with faithful contentment
Series: Breaking the Chains
Speaker: Chris Jones
Date: 1st June 2014
Passage: 1 Corinthians 7:1-40
00:00:00 --> 00:00:10 We're at 1 Corinthians chapter 7 and to put it bluntly it's about sex and the right use of sex where it fits in terms of God's purposes and in relationships.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:20 And the passage tonight talks about it in a much more positive way than where we were last week when we were talking about pornea or immorality in 1 Corinthians chapter 6.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 So the tone is entirely different.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:29 I figure when you're talking about sex you don't really need an opening illustration.
00:00:29 --> 00:00:30 You can just start.
00:00:31 --> 00:00:35 But I did, I opened up the paper the other day or read online.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:40 I think it was News Limited, that fantastic source of news.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:54 And there was a story about some bloke who's been living in Bali for the last three months and to put it really crudely he's managed to sleep his way through 100 different women and his goal is to achieve three women in the one night.
00:00:54 --> 00:01:07 And in terms of an example of pornea or immorality, it's a fantastic example of pure selfishness.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:26 And I think what I want to say tonight is that the journey from pornea, immorality, to right relationship before the Lord Jesus Christ and the beauty of what he calls us to is a journey from selfishness, utter selfishness, to selflessness.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:31 And in the end it is rooted in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:42 So right through this series Steve's picked up the idea that the way of the cross transforms our world view and that's exactly what we're going to see tonight when we talk about sex.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:48 We're talking about the cross of the cross of the cross of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ transforming the way that we do relationships.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:53 And it's a movement from selfishness to selflessness.
00:01:55 --> 00:02:01 Steve said some things last week in his message which I thought were just pure inspirational.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:13 He spoke about marriage with a very high view in terms of one flesh relationship and what it stands for and what it means.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:15 And I think I'm quoting him.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:20 I took notes while he was saying this but it might sound a mouthful but listen carefully.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:21 It's a one flesh.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 Marriage is a one flesh relationship.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:29 A one flesh relationship is embodied in personhood, in people.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:34 And it's a place where personal transformation is going on.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:35 People are changed.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:40 And the bar is raised very high for a sexual relationship in marriage.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 It deeply involves the full person.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 There is a self-giving and a self-disclosure.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:49 It's not driven by self-gratification.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 And he said that sex is a radical self-donation.
00:02:53 --> 00:02:59 It means being vulnerable with your entire life to the other person and not independent of them.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:06 And so they become, you grow into this life of oneness, deep personal relationship and sharing.
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08 You don't lose yourself.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:15 You are radically supplemented by the other person and changed and transformed as you seek to serve Christ together.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:23 And my words, I want to say that there is deep safety and security in a relationship like that.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:25 It is deeply fulfilling.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:29 It's entirely consistent with other scriptures.
00:03:29 --> 00:03:35 So when you go to Ephesians 5 where a husband and wife submit to one another out of reverence for Christ,
00:03:35 --> 00:03:40 they take up different roles within a marriage relationship, wives to husbands as to the Lord,
00:03:41 --> 00:03:44 husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:51 You get a picture of the same selfless giving going on and submission to Christ even as we submit to one another.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:58 And so there's its extraordinarily beautiful picture where marriage is driven by the sacrificial love of Christ for us all.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 Now I want you to notice the sheet.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:02 You should have noticed already.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:03 You've been given that sheet tonight.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 On one side is the text of the scripture.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07 On the other side is notes.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:09 And I'm doing this in three bits sort of.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 The first bit I'm just talking for a bit.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:15 The second bit I'm going to take us into the notes and scan across the whole chapter.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:19 And the third bit I'm going to stop and we're going to have questions.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:23 Because I think by you being able to ask questions tonight,
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 it's a way of applying what we're talking about here in the scripture
00:04:26 --> 00:04:32 and maybe raising issues that are particular issues that you see for yourselves or in people around about you.
00:04:37 --> 00:04:46 The Corinthian church started four years before this letter when Paul came preaching to them.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:50 There wasn't a church there before he came along and started preaching.
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 And as he preached the cross of Christ,
00:04:53 --> 00:05:00 it began to transform a body of people who had heard the gospel for the very first time.
00:05:00 --> 00:05:06 It's an immature church.
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 Last week Steve said he,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:15 Paul rebuked them really severely for not being as mature as they ought to have been,
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 even at four years old.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:20 And he's angry with them.
00:05:20 --> 00:05:23 He was angry with them because they were putting up with the type of immorality
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 that anybody outside the church could look in.
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 Anybody who's not even a Christian and say,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 you're kidding, they do those sorts of things?
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 So their problem was not so much the immorality,
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 but the lack of church discipline.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:38 They weren't able to say to one another,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 this should not be.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:43 And then in chapter 6,
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 these are people who have been converted
00:05:46 --> 00:05:49 out of a very licentious culture.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 You know, anything goes.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 Lots of sexual options and lots of permissiveness.
