Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:02.879 --> 00:00:07.150
All right, let's give our attention
now to God's word. Fir Scrinthians,
2
00:00:07.190 --> 00:00:13.830
sixth, verse twelve. All things
are lawful for me, but not all
3
00:00:13.910 --> 00:00:18.629
things are helpful. All things are
lawful for me, but I will not
4
00:00:18.750 --> 00:00:22.980
be dominated by anything. Food is
meant for the stomach and the stomach for
5
00:00:23.100 --> 00:00:28.820
food, and God will destroy both
one and the other. The body is
6
00:00:28.940 --> 00:00:34.340
not meant for sexual immorality, but
for the Lord, and the Lord for
7
00:00:34.460 --> 00:00:38.969
the body, and God raise the
Lord and will also raise us up by
8
00:00:39.090 --> 00:00:44.369
his power. Do you not know
that your bodies are members of Christ?
9
00:00:45.369 --> 00:00:50.200
Shall I then take the members of
Christ and make them members of a prostitute?
10
00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:54.880
Never or do you not know that
he who is joined to a prostitute
11
00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:59.240
becomes one body with her, for, as it is written, the two
12
00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:03.280
will become one flesh, but he
who has joined to the Lord becomes one
13
00:01:03.390 --> 00:01:10.549
spirit with him? Flee sexual immorality, every other sin a person commits outside
14
00:01:10.549 --> 00:01:17.590
the body, sins against his own
body. Or do you not know that
15
00:01:17.709 --> 00:01:23.659
your body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit within whom you have from God?
16
00:01:23.859 --> 00:01:27.019
You are not your own, for
you are bought with a price.
17
00:01:27.739 --> 00:02:02.950
So glorify God in your body.
Amen. You maybe seated. Well,
18
00:02:04.030 --> 00:02:08.189
every ethic, every moral decision that
we make has a starting place. Right
19
00:02:08.270 --> 00:02:15.669
there's an idea of value, some
sort of core belief that forms the decisions
20
00:02:15.819 --> 00:02:21.180
that follow. Like a domino in
a string of dominoes, you click the
21
00:02:21.259 --> 00:02:24.219
one and then they others follow right
as a result of the first, or
22
00:02:24.659 --> 00:02:29.419
like the cornerstone for a building.
Right, you set the cornerstone and then
23
00:02:29.460 --> 00:02:34.449
that determines the direction and size.
I'm maybe not the size but the direction
24
00:02:34.490 --> 00:02:37.969
in the angles of the of the
foundation in the rest of the building.
25
00:02:38.569 --> 00:02:43.289
So let's say you're in a classroom
or a doctor's office and you see a
26
00:02:43.449 --> 00:02:47.199
bowl of candy and you decide to
take one without telling anyone. Well,
27
00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:52.759
if you believed, if you had
a belief, that they bowl of candy
28
00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:58.319
was intension only left for you,
well then not telling anyone this just fine,
29
00:02:58.789 --> 00:03:02.430
especially if that bowl of candy was
intentionally left to share with you,
30
00:03:02.550 --> 00:03:07.229
because it's you're not taking something that
doesn't belong to you because it was given
31
00:03:07.270 --> 00:03:12.430
to you. If, however,
your teacher has a desk of a little
32
00:03:12.469 --> 00:03:15.060
bull of candy in her in her
drawer and her desk and you go take
33
00:03:15.139 --> 00:03:20.099
a piece of candy out of that, knowing that it belongs to her and
34
00:03:20.219 --> 00:03:23.860
not to you. Right now,
you've told so are you've taken something without
35
00:03:24.379 --> 00:03:29.729
telling someone, and of course you've
sinned. That's called stealing. So,
36
00:03:30.129 --> 00:03:35.770
though the action might be relatively the
same, taking candy without telling, where
37
00:03:35.810 --> 00:03:39.210
the starting place begins is, in
a large way, what determines whether it's
38
00:03:39.330 --> 00:03:44.960
moral or not. Both what actually
is the case and how we think about
39
00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:49.759
it is important. The point is
that what you believe about the candy and
40
00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:53.919
what is actually true about the candy
matters, and it affects the decisions that
41
00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:59.909
you make. Well, Paul deals
with sex in a similar way in this
42
00:04:00.110 --> 00:04:03.830
passage. He helps us to think
about the starting place for the choices we
43
00:04:03.949 --> 00:04:10.139
make about sex and our body in
general. Ultimately, the key is in
44
00:04:10.259 --> 00:04:15.379
the last verse. So if you
leave with nothing, leave with this glorify
45
00:04:15.580 --> 00:04:18.860
God in your body. That's the
starting place. That's where Paul wants us
46
00:04:18.860 --> 00:04:28.209
to start to think about why it's
that and not something else. Let's first
47
00:04:28.209 --> 00:04:34.410
think about how the Corinthians were making
their decisions about morality and around sexual issues.
