Episode 2829 - Lesson 4 - Thursday July 23 - Marriage and Singleness

Marriage and SinglenessPaul's affirmation that our body "is the temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor. 6:19, NKJV) occurs in the context of a warning against sexual immorality. Being a temple of the Spirit is the only means to live a holy life. The church is a Christian community that distinguishes itself from the surrounding environment. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit that makes it possible.Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-7:9. How does this passage shed light on how one can put into practice the commandment to "flee from sexual immorality" (1 Cor. 6:18, ESV)?There are significant lessons about sexuality in 1 Corinthians 7. Roughly speaking, this chapter can be divided up into two sections: (1) instructions regarding marriage (1 Cor. 7:1-24) and (2) instructions regarding singleness (1 Cor. 7:25-40). First Corinthians 7 helps us understand that speaking about sexuality is important and necessary.However, when reading 1 Corinthians 7, we must remember that Paul is responding to specific questions related to issues in the church of Corinth. Otherwise, some statements could lead to the impression that he has a low view of marriage, which is not the case (1 Tim. 4:1-3, 1 Tim. 5:14; also Heb. 13:4).Remarkably, the command "flee from sexual immorality" in 1 Corinthians 6:18 (ESV) is bracketed by the idea of joining Christ (1 Cor. 6:17) and being a temple of the Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). Is there a better way of fleeing from sexual immorality? Of course not.Also, God created sex, but it is to be enjoyed in marriage alone. Sex is a privilege of those in a male and female marriage, the only kind sanctioned in the Bible.When saying, "flee from sexual immorality," Paul may have in mind the story of Joseph (Gen. 39:6-18). The Bible says that before the lustful advances of Potiphar's wife, Joseph "fled out of the house" (Gen. 39:18, ESV). This is mentioned no fewer than four times in Genesis 39:6-18. The Bible doesn't say it directly, but it is implied that Joseph waited to have sex only in marriage (Gen. 41:45). He was a man filled with the Holy Spirit (Gen. 41:38) and wanted to do what was right before God's eyes.How can we, as a church, protect ourselves from the aberrant views of sexuality that dominate the culture?