00:05:55 --> 00:06:04 Young men would have been encouraged to pursue sexual gratification from adolescence
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 when their bodies start to work sexually from puberty
00:06:06 --> 00:06:10 until their mid to late 20s,
00:06:10 --> 00:06:14 so maybe nearly 15 years before they actually get married.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:20 And homosexual induction by older men with younger men
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 was common in the Roman Empire.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26 Temple prostitutes were the norm.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28 You could go to the temple and you could have sex
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 and you could call it worship.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 I grew up in an extended family culture
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37 which said it was okay for men to sow their wild oats,
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 you know, have sex wherever they like.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:43 And then we also had this double standard
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 that sex and bodies were dirty
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 and somehow you ought to stay pure.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48 Very confusing.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 And in chapter 6,
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 Paul effectively says,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 we don't have to keep apologising
00:06:56 --> 00:06:59 for the life that we have been brought from
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 because of the work of Christ
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 in transforming us.
00:07:05 --> 00:07:09 We don't have to continue to bear shame
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 because of who we were
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 and what we did.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:17 He tells us that we have been made clean
00:07:17 --> 00:07:19 by the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 So in verse 11, chapter 6,
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 we were like that,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 but we have been washed.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 It says you were washed,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 you were sanctified,
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 you were justified
00:07:31 --> 00:07:33 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 and by the Spirit of God.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 Corinth's a place which is shaped by Greek culture.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43 Steve talked about that last week,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 hedonistic culture
00:07:44 --> 00:07:46 where anything and everything goes.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 Their slogan was,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 everything's permissible for me.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 I'm set free.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 And Paul's response,
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 but not everything is beneficial.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 And as with any culture,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 new believers carried the culture
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 that they were in,
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 into the church
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 where the gospel would now do
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 its ongoing work of change
00:08:09 --> 00:08:09 and transformation.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:13 In other words,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 when you come to Christ,
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 you're not necessarily transformed
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 out of everything
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 that was the former life.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 And there's a journey
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 which goes on
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 as you wrestle with
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 what it means to have come to Christ
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 and the change
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 that he now brings about
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 in your life.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 And so it's not unreasonable
00:08:33 --> 00:08:34 to think that Corinth
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 was a church with people
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 in all sorts of relationships.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:40 Maybe widows
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 who hadn't married again
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 but were sleeping with widowers
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 or people who'd taken a fancy
00:08:45 --> 00:08:45 to them.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:48 Or unmarried people.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 So when it says virgins here,
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 we're not necessarily talking
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 people who haven't had sex.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 We're talking about
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 unmarried people.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 And perhaps unmarried people.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 Virgins sleeping with
00:08:58 --> 00:08:58 boyfriends,
00:08:59 --> 00:08:59 girlfriends.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:02 Or married people
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 engaging in sexual relationships
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 outside of marriage.
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 That's the way
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 the world of Corinth was
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 before the gospel came.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:13 And it's not that different
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 from our world.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 The guys were liberated back then.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:17 The girls weren't.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 In our culture,
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 the girls have been set free
00:09:21 --> 00:09:21 in some measure.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 It's not real freedom,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:28 but the age of contraception
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 and having control
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 over your own bodies
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 and stuff like that
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 means that young women
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 are able to behave
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 almost like young men.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 The world calls it freedom.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 The Bible portrays it
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 as a slavery.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:47 And he said last week
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 that sex matters.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 It's much more than just
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 another bodily function.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 It's not just food in
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 and food out.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 In the end,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 in 1 Corinthians 6,
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 he makes it very clear
00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 that he says,
00:10:00 --> 00:10:00 Do you not know
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 that he who unites himself
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 with a prostitute
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 is one with her in body?
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 For it is said
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 the two will become
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 one flesh.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 But he who unites himself
00:10:11 --> 00:10:11 with the Lord
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 is one with him in spirit.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 Flee from sexual immorality.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 All other sins
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 a man commits
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 are outside his body.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 But he who sins
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 sexually sins
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 against his own body.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 Do you not know
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 that your body
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 is a temple
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 of the Holy Spirit
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 who is in you
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 whom you have received
00:10:31 --> 00:10:31 from God?
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 You are not your own.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:33 You were bought
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 at a price.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 Therefore,
00:10:35 --> 00:10:35 honour God
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 with your body.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 He says sex matters
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 and wrong use of it
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 causes great harm.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 If sex was just
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 another bodily function,
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 then why not relieve
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 that need
00:10:49 --> 00:10:49 by going down
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 for a night of worship
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 at one of the local
00:10:51 --> 00:10:53 Corinthian temples
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 with the prostitutes,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 your wife's got a headache
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58 and she will be glad
00:10:58 --> 00:10:58 not to be put
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 under pressure.
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 But he says here
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 to sin sexually
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 is to sin against
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 your own person,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 to damage your sense
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 of self.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 Plenty of that
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 in the media this week
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 and every other week
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 for the last yonks.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:19 one tragic story
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 after another
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 of teenagers
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 being violated
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 by media personalities
00:11:23 --> 00:11:26 or trusted religious figures.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 The children
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 didn't sin.
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31 They didn't ask for it.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 And there is
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 one story
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 after another
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 about the impact
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 on their person
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 by these crimes.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 Alcoholism,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 eating disorders,
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 fear,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 blame,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 promiscuity,
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 many young people
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 have been greatly harmed
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 and they have carried
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 that harm
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 into older life
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 and relationships.
