000 What is he saying? 494 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:33,000 Permission, commandment. 495 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,000 What is he trying to say? 496 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,000 What he is saying here is this. 497 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:40,000 He is not commanding for everybody to get married. 498 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,000 He is not commanding for everybody to get married. 499 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:46,000 He is not commanding for everybody to get married. 500 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:47,000 Okay. 501 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:52,000 He is not commanding for everybody to be single. 502 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:53,000 Okay. 503 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,000 Is there a command in the Bible to get married? 504 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:59,000 The Bible says be fruitful and multiply. 505 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:02,000 That's what he gave in the creation mandate. 506 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:06,000 That is his general command to everybody. 507 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:09,000 That's what we, that's part of what he's talked about. 508 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:11,000 But in terms of every individual, not everybody has to get 509 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:12,000 married. 510 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:14,000 You don't have to get married. 511 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:15,000 Right? 512 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:17,000 There are some people that shouldn't get married. 513 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:18,000 Right? 514 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:20,000 That's what God has called you to. 515 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:23,000 So he is saying this is not a commandment. 516 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:26,000 This is what he is saying by permission. 517 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,000 He is saying it's not talking about what he just said. 518 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:32,000 Everything he just said, there is a command to this. 519 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,000 But he is saying that command is applicable not to everybody 520 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,000 but to married people. 521 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:38,000 The word here for permission is Greek word, 522 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:42,000 which could be translated concession. 523 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:44,000 What he is saying here is he is not prescribing marriage for 524 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:47,000 everybody because of the temptations of singleness. 525 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:50,000 He is not commanding that people be married or that people be 526 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:51,000 single. 527 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:55,000 What he says is, verse 7, for I would that all men were even as 528 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:56,000 myself. 529 00:22:56,000 --> 00:23:00,000 What Paul is saying is he sees a lot of advantages to being single 530 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:01,000 and not married. 531 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:05,000 There was a flexibility for Paul as a single person to serve the 532 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,000 Lord in ways that he would not have been able to do if he was 533 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:10,000 married and had a family. 534 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,000 He acknowledges that everybody though does not have this 535 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:14,000 calling. 536 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:15,000 Right? 537 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:20,000 I am going to give you a pitch down the middle if you are 538 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:21,000 married. 539 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:23,000 Who is glad they are married? 540 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:24,000 I am glad. 541 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:25,000 Right? 542 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:26,000 That's good. 543 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:28,000 That's an awesome thing. 544 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:31,000 But it doesn't mean that everybody ought to be. 545 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:32,000 Okay? 546 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:36,000 He says here, verse 7, for I would that all men were not even 547 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:40,000 as myself, but every man has his proper gift of God, one after 548 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,000 this manor and another after that. 549 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:45,000 Some are called to marriage and family and have been equipped 550 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,000 by God for that role and responsibility. 551 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,000 Some are called to singleness and have been equipped by God for 552 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:51,000 that ability as well. 553 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:54,000 He says in verse 8, I say therefore to the unmarried and 554 00:23:54,000 --> 00:24:01,000 widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. 555 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:05,000 I want you to hear this clearly because I see a lot of pain in 556 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:06,000 both of these areas. 557 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,000 In counseling, I deal with people. 558 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:10,000 I say deal with people. 559 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:11,000 I try to help people. 560 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:12,000 I try to talk to people. 561 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:14,000 And this has been throughout the years. 562 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:19,000 And I have seen a lot of pain from people getting married who 563 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,000 should not have been married. 564 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:22,000 Right? 565 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:25,000 You guys ever see pain like that? 566 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:28,000 People getting married who should not have been married. 567 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:33,000 And I see pain in people being single and being discontent in 568 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:34,000 their singleness. 569 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,000 Sing their singleness as a blight. 570 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:39,000 Sing it as a problem. 571 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:40,000 Right? 572 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:45,000 And or a curse or something that makes you inferior to married 573 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,000 brothers and sisters. 574 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:50,000 I want to tell you this, being single doesn't mean you are less 575 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:51,000 than. 576 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:54,000 I want to say that loud because I think there are people that 577 00:24:54,000 --> 00:24:55,000 feel that. 578 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:59,000 And just because you are single doesn't mean you are bad. 579 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,000 In fact, that may be, in Paul's mind that is a really great 580 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:03,000 thing. 581 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:06,000 Look at the advantage that it brings. 