Unfortunately, there were issues with recording this week and we were unable to record. We apologize for the inconvenience. Sermon notes (including discussion questions and further reading) are below:
In my studying and research I have found that, by today’s standards, what was considered normal then was very immoral and wrong or was considered very wrong just a few years ago in our culture and is considered so now as well as back then by God’s Word.
vs. 9 – in the NASB, “Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals…” Pedophilia And in the BSB, “Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts…”
Paul just got done listing sexually immoral acts…
Much of what was going on within the church came from the culture they were living in at that time and it is believed that Paul’s teaching of not being under the Law might have might have been used as a license to sin…
Vs. 12 “Love God and do what you want,” – Augustine
Love is our primary duty and motivation (motivator) Sin is the failure to love. Love is action, love is focus….
Vs. 13 – this verse is a little confusing in relation to all else that is being said about sexual immorality. That is, until we step back and realize that he is speaking to our earthly appetites, our fleshly desires…
Vs. 14 – The body of Christ rose from the grave and is the guarantee of a bodily resurrection for us as well.
Vs. 15 – Our bodies are part of the Church -the body of Christ –would a part of the body defile itself by joining with a prostitute? NO!!! The Holy Spirit is telling the church, both then and now, that this is a perversion of the sanctity of marriage.
Vs. 16 – The two becoming one flesh is to take place as God intended between one man and one woman in marriage. God intended sex to create a bond within the bounds and covenant of marriage. That is not to be put asunder! Our culture treats sex way too lightly, tv and movies – the whole of the entertainment industry – make it into something that you just do for fun or sport! Casual sex is promoted and deemed natural with people changing partners like we change clothes! But God created sex to be within the bounds of Holy matrimony! We as His people are not to even look at what does not belong to us as you will remember from Leviticus 18 (ESV, NASB), “Do not uncover the nakedness of____________” the point being- that if this person is not yours through the covenant of marriage.
Their nakedness is not yours!!!! (Incredible resource: Brain Heart World)
Is it any wonder we are told to renew our minds when we become Christians? That same verse tells us why: so that you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God…
Think about this: In Romans 12:1 you are to offer your body as living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship or, as the CSB translates it, “Your true worship.” As we see in verse 19, our bodies are not our own, we must understand that what we do as individuals reflects on Christ and His Church: that includes the local congregation. We, together, as the Church, are to offer our bodies to God, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.”
Vs. 18 – Most sins do not harm the body the way that sexual sins do. Sexual immorality harms both the body and the Spirit…it affects your own body and the body of Christ, the Church; there is collateral damage to any and all involved. Sexual immorality and Christianity do not mix.
Vs.20 – You were bought at a price….
“Glorify God with your Body,” to glorify God with your body is an act of worship. Worship is not just singing and gathering together on Sundays; worship is something we should be doing intentionally with our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies. Worship is an act of Love! We were created to love and worship God! Sure, worship is singing and lifting our hands, and yes, it can be dancing, but it is also mucking stalls, running the vacuum, or even driving to work.
Don’t limit worshiping God to what happens when we are here in this building. That is a limitation that is worldly and one that is not found anywhere in the Word of God. All of your life as a Christian is to be an act of worship. You are to glorify God in “all,” that includes how you handle your sexuality.
Please keep in mind that you are in the temple of the living God: Your body! So always glorify God, worship Him in all that you do!
Digging Deeper
- What is your focus?
- Is your body God’s or are you your own?
- Can your “neighbor” tell that you are a living sacrifice, acceptable and pleasing to God?
Further reading:
John 3:16-18, John 14:15-17, 21, 23-24, Romans 5:1-5, Romans 8:6, Romans 13:8-14, Ephesians 5:31-32, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, 1 John 4:7-5:4, Psalm 115:1, 1 John 3:9-10, Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 1:18, Revelation 5:9
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