48
00:04:35.649 --> 00:04:42.480
They came and we're speaking with a
certain set of assumptions and Paul deals
49
00:04:42.519 --> 00:04:46.480
with those in a few different ways
and particularly at the beginning of this passage
50
00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:48.839
he deals with them through a couple
proverbs. Like you can think of them
51
00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:56.670
as Corinthian proverbs, right. The
first one we read is I turn my
52
00:04:56.790 --> 00:04:59.670
page back here on the first one
we read is in verse twelve. It
53
00:04:59.750 --> 00:05:03.589
says all things are are lawful for
me. There's other ways you could put
54
00:05:03.589 --> 00:05:08.220
that. You could translate it something
like all things are permissible for me,
55
00:05:08.379 --> 00:05:15.060
or liberty for me and all things
or maybe just freedom. Right. This
56
00:05:15.220 --> 00:05:18.339
is what this is the first proverb. The second one is food is meant
57
00:05:18.420 --> 00:05:23.730
for the stomach and stomach is met
for the food or for food, and
58
00:05:23.889 --> 00:05:26.610
we'll come to each will take each
of those in turns. So let's first
59
00:05:26.889 --> 00:05:30.610
look at the first assumption that the
Corinthians have this starting place for how they
60
00:05:30.730 --> 00:05:38.920
thought about sexual morality, liberty and
all things freedom, all things are lawful
61
00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:43.879
for me. When Paul says this, he's not speaking about the law just
62
00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:49.269
in general. Paul is against the
idea that the law can bring righteousness,
63
00:05:50.470 --> 00:05:55.230
the righteousness that it requires, but
he's not against the law as a rule
64
00:05:55.310 --> 00:06:00.670
for righteousness. Paul speaks affirmatively in
many places about the importance of honoring both
65
00:06:00.790 --> 00:06:06.259
God's law and the law of Rome, as long as it doesn't counter God's
66
00:06:06.300 --> 00:06:11.339
law. So, for example,
in Roman nineteen we hear him saying this.
67
00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:15.819
For just as you once presented your
members, so think body parts.
68
00:06:15.180 --> 00:06:21.209
Just as once as you presented your
members of your body as slaves to impurity
69
00:06:21.610 --> 00:06:27.769
and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness,
so now present your member, your body,
70
00:06:28.410 --> 00:06:32.160
your body, as slaves to righteousness
leading to sanctification. So this is
71
00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:35.319
what Paul thinks. Paul doesn't say
a law doesn't matter, you can do
72
00:06:35.480 --> 00:06:40.959
whatever you want. He says you
are to be a slave to righteousness.
73
00:06:43.360 --> 00:06:46.629
Another way people sometimes take this phrase
is by thinking that Paul's thinking about the
74
00:06:46.750 --> 00:06:51.990
ceremonial law or the Judicial Law.
Now, Paul does say that we in
75
00:06:53.069 --> 00:06:57.230
other places that we are under a
new covenant and that he or any believer
76
00:06:57.509 --> 00:07:01.899
is bound any longer to the civil
and ceremonial laws of Israel, but that's
77
00:07:01.980 --> 00:07:05.899
not what he's talking about here.
Why would we say that? Well,
78
00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:10.660
because he says nothing about that here. There's nothing here in the context to
79
00:07:10.779 --> 00:07:15.209
indicate to us that he's making distinctions
about one law one kind of law of
80
00:07:15.370 --> 00:07:21.610
the old covenant over another. So
if Paul isn't affirming the proverb in other
81
00:07:21.689 --> 00:07:26.370
way, in other words, what
is he doing? Well, he's correcting
82
00:07:26.490 --> 00:07:30.600
it. That's what Paul's doing.
He takes this Corinthian proverb and he says,
83
00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:34.879
basically, you all say this.
However, that's what he's doing here.
84
00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:41.199
He's correcting this proverb. And notice
first how notice his first counterpoint that
85
00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:46.550
he offers. The first counterpoint is
but not all things are helpful. Liberty
86
00:07:46.709 --> 00:07:50.230
and all things or all things are
lawful for to me. And then he
87
00:07:50.310 --> 00:07:56.790
responds, but not all things are
helpful. He says the same thing in
88
00:07:56.870 --> 00:08:01.220
chapter ten, versus in Chapter Ten
Verse Twenty Three. And here he points
89
00:08:01.259 --> 00:08:07.980
to the reality that even if you
say I'm free from all things, good
90
00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:15.370
doesn't necessarily result from that. In
other words, it's maybe not necessarily helpful.
