Rethinking Sex, Marriage, and the Kingdom of God
Summary
In our journey through the book of First Corinthians, we delve into the profound teachings of Paul regarding sex, marriage, and the kingdom of God. Paul challenges us to rethink our understanding of the kingdom of God, not as a distant heaven but as a remade world where God's perfect order reigns. This kingdom is not earned by moralistic deeds but inherited through our relationship with God. Paul emphasizes that our actions, particularly concerning sex, money, and power, should reflect the values of this future kingdom. These elements are not merely personal choices but are deeply connected to community and the new creation God is preparing.
Paul addresses two prevalent cultural attitudes towards sex: one that views it as a mere appetite and another that sees it as inherently defiling. He offers a third perspective, one that elevates sex as a profound act of unity and self-donation, meant to reflect the deep, covenantal relationship of marriage. This view challenges both liberal and conservative extremes, presenting sex as a sacrament that builds community and mirrors the ultimate union we will have with God.
Furthermore, Paul introduces a revolutionary concept for his time: mutual ownership in marriage. In a culture where women were often seen as property, Paul asserts that both husband and wife belong to each other, emphasizing equality and mutual respect. This teaching dismantles the double standards of fidelity and challenges us to view sex not as a means of personal fulfillment but as a way to build deep, lasting community.
Paul's balanced approach to marriage and singleness is also noteworthy. He neither idolizes marriage nor independence, recognizing the unique challenges and blessings of each state. Ultimately, our deepest fulfillment comes not from human relationships but from our union with Christ, the true lover of our souls.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Kingdom of God as a Remade World: The kingdom of God is not a distant heaven but a remade world where God's perfect order reigns. Our actions, especially regarding sex, money, and power, should reflect the values of this future kingdom, emphasizing community and the new creation God is preparing. [02:12]
2. Sex as a Sacrament of Unity: Paul presents sex as a profound act of unity and self-donation, meant to reflect the deep, covenantal relationship of marriage. This view challenges both liberal and conservative extremes, presenting sex as a sacrament that builds community and mirrors the ultimate union we will have with God. [13:37]
3. Mutual Ownership in Marriage: Paul introduces a revolutionary concept for his time: mutual ownership in marriage. This teaching dismantles the double standards of fidelity and challenges us to view sex not as a means of personal fulfillment but as a way to build deep, lasting community. [21:16]
4. Balanced Approach to Marriage and Singleness: Paul neither idolizes marriage nor independence, recognizing the unique challenges and blessings of each state. Our deepest fulfillment comes not from human relationships but from our union with Christ, the true lover of our souls. [22:05]
5. Grace and Sexual Purity: If you have struggled with sexual sin, remember that everyone has committed spiritual adultery against God, yet He has forgiven us. Embrace the grace and forgiveness offered through Christ, allowing it to empower you to live a life of purity and faithfulness. [27:44]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:07] - Introduction to First Corinthians
- [00:34] - Sex and the Kingdom of God
- [01:04] - The Unrighteous and the Kingdom
- [02:12] - Understanding the Kingdom of God
- [03:13] - Inheritance and Identity
- [04:24] - Community and Transformation
- [05:29] - Sex, Money, and Power
- [06:04] - The Range of Sins
- [07:42] - Individual vs. Community
- [09:21] - Sex and Culture
- [11:04] - Cultural Attitudes Toward Sex
- [13:37] - A Positive View of Sex
- [15:28] - The Meaning of One Flesh
- [19:34] - Sex as a Covenant Renewal
- [21:16] - Mutual Ownership in Marriage
- [22:05] - Marriage and Singleness Balance
- [27:44] - Grace and Sexual Purity
- [29:32] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
2. 1 Corinthians 7:1-4
3. Genesis 2:24
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he says that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? How does this relate to the concept of inheritance mentioned in the sermon? [02:12]
2. How does Paul describe the relationship between sex and the kingdom of God? What are the implications of this relationship for believers? [05:29]
3. What are the two cultural attitudes towards sex that Paul addresses, and how does he challenge them? [11:04]
4. How does Paul redefine the concept of ownership within marriage, and why was this revolutionary for his time? [21:16]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of the kingdom of God as a remade world challenge our traditional views of heaven and salvation? What does this mean for our daily lives? [02:12]
