Ep 07 God's Top Ten: The Marriage Covenant, Ex 20:14

Today it's not uncommon to hear the term "sexual revolution" applied to the dramatic changes our society is undergoing in its thinking about sexual behaviors. Those who use this term assume that a new view of sex is emerging out of the uninformed bigotry of our cultural past. But that's not what's happening at all. The only real sexual revolution in human history has been produced by the Bible. What's happening in America and Europe is that many are simply returning to the primitive sexual behaviors that dominated the ancient world before the Bible arrived. Infidelity and promiscuity were actually sanctioned and practiced by the official religions of the rest of ancient near east (TWOT. Vol 2, pp 542-543). Sacred prostitution (male and female) (Dt 23:1), regular prostitution (Lv 19:29), homosexuality (Lv 18:22), bestiality (Ex 22:19; Dt 27:21), and transvestitism (Dt 22:5) were common in the ancient world. So as we turn to the seventh commandment, we encounter a radically new way of thinking about sex. The idea that it should only be between a man and a woman and that it should only take place after a lifelong commitment has been made is so unnatural to human thinking it could only have come from God. Again, like the sixth commandment, He required only two words to say bluntly, "No adultery!" To understand this commandment we will first define the term "adultery," then reflect on the nature of the marriage covenant and finally we'll consider seven attitudes essential if we are to succeed in obeying it. To receive a free copy of Dr. Steve Schell's newest book Study Verse by Verse: Hebrews, email us at [email protected] and ask for your copy at no charge!  Also check out our website at lifelessonspublishing.com for additional resources for pastors and leaders. We have recorded classes and other materials offered at no charge.