Intro: Remember
that Corinth was afflicted with the love of philosophy and rhetoric.
They wanted that which sounded good and seemed wise. It didn’t matter
whether or not it was right, they just liked fine sounding and wise
sounding things. (Cf. Acts 17:21
They spent their time either hearing or telling new things. Beware the
itch for new things when the old will suffice.) Their pride led to
division. Now, remember that James told us that envy and strife are
accompanied by every evil work (James 3:16). It is no wonder, then, that Paul had to rebuke the Corinthians for the approval of a church member committing incest (1Corinthians 5:1-13).
A proud and envious person who is striving with others is never
satisfied, and that person is very likely to seek out his satisfaction
in any place and manner that he can find it, except in God.
They spent their time either hearing or telling new things. Beware the
itch for new things when the old will suffice.) Their pride led to
division. Now, remember that James told us that envy and strife are
accompanied by every evil work (James 3:16). It is no wonder, then, that Paul had to rebuke the Corinthians for the approval of a church member committing incest (1Corinthians 5:1-13).
A proud and envious person who is striving with others is never
satisfied, and that person is very likely to seek out his satisfaction
in any place and manner that he can find it, except in God.
It is in this context that Paul establishes a God-Centered sexual ethic.
1. The Relationship Between Worship And Sex :9-11
They were once
sexually immoral, but God has forgiven them and cleansed them of these
things. The gospel of Christ is a message of sacrifice of self as well
as good news that God gives us that which is better. Having cleansed
them of their sins, God has given them Himself.
That being said, immorality is idolatry. Note the downward spiral of sin in Romans 1:18-17.
The worship of the Creator is traded for the worship of the creature
and carnal passions. It is not that the carnal passions are wrong, but
outside of the context of worship of God, they are filthy and immoral,
and they lead to that which is unnatural in the pursuit of pleasure and
satisfaction. One only need observe the glorification of sex and the
objectification of people in our nation to recognize that immoral sex is
an act of misdirected worship.
.
The worship of the Creator is traded for the worship of the creature
and carnal passions. It is not that the carnal passions are wrong, but
outside of the context of worship of God, they are filthy and immoral,
and they lead to that which is unnatural in the pursuit of pleasure and
satisfaction. One only need observe the glorification of sex and the
objectification of people in our nation to recognize that immoral sex is
an act of misdirected worship.
True worship leads to
monogamous, heterosexual pleasure. Note that the mandate given to Adam
and Eve was not only to take dominion, but first to be fruitful and
multiply. This mandate is about imaging forth God. It is about
worshiping our Creator and showing His greatness through the way that we
live. Being fruitful means having sex and raising children. Note also
that there is pleasure associated with it, because Moses said that the
man and woman were to cleave to each other, and that they were naked and
not ashamed (Genesis 2:24-25). Man and woman were to enjoy their union, and they were unashamed in their union. Continue at Pastoral Musings
). Man and woman were to enjoy their union, and they were unashamed in their union. Continue at Pastoral Musings
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