Moral Issues: Sex Series

INTRO: Many people who are unfamiliar with the Bible think that it presents sex as an ugly—although necessary—thing for the purpose of procreation. Many Christians who are unfamiliar with the Bible think the same thing.

Both are wrong. And both of those misguided perspectives have caused problems for people regarding their sexuality.

I. SEX IS GOD’S IDEA

A) God Created Sex. Whoever thinks there is something dirty about sex itself doesn’t understand God’s perspective on it. When He created man and woman He provided them with the ability to procreate—then encouraged it (Genesis 1:27-28). The Bible says this of all God’s work, “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31).

B) God Recognized Man’s Need For Companionship And Intimacy. “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’” (Genesis 2:18). He created woman. Then man was complete.

C) Marriage And The Marriage Bed Are A Special Thing. Sexual relations between a husband and wife are not just a concession in order to achieve procreation. They are also designed for a couple to share love, acceptance, intimacy, emotional bonding and satisfaction (Hebrews 13:4).

D) Sex In Marriage Is For Rendering Affection. Actually, what some people might consider “dirty” is a beautiful expression of love between two people who are committed to one another in marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). Sensuality and sexuality in marriage are applauded, “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you are all times; and always be enraptured with her love.” (Proverbs 5:18-19).

What a beautiful expression of love! Some of the problems we experience today with adultery come because we are not developing such an intimate union with our spouse. If you are enraptured by the love of your wife, someone else’s wife isn’t going to be able to attract you nearly as strongly, “For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms of a seductress?” (Proverbs 5:20). Keep it at home where God intends for it to be.

E) The Bible Is Not Responsible For Sexual Repression. Sin is the cause of irresponsible sexual expression. Anyone who uses the Bible to stifle sexuality in marriage, doesn’t understand either the Bible or sexuality.

II. SEXUAL SINS ARE MAN’S IDEA

A) Man Invents Abuses Of Human Sexuality. There’s the rub. We are not advocating some old-fashioned, puritanical sexual suppression. We are trying to identify those things that GOD says are an abuse of human sexuality—things that are not a diversity of sexual expression but a perversity of it!

B) How Much Sexual Freedom Do We Have? Some people say that no one has the right to say what can and cannot happen in someone’s bedroom. God does! Make no mistake about it! He says, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4).

1) Fornication. It is the sin of sexual contact with anyone besides your spouse—anyone! Or maybe we should say anything too (Hebrews 13:4; Galatians 5:19-21)!

2) Adultery. It is the sin of sexual contact with another married person. Lack of fulfillment in a marriage, loss of love, marital difficulties—none of these are acceptable reasons for having an adulterous affair (Hebrews 13:4; Mark 7:20-23).

3) Homosexuality. The gay and lesbian lifestyle is gaining more popularity as we throw off moral restraints. Nevertheless, as expressions of our sexuality, they are condemned by the Bible (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

4) Multiple Expressions of Sexuality. Incest. Bestiality. Phone sex. Fisting. Voyeurism. Sexual abuse. Pedophilia. Multiple partners. Unmarried cohabitation. Orgies. Do we need to continue? We cannot list them all.

C) Our Obsession With Sex Is Disturbing. According to a weekly report from Webtracker (which tracks the most popular search engine queries), of the top 500 keyword queries on popular search engines, 20% to 25% of the searches are pornographic.

CONCLUSION: God made sex a beautiful thing between a husband and wife. One Old Testament book—the Song of Solomon—is very sensuous. It shows the beauty and intimacy of married love.

When sex is about that intimacy, it is beautiful. When it is about lust and lewdness, it is tarnished.

God’s instructions for our sex lives will lead us to the greatest fulfillment. Those guidelines give us something that sinning against our own bodies—through some of these other outlets—can never give us (1 Corinthians 6:15-18). They give us physical and emotional satisfaction.