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 And one
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 headiness defender
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 sits there in court
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 the other day
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 and says it takes
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 two to tango
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 and after all
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 I only thought
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 I gave them
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 a good time
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 and they are enjoying
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 what we are participating in.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:11 terrible,
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 terrible distortion
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 of something
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 which is
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 a very,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 very good gift
00:12:15 --> 00:12:15 of God
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 when used
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 according to
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 the maker's instructions.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 The cross of Christ
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 radically transforms
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 our relationships.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 I joked this morning
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 I said
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 I went to King's Cross
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 on Friday
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 to do some research
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 for this sermon
00:12:32 --> 00:12:34 and I did.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 I did.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 I went to visit
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 my friend Ed Vaughan
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 who's the minister
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 at St John's Darlinghurst
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 which is right there
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 at the cross
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 and I had heard
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 a story through the week
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 of a marriage,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 a wedding
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 that he took
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 last Saturday
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 and I heard it
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 from a very dear friend
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 from a long way back
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 and I know Ed really well
00:12:53 --> 00:12:53 and I went to him
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 to say look
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 I was told
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 what a fantastic service
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57 you took
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 but it's an amazing story
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 of the grace of God
00:12:59 --> 00:13:02 the couple
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 that were married
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 last Saturday
00:13:04 --> 00:13:06 the woman
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 was in
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 the Bible study
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 I went to
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 25, 30 years ago
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 I don't even remember
00:13:10 --> 00:13:13 and she went
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 to Bible college
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 and at Bible college
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 went to SMBC
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 and studied there
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 for a while
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 Sydney Missionary
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 Bible College
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21 was in a
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 relationship
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 with someone
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 I don't mean
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 an inappropriate
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 relationship
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 but in a relationship
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 with someone
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 that looked like
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 they might marry
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 and then something
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 happened
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 the wheel fell off
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 and it just
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 didn't go anywhere
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 and almost
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 on the rebound
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 she took up
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 with another fellow
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 that everybody
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 who knew her
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 just thought
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 this is a disaster
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 and she was married
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 and within two years
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 she was divorced
00:13:43 --> 00:13:47 20, 25 years
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 has gone by
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 she's working
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 in Christian ministry
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 in the eastern suburbs
00:13:52 --> 00:13:56 and she is diagnosed
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58 with terminal cancer
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 that has come
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 quite rapidly
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 upon her
00:14:01 --> 00:14:03 now what's
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 actually happened
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 in the couple
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 of months
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 or period of time
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 just before this
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 is she's somehow
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 been back in
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 communication
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 with the man
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 that she might
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 have married
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 25 years before
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 who's gone
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 to the other
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 side of Australia
00:14:15 --> 00:14:18 and in the course
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 of communication
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 she then communicates
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 with him
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 and says
00:14:22 --> 00:14:25 I'm dying
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 and this is
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 what's happened
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28 and his immediate
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 response was
00:14:29 --> 00:14:32 to leave
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 his work
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 and to say
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 to her
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 I've always
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 loved you
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 I still
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 loved you
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 and I am
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 coming back
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 to care for you
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 until you die
00:14:42 --> 00:14:45 and they were
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 married in front
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 of 200 people
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 last Saturday
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49 who were just
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 joyous and tearful
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 at the same time
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 and I don't know
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 about you
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 but the story
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 for me
00:14:55 --> 00:14:57 just engaged
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 my heart
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 because it was
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 pure selflessness
00:15:00 --> 00:15:05 not selfish
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 I'm going into
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 this for what
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 I can get out
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 of it
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 but it was
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 such an expression
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 of the servant
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 heart of God
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 that we see
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 in Christ
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 in this man's
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 response to this
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 woman
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 and it's even
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 more beautiful
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 than that
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 for lots of
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 reasons
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 but she's
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 obese
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 the cancer
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 treatment
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 has destroyed
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 her body
00:15:19 --> 00:15:21 and she
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 bought a
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 wedding dress
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 and she
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 grew out
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 of the
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 wedding dress
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 and needed
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 another one
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 before the
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 wedding
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 so in
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 terms of
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 the beauty
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 of the
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 world
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 she's
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 probably
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 nothing
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 to look
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 at
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 but in
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 terms of
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 the inner
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 beauty
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 which is
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 radiated
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 in Christ
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 this was
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 something
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 which was
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 very very
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 very special
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 that happened
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 and continues
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 to go on
00:15:39 --> 00:15:43 so when
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 you get
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 to
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 Corinthians
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 move beyond
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 immorality
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 and you
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 move into
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 what do
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 you do
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 with sex
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 where does
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 it fit
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 in terms
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 of God's
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 kingdom
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 and God's
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 plan
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 and God's
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 purposes
00:15:55 --> 00:15:58 and Paul
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 brings them
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 back to the
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 way of the
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 cross
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 and as he
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 goes into
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 chapter 7
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 there's a
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 very distinct
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 turn that
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 goes on here
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 in the text
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 this is the
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 first time
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 this happens
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 in Corinthians
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 but he says
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 now for the
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 matters that
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 you wrote
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 about
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 he turns
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 his attention
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 for what
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 he wants
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 to say
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 and he's
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 now responding
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 to some
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 stuff that
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 they've asked
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 him about
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 and he quotes
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 them
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 it's not that
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 obvious in the