582 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:09,000 Especially if it is something that God has equipped you for. 583 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:11,000 Love and romance are good gifts. 584 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:14,000 Sex and childbearing are good gifts but they are not the only 585 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:16,000 gifts that God gives. 586 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:21,000 When is it a good indication that singleness is not for you? 587 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:24,000 Verse 9, he says, for if they cannot contain, they are not 588 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:25,000 for you. 589 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:29,000 If they cannot contain, let them marry for it is better to marry 590 00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:32,000 than to burn. 591 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:35,000 But if they cannot contain, it means to contain their desires, 592 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,000 especially their sexual appetites. 593 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,000 The idea is that because it is so dangerous relationally, 594 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:43,000 spiritually, and even physically to get caught up in sexual sin, 595 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:46,000 it is better to use that appetite to do good in marriage and 596 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:47,000 childbearing. 597 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:50,000 He says, for it is better to marry than to burn. 598 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:55,000 The idea here of burn, paromethi, could be taken two different 599 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:56,000 ways. 600 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:59,000 One, could be talking about judgment. 601 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:02,000 Some people think he is talking about judgment. 602 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:05,000 Sexual sin is closely connected with unbelief among so many 603 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:06,000 people. 604 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:10,000 What I mean is that atheism has been sparked in many people's 605 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:13,000 lives if they were truthful because they do not like the 606 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:17,000 idea of authority telling them what they cannot do with their 607 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:18,000 bodies. 608 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:22,000 It should not be surprising to us that the term my body, my 609 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:25,000 choice would be employed by the unbelieving world. 610 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:30,000 Unborn babies in the womb are clearly not the bodies of the 611 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:32,000 mothers that carry them. 612 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:36,000 And how they steward their bodies is the issue that brought that 613 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,000 child about in the first place. 614 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:41,000 The sacrifice of children in the womb for the sexual freedom of 615 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:44,000 their moms and dads is evil. 616 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,000 It's evil. 617 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:51,000 Our permission of that as a society is something that God 618 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:52,000 will judge. 619 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:55,000 When people participate in pornography, they are affirming 620 00:26:55,000 --> 00:26:58,000 the exploitation of men and women. 621 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:02,000 They are participating in the oppression and abuse, especially 622 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:03,000 of women. 623 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:07,000 This industry has been connected to sex trafficking and beyond. 624 00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:10,000 The idea that this is something that is harmless is not true for 625 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:14,000 the people on the screen or for the people viewing the screen. 626 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:17,000 And this is something that God will judge. 627 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:20,000 When someone commits adultery, they are destroying the trust 628 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:22,000 their family has in them. 629 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:25,000 They are destroying more than their marriage. 630 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:28,000 They are destroying so many of the things that should happen when 631 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:31,000 a family strives to be all that God called them to be. 632 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:35,000 And God honoring families are essential to great neighborhoods, 633 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:38,000 to great cities, to great churches, and even to great little 634 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:39,000 leagues. 635 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:43,000 When families are not in the church, they are in the church 636 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:45,000 and they are in the church. 637 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:49,000 When families are unhealthy, it impacts all the rest of us in 638 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:50,000 all these areas. 639 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:53,000 When someone unrepentantly participates in adultery, it will 640 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:55,000 be judged by God. 641 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:59,000 So, God judges. 642 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:03,000 But secondly, the word could be taken. 643 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:05,000 It says it's better to marry than to burn. 644 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:07,000 It could be taken as to burn with lust. 645 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:10,000 The idea is to stay consistently in the heat of temptation, 646 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:14,000 to be constantly fighting the urge to sin sexually. 647 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:18,000 He says if the single person is single and cannot deal with that 648 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:21,000 temptation, let them marry because it's better to marry than to 649 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:22,000 burn. 650 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,000 And you can say here to burn with lust. 651 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:27,000 Paul, I believe, is likely saying that it's better to pursue 652 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:30,000 your spouse through the institution of marriage. 653 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:33,000 Raise your kids to love the Lord and make a difference. 654 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:35,000 Hey, you know what I think is really important? 655 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:37,000 Have kids. 656 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:40,000 Get married, have kids. 657 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:43,000 In that order. 658 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:48,000 Get married, have kids. 659 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,000 Kids are on a curse. 660 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:52,000 Kids are a blessing. 661 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:56,000 If that's what God's called you to do it, it is better to be 662 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:59,000 married and to do things the right way than to live in constant 663 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:03,000 temptation and desire that could lead to sexual sin. 664 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:06,000 I believe he, at least here, has the idea of burning with lust 665 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:08,000 as the most likely interpretation. 