2. In what ways does Paul's view of sex as a sacrament of unity differ from both liberal and conservative perspectives? How does this view impact our understanding of relationships? [13:37]
3. How does the idea of mutual ownership in marriage promote equality and mutual respect? What are the implications of this teaching for modern marriages? [21:16]
4. How does Paul's balanced approach to marriage and singleness provide a framework for understanding fulfillment in Christ? What does this mean for individuals in different life stages? [22:05]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your understanding of the kingdom of God. How does viewing it as a remade world influence your actions and decisions, especially regarding sex, money, and power? [02:12]
2. Consider the cultural attitudes towards sex that you have encountered. How does Paul's teaching challenge or affirm these views? How can you apply this understanding in your relationships? [11:04]
3. In what ways can you practice mutual respect and ownership in your marriage or relationships? How does this teaching challenge any existing double standards you may hold? [21:16]
4. How can you find fulfillment in your relationship with Christ, regardless of your marital status? What steps can you take to deepen this union with Christ? [22:05]
5. If you have struggled with sexual sin, how can you embrace the grace and forgiveness offered through Christ to live a life of purity and faithfulness? What practical steps can you take to move forward? [27:44]
6. How can you ensure that your use of sex, money, and power aligns with the values of the future kingdom of God? What changes might you need to make in your life to reflect these values? [05:29]
7. Think about a time when you felt pressure to conform to cultural norms regarding sex or relationships. How can Paul's teachings help you navigate these pressures with integrity and faithfulness? [13:37]
Devotional
Day 1: The Kingdom of God as a Present Reality
The kingdom of God is not a distant, ethereal heaven but a remade world where God's perfect order reigns. This kingdom is inherited through our relationship with God, not earned by moralistic deeds. Our actions, especially concerning sex, money, and power, should reflect the values of this future kingdom, emphasizing community and the new creation God is preparing. By living in alignment with these values, we participate in the transformation of the world around us, embodying the principles of God's kingdom in our daily lives. [02:12]
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you align your daily actions with the values of God's kingdom, particularly in how you handle sex, money, and power?
Day 2: Sex as a Sacred Act of Unity
Paul presents sex as a profound act of unity and self-donation, meant to reflect the deep, covenantal relationship of marriage. This view challenges both liberal and conservative extremes, presenting sex as a sacrament that builds community and mirrors the ultimate union we will have with God. By understanding sex in this light, we are called to honor it as a sacred act that fosters deep connection and reflects the divine love and commitment found in marriage. [13:37]
"Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!" (1 Corinthians 6:15, ESV)
Reflection: How can you honor the sacredness of sex in your relationships, viewing it as a reflection of divine love and commitment?
Day 3: Mutual Ownership in Marriage
Paul introduces a revolutionary concept for his time: mutual ownership in marriage. In a culture where women were often seen as property, Paul asserts that both husband and wife belong to each other, emphasizing equality and mutual respect. This teaching dismantles the double standards of fidelity and challenges us to view sex not as a means of personal fulfillment but as a way to build deep, lasting community. By embracing this mutual ownership, couples can foster a relationship built on equality, respect, and shared commitment. [21:16]
"The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does." (1 Corinthians 7:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you practice mutual respect and ownership in your marriage or relationships, fostering equality and shared commitment?
Day 4: Embracing Both Marriage and Singleness
Paul neither idolizes marriage nor independence, recognizing the unique challenges and blessings of each state. Ultimately, our deepest fulfillment comes not from human relationships but from our union with Christ, the true lover of our souls. By embracing both marriage and singleness, we can appreciate the unique opportunities each state offers for growth, service, and connection with God. This balanced approach encourages us to find contentment and purpose in our current state, trusting in God's plan for our lives. [22:05]
"I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife." (1 Corinthians 7:32-33, ESV)
Reflection: How can you find contentment and purpose in your current state, whether married or single, and focus on your union with Christ?