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 English
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 but he's actually
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 quoting them
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 so when it
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 says here
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 it's good
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 for a man
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 not to
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 marry
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 he's not
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 saying it's
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 good for a
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 man not
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 to marry
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 he's quoting
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 them
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 they've gone
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 back and said
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 to him
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 so is it
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 better for a
00:16:37 --> 00:16:37 man not
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 to marry
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 in light of
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 the immorality
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 that's here
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 in this
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 world
00:16:40 --> 00:16:45 and that's
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 a really hard
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 thing to
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 understand
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 and even
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 when you read
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 the commentaries
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 on this
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 they go
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 different ways
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 one of the
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 ways that the
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 commentators go
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 is they say
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 like it's an
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 aesthetic response
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 it's sort of
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 like I'm going
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 to try and live
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 the pure holy
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 lifestyle now
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 rather than get
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 my hands dirty
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 with immorality
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 and sex and all
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 that sort of
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 stuff
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 no
00:17:03 --> 00:17:05 but you do
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 see that
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 I had a
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 friend
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 he's not a
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 friend really
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 someone I
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 knew
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 who's very
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 high up in
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 the Hare
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 Krishna movement
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 and when he
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 was about 25
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 we grew up
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 parallel to
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 one another
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 knew one
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 another
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 at the end
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 of high
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 school he
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 became a
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 Hare Krishna
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 and he's
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 risen in
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 the movement
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 I remember
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 he got
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 married
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 I think
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 he's now
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 on about
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 his third
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 marriage
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 but he
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 got married
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 and he
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 said
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 we believe
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 that sex
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 is purely
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 for procreation
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 so we only
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 come together
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 and have sex
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 and make love
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 in our marriage
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 when we're
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 trying to have
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 a child
00:17:35 --> 00:17:37 we don't do
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 it for
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 enjoyment
00:17:38 --> 00:17:42 Roman
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 Catholic
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 priests
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 at their
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 ordination
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 are asked
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 this question
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 in the
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 presence of
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 God and
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 his church
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 are you
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 resolved
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 as a sign
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 of your
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 interior
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 dedication
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 to Christ
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 to remain
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 celibate
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 for the
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 sake of
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 the kingdom
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 and in
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 lifelong
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 service
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 to God
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 and mankind
00:17:57 --> 00:18:00 two of
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 my friends
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 resolved
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 not to
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 have sex
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 on the
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 night of
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 their
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 marriage
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 because
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 they
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 wanted
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 to spend
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 the night
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 in prayer
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 to God
00:18:05 --> 00:18:09 I never
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 really thought
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 it was my
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 place to
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 ask how
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 they got
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 on
00:18:12 --> 00:18:17 but their
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 desire
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 was to
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 lay aside
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 their
00:18:20 --> 00:18:20 desires
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 and give
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 themselves
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 to the
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 Lord
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 on that
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 night
00:18:22 --> 00:18:24 and I
00:18:24 --> 00:18:24 don't want
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 to criticise
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 them for
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 doing that
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 but I
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 think I
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 want to
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 say and
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 I think
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 Paul says
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 here
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 you're not
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 more holy
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 by taking
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 a disposition
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 like that
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 and in fact
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 in the
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 opening words
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 he actually
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 says yeah
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 husband and
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 wife might
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 decide not
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 to have
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 sex for a
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 little bit
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 just so they
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 can pray
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 but make
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 sure it's
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 not too
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 long
00:18:41 --> 00:18:44 and no
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 I'm not
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 prescribing
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 it I'm not
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 teaching it
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 as something
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 that you
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 should do
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 so that's
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 the ascetic
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 type response
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 and he's
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 not endorsing
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 it
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 but there is
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 another way
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 you can read
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 this if you
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 understand the
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 immorality that
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 they've come
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 from and if
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 you understand
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 the people
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 asking these
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 questions have
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 been in all
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 sorts of
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 messy places
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 in terms of
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 sex
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 they might
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 just be
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 saying so we
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 shouldn't be
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 sleeping with
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 girls
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11 we shouldn't
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 be doing
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 the barley
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 thing
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 and he
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 will come
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 in now
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 and teach
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 about that
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 and now I
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 want to turn
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 I think to
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 that sheet
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 which I've
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 called my
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 mud map
00:19:23 --> 00:19:26 and if you
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 need to know
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 what a mud
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 map is
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 don't even
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 bother I'll
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 explain it
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 later
00:19:29 --> 00:19:32 but the
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 green line
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 is sort of
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 verses 1
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 to 40
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 of 1
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 corinthians
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 7
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 and you're
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 going to
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 see this
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 isn't going
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 to take
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 very long
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 I'm not
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 going to
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 take ages
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 to go
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 through 40
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 verses
00:19:40 --> 00:19:43 but above
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 the line
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 this whole
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 section