666 00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:09,000 Here's why. 667 00:29:09,000 --> 00:29:11,000 The context seems to support it. 668 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:14,000 This is Paul's point when he's comparing and contrasting the 669 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:16,000 benefits of singleness and the benefits of married life. 670 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:19,000 He's speaking to believers and there is something that is true 671 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,000 believers that you need to hear. 672 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:22,000 The Bible says this. 673 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:24,000 This is so important. 674 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:28,000 Romans 8-1, there is now therefore no condemnation to them who 675 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:32,000 are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the 676 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:34,000 spirit. 677 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:38,000 In terms of judgment, there is no ultimate punishment for those 678 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:40,000 who are saved. 679 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:45,000 Should believers sin sexually? 680 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:47,000 No. 681 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:50,000 Do believers sin sexually? 682 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:53,000 Sometimes they do. 683 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:57,000 Will God send you to hell if you're a believer who sin 684 00:29:57,000 --> 00:29:58,000 sexually? 685 00:29:58,000 --> 00:29:59,000 No. 686 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:00,000 No. 687 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,000 There's no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. 688 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,000 Are you grateful for that? 689 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,000 I'm so grateful for that. 690 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:10,000 That's good news for all of us. 691 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:13,000 Our sins were judged and our Savior paid for them on the 692 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:15,000 cross. 693 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:19,000 God has now given us his spirit to help us live and walk, not 694 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:22,000 after the flesh but after the spirit. 695 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:25,000 And that's why Paul later says in Romans 8, for they that are 696 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:28,000 after the flesh do mine the things of the flesh, but they that 697 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:31,000 are after the spirit, the things of the spirit, for to be 698 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:36,000 carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life 699 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:39,000 and peace. 700 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:42,000 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, but it is not 701 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:45,000 subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 702 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:48,000 So then there that are in the flesh cannot please God. 703 00:30:48,000 --> 00:30:53,000 But here's the good news, you are not in the flesh but in the 704 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:55,000 spirit. 705 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,000 If so be that the spirit of God dwell in you. 706 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:02,000 If you are saved you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. 707 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,000 Is that good news for you? 708 00:31:04,000 --> 00:31:06,000 That is good news. 709 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:10,000 Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of 710 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,000 his. 711 00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:14,000 If you don't have the spirit, you are not saved. 712 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:19,000 And our challenge to you, to be to say, you should get saved. 713 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:21,000 You should get saved. 714 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:24,000 You need the Holy Spirit living inside of you, helping you to be 715 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:29,000 saved. 716 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:32,000 You need to do what God has called you to do. 717 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:35,000 Now I know that this is a very straightforward message. 718 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:38,000 I know that to go through this text and to teach it like it 719 00:31:38,000 --> 00:31:42,000 teaches, means that there is a whole lot of emotion and a 720 00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:45,000 whole lot of questions for a whole lot of people because we 721 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:48,000 are dealing with some of the most sensitive areas in people's 722 00:31:48,000 --> 00:31:50,000 lives. 723 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,000 There may be people in this room, probably are. 724 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:56,000 There may be people in this room dealing with addiction to 725 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:57,000 pornography. 726 00:31:57,000 --> 00:32:00,000 There may be people in this room committed in abortion. 727 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:03,000 There may be people in this room that are in adulterous 728 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:04,000 relationship. 729 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:06,000 That may be going on, right? 730 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:09,000 There may be people in here that are in unhappy marriages. 731 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:12,000 There may be people like pastor Ben, I don't want to be single. 732 00:32:12,000 --> 00:32:15,000 I do want to get married but I don't have anybody to marry. 733 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:18,000 I don't know what I am supposed to do. 734 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:22,000 And to that I say, I can't answer every question about 735 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:23,000 this. 736 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:25,000 But here is what I do know. 737 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:28,000 God loves you. 738 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:33,000 And God's grace is sufficient for you. 739 00:32:33,000 --> 00:32:38,000 And with obedience comes blessing. 740 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:44,000 And with disobedience comes discipline. 741 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:46,000 Comes pain. 742 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:51,000 In the Old Testament, Josh, I think it was Moses that said, I 743 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:57,000 said before you death in life, choose life that you may live. 744 00:32:57,000 --> 00:33:00,000 Someone that maybe you are here for the first time, yes. 745 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:05,000 Are you saying that sexual sin is way, way, way bad and that 746 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:08,000 sexual sin is what sends me to hell? 747 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:11,000 Will sexual sin send me to hell? 748 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:15,000 Well, I would say yes and no. 749 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:18,000 What do I mean? 750 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:22,000 All sin has to be paid for. 751 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,000 Whether it is sexual sin or not. 752 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:26,000 You guys with me? 753 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:28,000 All of it does. 754 00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:31,000 Telling a lie. 755 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:32,000 Stealing. 