Day 5: Grace and Sexual Purity
If you have struggled with sexual sin, remember that everyone has committed spiritual adultery against God, yet He has forgiven us. Embrace the grace and forgiveness offered through Christ, allowing it to empower you to live a life of purity and faithfulness. By accepting this grace, we can overcome past mistakes and strive towards a life that reflects God's holiness and love. This journey towards purity is not about perfection but about continually seeking God's strength and guidance in our lives. [27:44]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: How can you embrace God's grace and forgiveness to overcome past mistakes and pursue a life of sexual purity and faithfulness?
Quotes
The kingdom of God is the world remade by God as we often say the Christian understanding of Salvation is that salvation is not basically removing us Escape helping us escape from this world, the purpose of God's salvation the purpose of Everything Jesus Christ did is to come down and renew and restore the world. [00:02:15]
The kingdom of God notice the word inherit there the kingdom of God isn't here yet the kingdom of God we're talking when Paul talks about the kingdom of God he's talking about that remade world a world of perfect flourishing a world where we are we are in perfect relationship with God perfect relationship with one another perfect Society perfect relationship with nature. [00:02:40]
Paul is seeking to resocialize them into a new way of doing business a new community Consciousness and another commentator Anthony thiselton puts it like this Paul here is not describing the qualifications required for an entrance exam he is comparing habituated actions which by definition can find no place in God's Reign for the welfare of all with those qualities in accordance with which Christian Believers need to be transformed. [00:04:18]
Since God's preparing the world uh for for he he's preparing the world he's preparing us for a perfect world in which sex money and power are all used in completely life-giving and holistic ways ways that do not lead to psychological breakdown spiritual breakdown social breakdown but but ways of using sex money and power that that weave us together into complete balance and wholeness. [00:04:55]
Paul actually brings up two uh attitudes towards sex in the culture his culture which actually still exists today and they're almost opposed to one another and neither of them is right the first one it's a little hard to get this reading in the in the English translation the first one in verse 12 where Paul is quoting somebody all things are lawful for me but not all things are helpful. [00:11:00]
Paul instead gives us neither approach neither the platonic approach or the phical approach NE sex is neither uh uh just an appetite nor is it something really really terrible instead Paul gives a view of sex it's so positive so positive that you can't just do it with anybody on the other hand it's by no means dirty or defiling at all. [00:13:27]
Sex is a way to donate yourself to someone so deeply that the two become a unit that you know that you are both yourself and yet radic so radically supplemented that you're just not the same I mean when I think and I I can't help but wax wax I can't help it wax when I think of marriage I'm thinking of my own marriage. [00:15:35]
Sex is only physical Union is supposed to mirror reflect and work into your Soul the absolute Union of marriage you're not supposed to be physically one with someone unless you're also socially and emotionally and economically one with them too if you say I want to be naked with you physically but I don't want to be naked and vulnerable to you socially and personally. [00:16:48]
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife and likewise the wife to her husband the wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband in the same way the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife now you know the commentators say that this must have been one of the most astounding things that first century men had ever read in their lives. [00:21:16]
Paul says something that no other culture and no other religion has ever he sets a balance that none none have ever come up with he says are you married don't try to be single marriage is great he says are you single don't kill yourself to get married marriage is hard if you read the rest of chapter 7 traditional cultures you know this because a lot of you come from that. [00:22:05]
Everybody in this room has committed adultery on Jesus everybody in this room including you whatever you've done sexually it's nothing compared to what your sexual unfaithfulness to Jesus what well you know how many times in the Bible that God talks about his people as being his bride and that if you're not if you're not faithful to him spiritually you're not it's like adultery. [00:27:44]
You know what Jesus did with the woman caught in adultery remember what he did he said neither do I condemn thee go and sin no more what a balance he doesn't say I do condemn thee so you better no nor does he say I don't condemn thee and you know sex what a balance I do not condemn thee now use the grace I just gave you to keep clean. [00:28:02]
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