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 breaks into
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 three
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 the first
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 16 verses
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 are addressed
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 to people
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 who are
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 either married
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 or who have
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 formally been
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 married
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 so a married
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 person is
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 someone who's
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 happily married
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 somebody who's
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 unhappily married
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 and a
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 formally married
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 person is
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 somebody who
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 is widowed
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 or perhaps
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 divorced or
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 whatever it
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 is
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 they're not
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 specifically
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 mentioned
00:20:05 --> 00:20:07 the middle
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 sections about
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 circumcision and
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 slavery and
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 that at first
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 glance you think
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 what's that doing
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 in the middle of
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 this stuff on
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 sex and the
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 third part
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 really it's to
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 some of the
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 people at
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 Sunday night
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 churches to
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 people who
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 are not yet
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 married haven't
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 been married
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 and so you've
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 got my green
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 fences there you've
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 got you know
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 people who are
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 in a marriage
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 relationship and
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 sex is part of
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 it or not part
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 of it and then
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 you've got people
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 who haven't been
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 married yet and
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 sex is part of
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 it or not part
00:20:33 --> 00:20:35 of it and
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 sometimes when
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 you're in one of
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 those places you
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 look over the
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 fence and think
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 oh it looks
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 better over there
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 I'd like to be
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 getting some of
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 what they're
00:20:41 --> 00:20:44 getting I'd be
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 really interested
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 to try that out
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 and see how that
00:20:46 --> 00:20:49 works and I
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 don't want to
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 I think that's a
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 very normal type
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 of response for
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 all of us to be
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 interested in these
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 things and how it
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 works and how it
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 goes on so if
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 you come back
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 again to the
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 first section
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 sex and the
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 married and the
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 formerly married
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 you've got four
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 sections in there
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 you've got he talks
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 to married couples
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 and then he talks
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 to widows and
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 then he talks to
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 unhappily married
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 people that's people
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 who might be
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 considering divorce
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 and then he speaks
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 to people who are
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 married to someone
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 who's not a
00:21:13 --> 00:21:15 Christian so somebody
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 who's married to
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 not a believer and
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 he's got things to
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 say to each of them
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 so let me just read
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 a little bit and
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 that because I want
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 to get to the end
00:21:22 --> 00:21:25 verse 2
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 since there is so
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 much immorality
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 each man should
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 have his own
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 wife and each
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 woman her own
00:21:29 --> 00:21:31 husband the
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 husband should
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 fulfill his
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 marital duty to
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 his wife and
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 likewise the wife
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 to her husband
00:21:35 --> 00:21:37 the wife's body
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 does not belong to
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 her alone but also
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 to her husband
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 and in the same
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 way the husband's
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 body does not
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 belong to him
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 alone but also
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 to his wife
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 don't deprive
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 each other except
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 by mutual consent
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 and for a time so
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 that you may devote
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 yourselves to prayer
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 and then come
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 together again so
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 that Satan will not
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 tempt you because of
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 your lack of self
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 control
00:21:56 --> 00:21:59 and on it goes
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 let me tell you
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 that most men read
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 that passage and
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 go wacko the
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 wife's body belongs
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 to me
00:22:05 --> 00:22:10 and I'm not sure it
00:22:10 --> 00:22:12 works in reverse
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 quite the same
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 and let me tell
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 you that there
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 are some
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 evangelical
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 Christian
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 publications
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 written by
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 friends of ours
00:22:22 --> 00:22:24 who have written
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 if you can't
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 control yourself
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 sexually solve
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 the problem by
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 getting married
00:22:28 --> 00:22:31 and let me tell
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 you that that is
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 a really crass
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 and wrong
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 understanding of
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 what is written
00:22:34 --> 00:22:37 here because
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 it's not just
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 people who aren't
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 married who
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 haven't got a
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 sexual relationship
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 people can be
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 married and in a
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 sexual relationship
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 and still not
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 satisfied so what
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 do you do go and
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 get more sex from
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 outside the marriage
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 of course he's not
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 saying that here
00:22:50 --> 00:22:53 but can you see that
00:22:53 --> 00:22:53 if you take that
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 sort of turn if you
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 if you grab hold of
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 this passage and say
00:22:57 --> 00:22:57 see what the little
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 woman should be giving
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 me and she's not
00:22:59 --> 00:23:01 you have turned from
00:23:01 --> 00:23:04 a selfless stance to
00:23:04 --> 00:23:06 a selfish stance
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 because the question
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 now becomes about
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 me and what I get
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 out of this
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 relationship and what
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 is due to me
00:23:15 --> 00:23:20 selflessness to
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 selfishness
00:23:21 --> 00:23:26 it's hard for young
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 blokes I can speak
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 as a man I can't
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 speak as a woman I'm
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 glad I can't speak as
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 a woman but I will
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 speak as a man
00:23:31 --> 00:23:33 and guys are
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 initiators when it
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 comes to sex often
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 and there's something
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 about how we're
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 wired that that's how
00:23:39 --> 00:23:43 we are guys are
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 interested in the
00:23:44 --> 00:23:47 female form guys are
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 drawn to particular
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 forms of pornography
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 that women aren't
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 necessarily drawn to in
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 the same way but some
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 of that stuff's
00:23:53 --> 00:23:57 changing and guys can
00:23:57 --> 00:23:59 be very big in terms
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 of thinking about sex
00:24:00 --> 00:24:03 and as a young man not
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 married it's really easy
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 to think like I can I
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 want to get married
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 because I want to be
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 able to enjoy that
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 sort of stuff and I
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 think I'm just saying
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 if that's where we're
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 working from in terms
00:24:13 --> 00:24:15 of mindset we're
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 working from a selfish
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 place where it is all
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 about us and what we're
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 going to get and
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22 without regard to the
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 other person coming as
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 the selfless man looking
00:24:24 --> 00:24:28 to serve this woman who
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 I'm going to take as my
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 life partner who will say
00:24:30 --> 00:24:32 yes to me as I say yes
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 to her to serve before
00:24:33 --> 00:24:35 the Lord Jesus from this
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 day forward and forever
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 more as long as God
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 gives us breath on this
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 planet.
