1 The Sanctity of Marriage Embry Hills June
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The Sanctity of Marriage Embry Hills – June 2015 2
2014/15 Theme: Sharing the Hope And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with meekness and fear… (I Peter 3: 13 -15) 3
The Christians of Peter’s Letter • 3: 13 – “Followers of what is good” • 3: 14 – but… “suffer for righteousness sake” • 4: 3 -5 “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles – when we walked in licentiousness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ” 4
Outline 1. Analogy 2. Analysis 3. Anti-analogy 5
About stealing & other dishonesty • All things created by God and are good (Gen 1) • God created lawful ways to get things, and He wants us to enjoy them (Ps 128: 2) • There abnormalities in a Fallen World (Gen 3: 17 -19) • There are unlawful ways to get things: steal, cheat, extort • Desires create temptations to steal and cheat (Prov 30: 9) – To obtain greater pleasure (happiness) – To avoid hunger or pain – To create a greater sense of self-worth (pride) • Desires must be controlled and do not determine right • Disobedience usually has bad consequences in life. • Remembering that things are temporary helps (John 6: 27) 6
Bad Excuses for Stealing… • “It will make me happy (because I really like it). ” • “I just need it. (I’m hungry, hurting, cold…)” • “It won’t hurt anyone… Won’t be missed. . . They have plenty…” • “It’s not illegal (by man’s laws). ” • “Everyone else is doing it. ” • “I have a right to this. ” 7
Outline 1. Analogy 2. Analysis 3. Anti-analogy 8
Sanctity of Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13: 4) Honorable – valuable, esteemed, beloved Undefiled – untainted, uncontaminated: pure Fornicators – [pornos] any sexual immorality Adulterers – sexual immorality involving married persons 9
I Thessalonians 4: 3 -7 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality [porneia]; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 10
Marriage: the Relationship • Created by God and very good (Gen 1: 27, 31). – For one man and one woman (Gen 1: 27 & 2: 24, and see Matt 19: 4 -5) – Solved the problem of alone-ness (Gen 2: 18 -19) – A life-long commitment (Matt 19: 11
Marriage: the Relationship • Created by God and very good (Gen 1: 27, 31). • God created a lawful ways to enjoy this commitment (Gen 2: 24) 12
Marriage: the Relationship • Created by God and very good (Gen 1: 27, 31). • God created a lawful way to enjoy this commitment (Gen 2: 24) • There abnormalities in a Fallen World – Not everyone can have the blessings of marriage (e. g. Matt. 19: 12) – Many sexual desires cannot be fulfilled (I Thes 4: 3 – “abstain”) – We all ‘groan’ (Rom 8: 23) with imperfect desires 13
Marriage: the Relationship • • Created by God and very good (Gen 1: 27, 31). God created a lawful way to enjoy this commitment (Gen 2: 24) There abnormalities in a Fallen World There are unlawful ways to fulfill sexual desires – Before marriage – Outside of marriage – Corruptions of marriage (divorce & remarriage, inappropriate partners) 14
Marriage: the Relationship • • • Created by God and very good (Gen 1: 27, 31). God created a lawful way to enjoy this commitment (Gen 2: 24) There abnormalities in a Fallen World There are unlawful way to fulfill sexual desires Sexual desires create temptations for unlawful behaviors 15
I Thessalonians 4: 3 -7) For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality [porneia]; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 16
Bad Excuses for Sexual Immorality… • • • “It will make me happy. ” “I just need it. (It’s a natural desire. )” “It won’t hurt anyone. ” “It’s not illegal by man’s laws. ” “Everyone else is doing it. ” “I have a right to this. ” 17
Marriage: the Relationship • • • Created by God and very good (Gen 1: 27, 31). God created a lawful way to enjoy this commitment (Gen 2: 24) There abnormalities in a Fallen World There are unlawful ways to fulfill sexual desires Sexual desires create temptations for unlawful behaviors Sexual desires must be controlled and do not determine right – By controlling what we experience – By controlling what we think about – (In a Fallen World) 18
Marriage: the Relationship • • Created by God and very good (Gen 1: 27, 31). God created a lawful way to enjoy this commitment (Gen 2: 24) There abnormalities in a Fallen World There are unlawful ways to fulfill sexual desires Sexual desires create temptations for unlawful behaviors Sexual desires must be controlled and do not determine right Disobedience usually has bad consequences in life (e. g. Rom 1: 27) 19
Marriage: the Relationship • • Created by God and very good (Gen 1: 27, 31). God created a lawful way to enjoy this commitment (Gen 2: 24) There abnormalities in a Fallen World There are unlawful ways to fulfill sexual desires Sexual desires create temptations for unlawful behaviors Sexual desires must be controlled and do not determine right Disobedience usually has bad consequences in life (e. g. Rom 1: 27) Remembering that marriage is temporary helps. – It is a lower priority than serving God (Luke 18: 29) – It ends at death (Rom 7: 23; Matt 22: 30) 20
Outline 1. Analogy 2. Analysis 3. Anti-analogy 21
Food and Sex? ‘Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, ’ but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. (I Corinthians 6: 13) 22
Marriage is Special • Sexual activity has spiritual significance. 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 harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "The two, " He says, "shall become one flesh. " 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 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? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. 23
Marriage is Special • Sexual activity has spiritual significance. • Sex and romantic love are intended to support marriage, not the other way around. • Extreme love is commanded for married people. – Modeled on the love that God has for mankind …Just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it… (Eph 5: 31) …When we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son… (Rom 5: 10) 24
Marriage is Special • Sexual activity has spiritual significance. • Sex and romantic love are intended to support marriage, not the other way around. • Extreme love is commanded for married people. – Modeled on the love that God has for mankind • Marriage is an image of Christ & the church “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. ” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5: 31) 25
“…The Hope that is in you” For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (II Cor 11: 2) 26
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