Biblical Sexual Ethics

 

    From the beginning God had a design for marriage and sex.  His design is one man and one woman in marriage become united as one through sex.  It is a marriage covenant not to be broken.  The problem is that we live in a broken world.  

    Divorce is just as high in the church as it is in the world.  Divorce was never part of the design, but God allows it because people have hard hearts that lead to breaking the marriage covenant.  God allows divorce when you have been abandoned or unfaithful.  

    There are many debates on if abuse should be a part of that.  God never wanted His people to be hurt especially by their spouse.  Some people believe it is part of sticking with their spouse through sickness and in health.  It is a call only an abused person can make for themselves with help of the Holy Spirit, but it can fall under abandonment since the spouse does abandon you emotionally.  Only someone with a hard heart would abuse.  They make a home unsafe. 

    Sex outside of marriage was never part of God's design.  Marriage is to represent the completion of love God has for His people.  .  Premarital sex can lead to multiple partners making it where you are cheating on your future spouse before you ever meet them.  It distorts God's design making it a sin that has many different consequences: children out of wedlock, STD, and spiritual and or emotional disconnect from God.  God forgives all sins, so He can remove the condemnation, shame, and guilt.  However, you will only turn to Him when you realize the sin for yourself.

    God is clear in the Bible that homosexuality and transgenderism goes against His design.  Same sex relations are strictly prohibited and in the days of the Bible carried severe consequences.  Today it has been declared a mental illness by some.  People that struggle with this should be met with Godly love and prayer.  They do not need your condemnation because God will deal with it His way.  Christians should encourage them not to give it identity.  Naming it gives it power.  Instead focus on the real struggle with sin and be supportive as they work through it with God.  You may not understand the struggle.  That is okay.  You can still love them the way Jesus loves them and direct them to Him.

    Pornography is adultery.  It is so common today that people don't even view it as a sin, but Jesus made it clear that it is.  He said it is better to remove your eyes than to look on someone with lust.  Almost half the families in the United States have a problem with porn in their home.  It is a struggle that many church leaders and pastors struggle with at some point or another.  It is just as common in women as it is in men now.  

    Sexual sin causes destruction for the family.  America has more broken and multi-dimensional homes than traditional or nuclear homes.  The family has almost lost all value in the nation because talking about sex is uncomfortable.  Facing sexual sin is hard because it affects every single person on some level or another.  Until you can be honest with yourself and your own sin, you can't help anyone else with theirs.  It is part of the sinful nature that comes naturally.  It is possibly the hardest part to put to death.  Teach yourself to see temptation for what it is and and how to avoid or walk away from it.

Genesis 2:4-25, Psalm 101:1-5, Matthew 1:18-25, 19:1-12, Romans 1:24-32, 6:1-14, 1 Corinthians 6:9-20, 10:12-13, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, 1 Timothy 1:8-11, & Jude 5-11