91
00:08:15.649 --> 00:08:18.569
One dictionary defines the word, the
Greek word for helpful here is something
92
00:08:18.610 --> 00:08:24.930
that gives benefit, confers and advantage, is profitable or useful. In other
93
00:08:24.930 --> 00:08:30.199
words, he's asking the Corinthians to
just slow down a little bit and examine
94
00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:35.200
this, examine their own suppos or
presuppositions, examine their own experiences. If
95
00:08:35.240 --> 00:08:41.279
you say sexual freedom in every way, ask yourself what are the results of
96
00:08:41.549 --> 00:08:46.269
that? And we know that the
results of complete freedom and sexual matters are
97
00:08:46.389 --> 00:08:54.470
awful. People get histories, as
we say, stds and broken hearts,
98
00:08:56.139 --> 00:09:00.620
babies that don't have a mom and
a dad to belong to, abortion and
99
00:09:00.740 --> 00:09:05.299
many other things come as a result
of people saying I can do whatever I
100
00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:11.889
want in matters of sex. Let
me ask you this. In which area
101
00:09:11.090 --> 00:09:18.450
of life does limitless freedom go well
for you? You just tell me right
102
00:09:18.809 --> 00:09:22.850
which one, and and then we'll
talk. Of course none. Can you
103
00:09:22.970 --> 00:09:28.440
imagine liberty in all things when it
comes to driving, or liberty in all
104
00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:37.279
things when it comes to surgery?
Paul second counterpoint to liberty in all things,
105
00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:41.070
or all things are lawful for me, is really clever and really true.
106
00:09:41.230 --> 00:09:48.350
He says I will not be dominated
by anything. Paul saying something something
107
00:09:48.389 --> 00:09:52.230
like this. Liberty in all things, no way. I'm going to keep
108
00:09:52.269 --> 00:09:58.460
my freedom. Isn't that interesting?
Liberty in all things, no way,
109
00:09:58.860 --> 00:10:03.340
not for me. Why? Because
I want freedom. I will not be
110
00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:11.570
dominated by anything. What Paul is
remembering here and bringing to our attention is
111
00:10:11.690 --> 00:10:16.370
something that we often bury in moments
of temptation, and it's this. When
112
00:10:16.409 --> 00:10:22.279
you let your result, your desires
run wild, the result is not freedom.
113
00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:26.000
When you let your desires run loose, the result is not freedom,
114
00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:33.799
but domination by those desires. Let
an untrained animal in your house and just
115
00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:39.149
go free and see how things go
for you. You will spend all your
116
00:10:39.230 --> 00:10:46.710
time devoted to managing the aftermath of
that animal. When people who try to
117
00:10:46.789 --> 00:10:52.139
abstain from sex, who are very
practiced in letting it run free, when
118
00:10:52.179 --> 00:10:56.580
they describe their experience, as they
talk about going crazy, feeling overwhelmed,
119
00:10:56.700 --> 00:11:03.940
incapacitated, controlled by their thoughts,
feeling enslaved, feeling addicted, that's language
120
00:11:03.980 --> 00:11:09.929
of enslavement, that's language of control
and domination. That's not freedom. That's
121
00:11:09.970 --> 00:11:13.769
the thing that we often suppress.
And moments of temptation is Ah, I'm
122
00:11:13.850 --> 00:11:18.799
just going to be free. Oh
No, you're not. That's what Paul
123
00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:24.559
reminds us here, and this is
true, beloved, even if it doesn't
124
00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:28.320
get expressed outwardly. In other words, there can be a kind of internal
125
00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:35.429
enslavement when it comes to our desires, even when everyone else around you things
126
00:11:35.470 --> 00:11:39.350
you're just doing great. Let me
use another animal example. Have you ever
127
00:11:39.470 --> 00:11:45.669
seen a dog that wanted something really
badly? You knew they wanted it,
128
00:11:45.990 --> 00:11:48.220
but they controlled their desire and just
walked away. We're talking about a well
129
00:11:48.340 --> 00:11:52.860
trained dog, right. You place
the piece of cheese or meat on the
130
00:11:52.940 --> 00:11:56.059
counter and they look at it and
they just moved to the other room,
131
00:11:56.740 --> 00:12:00.500
right. They kind of sniff the
air, plop down on the couch,
132
00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:03.169
maybe get a toy, whatever.