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 So sex can distort our
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 thinking in really
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 unhelpful ways.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 It becomes the goal
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 rather than the
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 relationship and the
00:24:49 --> 00:24:51 person and we live in
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 that distorted
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 environment and I have
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 experienced some of the
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 distortion of that
00:24:55 --> 00:24:57 environment and it ends
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 up having to be worked
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 out in your marriage.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:01 It's not a great thing to
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 bring to your marriage.
00:25:02 --> 00:25:09 But I think he upholds
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 sex as a wonderful thing
00:25:11 --> 00:25:14 given by God but he
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 takes it out of the
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 Corinthian world environment
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 where you can get it
00:25:17 --> 00:25:20 anywhere and he brings it
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 inside a marriage live
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 before the cross of the
00:25:23 --> 00:25:25 Lord Jesus Christ and at
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 the same time as he does
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 that with sex and marriage
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 he also affirms singleness
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 as a really great thing.
00:25:30 --> 00:25:33 So I know when you come
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 into youth group and
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 young adult ministry
00:25:35 --> 00:25:37 sometimes the big
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 questions are will I
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 marry?
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 Will I have a life
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 partner?
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 And some of the
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 attitudes that lie in
00:25:43 --> 00:25:45 the background and
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 aren't helpful attitudes
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 are attitudes like I'm
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 not complete unless I am
00:25:50 --> 00:25:52 married, unless I am in
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 relationship.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:56 And right through this
00:25:56 --> 00:25:58 passage the apostle
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 affirms the goodness of
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 singleness in its own
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 right as opposed to
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 marriage.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:06 It's a counter-cultural
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 value.
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 Steve told me the other
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 day that with regard to
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 widows in the Roman
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 Empire if a woman was
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 widowed she was only
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 allowed to remain a
00:26:15 --> 00:26:17 widow for two years or
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 she was fined if she
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 hadn't remarried.
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 So to affirm singleness
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 is actually to affirm a
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 counter-cultural value and
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 say this is a state before
00:26:28 --> 00:26:31 God which is complete and
00:26:31 --> 00:26:35 whole and valid and from
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 which the Lord Jesus
00:26:36 --> 00:26:38 Christ can be fruitfully
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 served.
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 I think he's really
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 careful not to put
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 singleness over marriage or
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 marriage over singleness and
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 yet at the same time when you
00:26:47 --> 00:26:50 get down to the very end he
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 will say that there are a lot
00:26:51 --> 00:26:53 of advantages to singleness
00:26:53 --> 00:26:55 in terms of serving Christ.
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 Might get to that in a
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 minute.
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 I'd like to get to that in a
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 minute.
00:26:59 --> 00:27:01 So when you look at the
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 sheet, the mud map, the
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 lines below are the
00:27:03 --> 00:27:05 separation between different
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 places in life that we
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 might find ourselves.
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 Verses 10 to 11 is probably
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 a really important one.
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 In most of those there's a
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 place for being content.
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 The one that's different are
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 maybe people who are
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 considering divorce.
00:27:16 --> 00:27:18 So he's speaking, not
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 saying everything that there
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 is to be said about divorce
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 but he's speaking to people in
00:27:21 --> 00:27:23 church who could be
00:27:23 --> 00:27:25 considering divorce and he's
00:27:25 --> 00:27:27 saying divorce is not the
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 way out of marriage.
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 If you're going to separate
00:27:29 --> 00:27:31 for a time if things are
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 really tough and sometimes
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 in a marriage they are
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 really tough but don't
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 separate thinking I can just
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 change horses and go to
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 someone else.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 Separate with the intention
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 of reconciliation or remain
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 single.
00:27:43 --> 00:27:45 But it's speaking to the
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 devious mind, the person
00:27:46 --> 00:27:48 who's manipulating here to
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 try and get out of marriage
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 because it's just not
00:27:50 --> 00:27:53 working and he's saying no
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 and he has the Lord's
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 authority in that.
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 There's some wonderfully
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 reassuring stuff.
