Today's Bible Study, Authored by Arthur
Cincotti. 01/01/2023
Listen to our Bible
Study Discussion at: Because of the Present Distress
Or watch the Video Zoom Session of our Study on YouTube:
Because of the Present Distress
“Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.” I Cor. 6:18
The sexually charged environment of Corinth, in the first century, is similar, in so many ways, to the culture that we live in today. We have certainly escalated in recent times with no glass ceiling in sight. It is vital to examine the Biblical parameters for our sexual self and carefully consider the spiritual dimension to what we are engaged in.
In I Cor. 5:1-8 we hear the account of a situation in the church at
Corinth whereby, “a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up.”
We can imagine, from our cultural perspective, that the church, in Corinth no doubt, was acting in “tolerance,” extending “forgiveness,” not wanting to be “judgmental” but wishing to “love everybody.”
Does this sound familiar? The
church in Corinth was confused about the application of virtues. Paul
says in Rm. 6:1, 2 “...Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
Certainly not!..”
Let’s begin with the
sexual prohibitions.
Many years ago I heard a teaching that brought great clarity
concerning three tiers of prohibition for bringing our sexual practice in
agreement with Scripture.
1. Is there a stated
prohibition in the Scripture such as; “thou shalt not!” Many practices are clearly prohibited in the Scripture.
Fornication: sex outside the covenant of marriage
Gal. 5:19, Eph. 5:3, Col. 3:5
Homosexuality: Lev. 18:22 and 20:13 “shall be put to
death”
and Rom. 1:26-28
Bestiality: Ex. 22:19, “Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.”
2. Is a practice physically
or mentally unhealthy for either party? Then
it should be considered in the prohibition category.
Sadomasochism would be an example.
3. Is a practice unpleasant, or distasteful to one partner? Then that should be in the prohibition category. This does not include all sexual intimacy because 1 Co. 7:5 says clearly, “Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
The above are excellent parameters.
The subject of Satan in the
above verse brings up the question of why Satan seems to target our sexuality
in order to bring chaos and destruction. Two possibilities are:
1. It’s easy.
2. Satan can’t create
anything. He can only imitate.
Through procreating we have the unique privilege to co- create with God, image bearers.
This is perhaps the highest privilege of our sexuality, by design.
Sex is a beautiful gift from God, and it is considered so sacred and special a gift that Jesus chose not to participate in it while He dwelt among us.
Sexual sin is not the worst sin, but it does have the power to leave long debris trails in peoples lives. I Cor. 6:19 goes on to say, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”
The over arching problem is that our sexuality is an integral part of our sense of identity. The first thing (that is, it use to be) spoken over you when you are born is gender, which, contrary to popular notions is sex.
It is not the only, or even the most important aspect of
identity, but a culture out of control, steeped in sexual anarchy, has placed
it as number one!
The real crisis in our culture, then, is an identity
crisis brought on, in part, by sexual brokenness.
The only worthy solution is a gospel awakening wherein
shame is not eradicated, but it is displaced with forgiveness which breaks
forth to repentance.
Rom. 2:4, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”
No sin is beyond God’s capacity to forgive except the sin that one refuses to admit is sin. When we choose to justify our actions, and deny God’s council, then we place ourselves in a very dangerous position. Gal. 6:7,8 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sow, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
Our true identity is in Christ. Col. 3:4, “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
Our sexuality, though a precious gift from God, is only a
small aspect of who we are, and not even one that will endure into eternity. Mt. 22:30, “For
in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like
angels of God in heaven.”
“Flee sexual immorality” Christian!
As mentioned in Today’s
Study here is the link to the message
from Jonathan Cahn that provides a possible explanation for the “present distress” that we see in our society today: https://youtu.be/_TMhHIqfrrA
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