Then imagine the other dog that we've all
133
00:12:03.289 --> 00:12:11.250
seen that sits there and just lets
its desire go free. Right, uncontrolled,
134
00:12:11.889 --> 00:12:16.000
extreme in every way. It sits
there at the kitchen counter, whining
135
00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:20.240
and whining and crying and shaking and
upset and wishing it could have that thing.
136
00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:26.679
Let me ask you, which dog
is more free? The one that
137
00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:31.269
can't move, the one that is
attached to this thing it cannot have,
138
00:12:31.950 --> 00:12:39.429
the one that's body is physically shaking
because of this desire, or the one
139
00:12:39.470 --> 00:12:43.980
that's hanging out in the couch or
playing or getting pat or whatever? which
140
00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:48.059
dog is more free? Well,
sometimes when we see an attractive person,
141
00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:52.539
we think here's an opportunity, I
can let my desire go free, but
142
00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:56.539
I'm going to keep it in check, right so that nobody will know that
143
00:12:56.580 --> 00:13:01.370
I'm actually lusting. I can't have
them, which is frustrating, but I
144
00:13:01.409 --> 00:13:03.370
can let the desire go free as
long as it doesn't show up on the
145
00:13:03.450 --> 00:13:11.649
outside. But is that helpful,
to use Paul's corrective? Of course not.
146
00:13:11.529 --> 00:13:16.639
We end up just like the dog, frustrated, distracted, white knuckling
147
00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:22.159
it through an illicit desire that has
you in its grip when you could be
148
00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:26.549
doing something else, having a good
time, glorifying God with your body.
149
00:13:28.389 --> 00:13:33.429
My friends, when we tell ourselves
that we can do whatever we want,
150
00:13:33.549 --> 00:13:37.389
it's not helpful. It's not helpful
to us, it's not helpful to others.
151
00:13:37.429 --> 00:13:41.820
It's not real freedom. In fact, it's exactly the kind of freedom
152
00:13:41.940 --> 00:13:48.419
that the devil wants you to have, a freedom that ultimately enslaves you and
153
00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:52.860
tears apart your heart and tears apart
your relationship with other people and tears apart
154
00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:58.769
your relationship with God and all his
good things. So when someone tells you,
155
00:13:58.889 --> 00:14:03.850
or you're telling yourself, all things
are lawful for me, or I
156
00:14:03.970 --> 00:14:07.289
can do whatever I want, or
no one's the boss of me, or
157
00:14:07.730 --> 00:14:13.879
liberty in all things, see it
for what it is. It's a trap,
158
00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:20.440
it's a snare. This kind of
SOC socalled freedom, is not helpful.
159
00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:28.230
It'll dominate you, it'll grab you, it'll hold you. So that's
160
00:14:28.269 --> 00:14:33.190
the first proverb Paul Brings Up,
and the counterpoints and corrections and ways he
161
00:14:33.269 --> 00:14:39.220
helps us understand what actually is true. Let's consider the second. Now the
162
00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:43.179
food is meant for the stomach and
the stomach is meant for the food or
163
00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:46.419
for food. I don't know why
I keep inserting the word the other.
164
00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:52.370
On one level, this proverbs obviously
true, isn't it? In a way
165
00:14:52.450 --> 00:14:58.250
that we wouldn't say for the first
proverb? Breakfast Burritos and my stomach are
166
00:14:58.250 --> 00:15:03.809
a match made in heaven. Right, these two things go together. They're
167
00:15:03.809 --> 00:15:09.679
always been to go together, they
always will be together. However, asking
168
00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:13.200
Paul is asking us to think about
this a little more carefully. Yes,
169
00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:18.919
God designed food in the stomach to
go together, and that's good. Asks
170
00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:22.149
Fourteen. Let's emphasize this just a
little bit more. Acts Fourteen seventeen even
171
00:15:22.230 --> 00:15:28.470
tells us that God's witnesses to the
whole world about his goodness in what we
172
00:15:28.629 --> 00:15:33.830
eat. so as fourteen seventeen,
yet he did not leave himself without a
173
00:15:33.909 --> 00:15:41.419
witness, for he did good by
giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons.
174
00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:48.580
Satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. So are eating food is one
175
00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:54.809
of the ways that God witnesses to
the whole world about his goodness. Isn't
176
00:15:54.809 --> 00:16:00.129
that wonderful? I love that ecclesiastes
nine seven says, go eat your bread
177
00:16:00.129 --> 00:16:04.360
with joy, drink your wine with
a merry heart, for God has already
178
00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:11.720
approved of what you do, and
Jesus taught us to pray. Give us
179
00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:15.120
this day our daily bread. Right, this is God's design. Right.