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 There's people here who are
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 married to unbelievers.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 I'm going to say to you
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 tonight if you're a believer
00:28:04 --> 00:28:06 don't marry an unbeliever.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 But if you have married an
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 unbeliever and it's by your
00:28:09 --> 00:28:11 own choice then be reassured
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 here by what's said.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 Or if you've become a
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 Christian along the way
00:28:15 --> 00:28:17 after maybe starting marriage
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 with both of you not
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 knowing the Lord and then
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 one of you comes to the
00:28:20 --> 00:28:22 Lord the question that gets
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 asked is should I get out of
00:28:23 --> 00:28:25 this relationship because
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 it's not really holy before
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 the Lord.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 And the answer from the
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 passage is so clear.
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 Stay in it if your partner
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 is willing to live with you
00:28:33 --> 00:28:35 because you have a
00:28:35 --> 00:28:37 sanctifying influence and
00:28:37 --> 00:28:40 impact on your spouse and
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 on your children.
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 You have an influence.
00:28:42 --> 00:28:44 You bring the gospel good to
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 bear in this marriage in
00:28:45 --> 00:28:47 which you live and before
00:28:47 --> 00:28:49 God it is a valid marriage
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 and a place where you
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 ought to remain and find
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 contentment.
00:28:53 --> 00:28:55 And that's the theme that
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 runs right through here.
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 So if you look at the
00:28:56 --> 00:28:59 sheet the mud map it's sort
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 of a violet colour but right
00:29:00 --> 00:29:02 through in every circumstance
00:29:02 --> 00:29:05 here there is the notion
00:29:05 --> 00:29:07 of contentment like being
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 content where you are.
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 And I think that makes sense
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 of the middle bit because he
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 goes off and talks about
00:29:12 --> 00:29:14 circumcision and slavery and
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 says if you've been
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 circumcised you don't need
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 to be uncircumcised.
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 And any guy thinking about
00:29:19 --> 00:29:21 that goes well that's good
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 because that only sounds
00:29:22 --> 00:29:24 painful and I don't even
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 know how you do it.
00:29:26 --> 00:29:28 And if you're a slave there's
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 a sense of contentment.
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 If you've got an opportunity
00:29:29 --> 00:29:31 to come out of slavery we'll
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 take the opportunity but
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 otherwise be content.
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 And that feeds into the
00:29:36 --> 00:29:38 next bit from verse 25 on
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 where it says if you're bound
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 to a wife don't seem to be
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 loosed.
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 Don't seek to be loosed.
00:29:42 --> 00:29:44 And if you're not married
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 don't seek to be bound.
00:29:46 --> 00:29:48 In other words be content in
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 the stage of life that you're
00:29:49 --> 00:29:49 in.
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 And I think when you look at
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 that part when you're in
00:29:52 --> 00:29:55 verses 25 to 40 you get a
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 picture there that maybe
00:29:56 --> 00:29:58 helps us in young adult and
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 youth ministry because as I
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 said before you know how
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 sometimes you think this is
00:30:01 --> 00:30:03 all about pairing up and
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 there's all sorts of
00:30:03 --> 00:30:05 acronyms out there for
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 hatching and matching and
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 dispatching and it's obvious
00:30:07 --> 00:30:09 at this stage of life when
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 people do marry they do come
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 together they do get
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 interested in one another
00:30:12 --> 00:30:14 there's something really
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 nice about all that there's
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 nothing wrong with all of
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 that.
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 But sometimes people come to
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 that driven like really
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 needy I've got to be
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 married.
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 If I haven't got a
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 relationship I'm not
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 complete.
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 And I think what he's
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 urging here is a
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 contentment in where we
00:30:27 --> 00:30:29 are and actually you make
00:30:29 --> 00:30:31 yourself a more presentable
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 marriage prospect by being
00:30:33 --> 00:30:36 secure and content in
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 serving the Lord in the
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 state of life that you're
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 in.
00:30:38 --> 00:30:40 And sometimes people who
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 come across as really
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 needy are people who come
00:30:42 --> 00:30:44 across as maybe carrying
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 problems and difficulties
00:30:45 --> 00:30:47 and setting themselves up
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 for going into a
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 relationship which is a
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 really bad relationship for
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 them.
00:30:54 --> 00:30:56 But throughout this section
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 see I haven't gone into the
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 detail of the passage I'm not
00:30:58 --> 00:31:00 reading that again but he's
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 really affirming that if you
00:31:01 --> 00:31:03 do get married it's not a
00:31:03 --> 00:31:03 sin.
00:31:04 --> 00:31:06 If you do enter into a
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 relationship a marriage
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 relationship and sex is part
00:31:08 --> 00:31:10 of that it's a normal part
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 of that it's not a sin it's
00:31:11 --> 00:31:13 not to be despised it's not
00:31:13 --> 00:31:15 unholy it is not less.
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 But if you are a young
00:31:18 --> 00:31:20 person or an older person and
00:31:20 --> 00:31:22 you're not married and you are
00:31:22 --> 00:31:24 content in that place
00:31:24 --> 00:31:26 firstly saying be content with
00:31:26 --> 00:31:28 who you are and where you are
00:31:28 --> 00:31:33 be content in your singleness and
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 he will add to it even more
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 because he will say
00:31:35 --> 00:31:40 he will say that there are
00:31:40 --> 00:31:43 distinct advantages in the
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 single life.