756 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:33,000 All of it. 757 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:36,000 All that sin has to be paid for. 758 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:40,000 But like if you sin sexually, it's not like I send all these 759 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:42,000 other ways but I am good with God. 760 00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:45,000 But when I did that sin, now I am going to hell. 761 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:48,000 I am going to hell. 762 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:50,000 Does that make sense? 763 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:54,000 God is not willing that any should perish but that all should 764 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:56,000 come to repentance. 765 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:59,000 That all would be made right with him. 766 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:03,000 And so that sin doesn't uniquely send you to hell where other 767 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:04,000 sins do not. 768 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:06,000 Does that make sense? 769 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:08,000 Are you with me? 770 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:12,000 We are sinners and because we are sinners we will stand before a 771 00:34:12,000 --> 00:34:15,000 church. 772 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:18,000 And I am trying to say what the Bible says. 773 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:22,000 There is all kinds of pain and heartache that comes from getting 774 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:24,000 this wrong. 775 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:25,000 Right? 776 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:27,000 And here is what happened. 777 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:31,000 Jesus Christ came and took on flesh and he was pure. 778 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:33,000 He never did anything wrong. 779 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:37,000 He kept the law you and I could not keep and then he died the 780 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:41,000 death that you and I deserve to die so that he could forgive us of 781 00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:43,000 sexual or otherwise. 782 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:45,000 He died for you. 783 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:47,000 He loves you. 784 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:51,000 And not only does he save you from the penalty of your sin and 785 00:34:51,000 --> 00:34:55,000 from the position of being a sinner, he wants to come live inside 786 00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:58,000 of you and help you to grow in purity as a believer. 787 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:00,000 Does that make sense? 788 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:03,000 He wants to help us out. 789 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:05,000 What if I have already messed up? 790 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:07,000 Is there forgiveness for sexual sin? 791 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:08,000 Yes! 792 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:10,000 Absolutely 100%. 793 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:13,000 Remember the woman at the well? 794 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:15,000 Bring me your husband. 795 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:17,000 I don't have a husband. 796 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,000 You said right. 797 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:22,000 You live with five husbands and the one you are living with now is 798 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:23,000 not your husband. 799 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:25,000 And what did that do for her? 800 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:28,000 I perceive that you are a prophet. 801 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:30,000 What did God do for her? 802 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:32,000 What did Jesus do for that woman? 803 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:34,000 He forgave her. 804 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:36,000 He forgave her. 805 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:39,000 And I believe you go back and read that text. 806 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:43,000 It's to the men. 807 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:45,000 To the men. 808 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:48,000 Come see a man who told me whatsoever I did. 809 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:50,000 I believe this is me reading between the lines. 810 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:52,000 This is my conviction. 811 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:55,000 I believe it is very likely that some of the men she brought were 812 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:58,000 some of the men she had sinned with. 813 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:00,000 There is forgiveness. 814 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:02,000 I found the Messiah. 815 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:03,000 Come see him. 816 00:36:03,000 --> 00:36:06,000 Come meet a man who knows what we did. 817 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:10,000 What we did. 818 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:13,000 Does my husband or wife have the right to abuse me sexually? 819 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:16,000 100% no. 820 00:36:16,000 --> 00:36:19,000 100% no. 821 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:20,000 Do you understand? 822 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:23,000 No. 823 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:26,000 What should I do if I have trapped in sexual sin? 824 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:31,000 You should repent and you should seek help. 825 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:35,000 Confess your faults one to another that ye may be healed. 826 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:37,000 That's what James says. 827 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:40,000 There are dozens of questions we can answer. 828 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:42,000 This is a tough thing. 829 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:44,000 And even giving an invitation. 830 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:46,000 Hey, stand up. 831 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:48,000 Come down forward. 832 00:36:48,000 --> 00:36:51,000 Who is going forward? 833 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:54,000 If I go forward it will end up on Facebook. 834 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:59,000 Maybe what you are thinking. 835 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:02,000 Can we agree all of us mess up? 836 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:06,000 And we all need forgiveness for a whole lot of things. 837 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:08,000 That's why Jesus came to die. 838 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:13,000 I am not up here preaching this as a perfect person. 839 00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:16,000 I am standing up here as a called person who has been forgiven. 840 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:19,000 Are you with me? 841 00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:25,000 So, the gospel is the good news. 842 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:29,000 The good news that Jesus Christ came and he died for all of us. 843 00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:31,000 For all of our sin. 844 00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:34,000 There is freedom that is available. 845 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:37,000 There is forgiveness that is available to us. 846 00:37:37,000 --> 00:38:02,000 As sons and daughters of God.