Sanctified Sexuality Series

Dakota Community Church

August 17, 2014

Sanctified Sexuality

Summer Series at Dakota: The 10 Commandments

Exodus 20:14

You shall not commit adultery.

What is the meaning of the 7th commandment?

Of course we know that the call is to faithfulness and exclusivity between a husband and a wife but a look at the New Testament expands on this and paints a clearer picture of what God has in mind for His people.

Matthew 5:27-30

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification:[holiness] that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honour, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

The Bible is clearly teaching that sexual purity is part of God’s will in sanctification.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality {4:3}

This phrase "sexual immorality" (porneia), means mainly fornication; that is, two people acting as if they are married when they are not married. Touching each other and sleeping together in a way God designed only for a man and a woman married to each other.

God said, this close physical relationship is for married people only.

Genesis 2:24

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

1 Corinthians 7:1-2

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

Sexual immorality therefore includes sexual relations before marriage and wrong sexual relations among married people.

That’s the meaning of the seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery”

…that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter… {4:6}

How do I transgress and wrong my brother in the area of sexual immorality?

That person you are using illegally is someone’s son or daughter and someone else's future wife or husband. You are taking something that is sacred and belongs to another.

…control his own body in holiness and honour, not in the passion of lust… {4:4-5}

This goes beyond the mere behaviour of sleeping with a woman not your wife or a man not your husband but also includes any sexual desires that dominate your life in ways they should not.

What motivates my obedience to this command?

A.) Sexual purity is God’s will and it pleases Him.

…you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God… For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality {4:1,3}

Love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength!

I know that this is a statement of the obvious but where sexual sin and temptation are concerned this fact cannot be overstated. We desperately want to go our own way on this front; however, God’s standards do not evolve and all sin is slavery.

You may really crave the onion and leek soup but if you go back to Egypt you are not free.

B.) Sexual purity is an honourable way to love neighbour.

…each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honour… that no one transgress and wrong his brother… {4:4,6}

Love your neighbour as yourself.

You cannot love and act honourably toward your neighbour while lusting after his/her spouse.