00:31:45 --> 00:31:47 Married people have troubles.
00:31:48 --> 00:31:50 Anybody who's married here my
00:31:50 --> 00:31:52 wife confirmed this very readily
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 for me this morning but married
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 people have to sort things out
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 between themselves.
00:31:55 --> 00:32:00 It's not always pure bliss.
00:32:00 --> 00:32:03 One high bedroom high to
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 another is life you know in the
00:32:04 --> 00:32:06 terms of the world it's just not
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 quite like that.
00:32:09 --> 00:32:11 But when it's working there is a
00:32:11 --> 00:32:13 deep place of security and comfort
00:32:13 --> 00:32:16 and things that God does give.
00:32:19 --> 00:32:22 And marriage itself is like the
00:32:22 --> 00:32:24 world itself it's coming to an end.
00:32:24 --> 00:32:28 Everything's winding down and I
00:32:28 --> 00:32:30 often say that when I marry
00:32:30 --> 00:32:32 somebody sometimes people get
00:32:32 --> 00:32:34 upset with me for this but the
00:32:34 --> 00:32:36 only way a good marriage will end
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 is sadly.
00:32:39 --> 00:32:41 It's going to come to an end with
00:32:41 --> 00:32:43 the death of one of the spouses.
00:32:44 --> 00:32:46 And marriage is not eternal it
00:32:46 --> 00:32:48 doesn't go into eternity so when
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 people say I can't wait to be
00:32:49 --> 00:32:51 reunited in heaven well there is a
00:32:51 --> 00:32:53 sense of being reunited in heaven
00:32:53 --> 00:32:54 with the body of believers and
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 face to face with the Lord.
00:32:56 --> 00:32:58 But Jesus himself says you don't
00:32:58 --> 00:32:59 understand the scriptures to the
00:32:59 --> 00:33:01 Sadducees in heaven there won't be
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 marriage or being given in
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 marriage.
00:33:03 --> 00:33:05 Because they've come to Jesus and
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 asked a really tricky question.
00:33:06 --> 00:33:08 Jesus there's this woman she's been
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 married to seven different men
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 whose wife is she going to be in
00:33:10 --> 00:33:11 heaven.
00:33:12 --> 00:33:13 Well life is pretty complicated and
00:33:13 --> 00:33:15 there are people like that and that
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 question stands.
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 Well Jesus says in heaven there's no
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 marriage or being.
00:33:19 --> 00:33:21 So marriage itself is going to
00:33:21 --> 00:33:21 finish.
00:33:21 --> 00:33:24 It's a temporary relationship.
00:33:26 --> 00:33:28 And it's going to end sadly and
00:33:28 --> 00:33:30 there's going to be problems and
00:33:30 --> 00:33:31 heartache and perhaps that problem
00:33:31 --> 00:33:33 and heartache won't just be in your
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 own relationship it will be with your
00:33:34 --> 00:33:36 children and the challenges of life
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 that come to you through those
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 things.
00:33:38 --> 00:33:40 So he's saying there are reasons for
00:33:40 --> 00:33:42 the single life you're not distracted
00:33:42 --> 00:33:44 by the things of married life and you
00:33:44 --> 00:33:46 are freer to serve the Lord in those
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 ways.
00:33:47 --> 00:33:50 But he's very careful I think not to
00:33:50 --> 00:33:53 exalt singleness over marriage or
00:33:53 --> 00:33:55 marriage over singleness but he will
00:33:55 --> 00:33:56 validate both.
00:33:59 --> 00:34:01 So I think the aha even since I preached
00:34:01 --> 00:34:05 this this morning the aha for me is
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 the journey from chapter 6 of 1
00:34:06 --> 00:34:08 Corinthians to chapter 7 is this
00:34:08 --> 00:34:10 journey from porneia immorality
00:34:10 --> 00:34:16 selfishness to a journey of in
00:34:16 --> 00:34:18 relationship now of selflessness that you
00:34:18 --> 00:34:20 see in chapter 7.
00:34:21 --> 00:34:24 And it's like this whole body of
00:34:24 --> 00:34:26 people that have been converted out of
00:34:26 --> 00:34:28 the world they carry all the world
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 with them they've come from all sorts
00:34:29 --> 00:34:31 of stuff that if you had to put it up
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 on the projector and show us in church
00:34:32 --> 00:34:34 tonight for any of us we'd be
00:34:34 --> 00:34:35 embarrassed by.
00:34:36 --> 00:34:39 But made clean justified sanctified
00:34:39 --> 00:34:43 washed new beginning and in this new
00:34:43 --> 00:34:46 beginning it's a journey from selfishness
00:34:46 --> 00:34:49 to selflessness which is the way of the
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 cross of the Lord Jesus Christ
00:34:50 --> 00:34:53 the selflessness of Christ
00:34:53 --> 00:34:57 transforming our world view on the
00:34:57 --> 00:35:05 place of sex and making us content with
00:35:05 --> 00:35:07 who we are and where we are in life right at
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 this moment.