180
00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:18.870
When we think about this proverb,
we thumbs up. Right, the food
181
00:16:18.909 --> 00:16:22.710
is meant for stomach. The stomach
is meant for food. So what's the
182
00:16:22.789 --> 00:16:26.750
problem then? What's the problem that
Paul sees here? I'll put it this
183
00:16:26.830 --> 00:16:33.139
way. The corincy the Corinthians,
were not using the proverb to remember God's
184
00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:37.659
beautiful design, his approval, his
goodness. They were using the this proverb
185
00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:42.860
as a way to excuse bad behavior
regarding sex and, as we'll see in
186
00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:48.769
future chapters, also food. But
connected with what he says here and the
187
00:16:48.889 --> 00:16:53.090
idea of liberty, you could pre
paraphrase the pre suppositions that the Corinthians were
188
00:16:53.129 --> 00:16:59.409
using something like this. All things
are lawful for me, and this hunger
189
00:16:59.529 --> 00:17:03.360
for sex is natural, so obviously
I'm going to get what I want.
190
00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:07.920
Let me ask you, does that
sound familiar at all to you? Does
191
00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:12.079
that sound like a merely ancient thing
that just the Corinthians had to deal with?
192
00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:15.789
Of course not at all. This
is the kind of reasoning that people
193
00:17:15.829 --> 00:17:19.430
make all the time today. I
can do what I want and it's natural
194
00:17:21.589 --> 00:17:26.710
right. But again it's a trap. We've talked about the first part,
195
00:17:26.710 --> 00:17:32.700
but what about this second? What's
the correct of the poem makes? Well,
196
00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:37.180
he starts by saying and God will
destroy both one and the other.
197
00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:44.140
In other words, fine, God
did design the food for stomach and stomach
198
00:17:44.180 --> 00:17:48.569
for food, but that doesn't make
the food and the stomach some kind of
199
00:17:48.769 --> 00:17:55.089
new deity. God is still in
control over both. He made both,
200
00:17:56.089 --> 00:18:00.880
and just as food decays and dies
under his command, so too does the
201
00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:04.920
human body. God is the one
in control here. God is the designer,
202
00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:11.440
not the food, not the stomach, not our desires. But people
203
00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:18.069
do make their desires their God,
don't they? Philippians three nineteen says that
204
00:18:18.589 --> 00:18:23.390
their end is destruction, and then
it gives a reason, their god is
205
00:18:23.470 --> 00:18:30.859
in their belly and they glory in
their shame, with minds set on earthly
206
00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:36.619
things. Notice he doesn't say necessarily
sinful things, although perhaps he could mean
207
00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:40.299
that. But it could be even
true of just earthly stuff, good stuff,
208
00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:44.250
food, wine, things that God
has made for us to enjoy.
209
00:18:44.930 --> 00:18:48.009
But if we set our minds on
him, if we focus them on them,
210
00:18:48.049 --> 00:18:52.890
if they become our gods, if
our desires become our God, then
211
00:18:53.690 --> 00:19:00.839
our end is destruction. Well,
of course Christians are not destined for destruction.
212
00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:04.960
Destruction, and that's because they're not
ruled by their desires, but they
213
00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:10.869
ruled by Jesus, their Lord.
When the rest of the world says it's
214
00:19:10.910 --> 00:19:15.869
natural, you were born this way, Christians submit themselves not to their desires
215
00:19:15.190 --> 00:19:19.509
but to the designer, the one
who made them, the one who made
216
00:19:19.549 --> 00:19:26.660
their bodies. Listen again to Romans
chapter six. This is versus fifteen through
217
00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:32.420
eighteen. Now do you not know
that if you present yourselves to anyone is
218
00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:37.579
obedient slaves? You are slaves of
the one whom you obey, either of
219
00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:41.970
sin, which leads to death,
or of Obedience, which leads to righteousness.
220
00:19:42.170 --> 00:19:47.170
But thanks be to God that you
who are once slaves of sin,
221
00:19:47.369 --> 00:19:52.119
have become obedient from the heart to
the standard of teaching to which you were
222
00:19:52.160 --> 00:19:59.400
committed and, having been set free
from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
223
00:19:59.440 --> 00:20:04.160
So, when someone tells you to
just relax and be free, you're
224
00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:10.630
going to remind yourself of the standard
of teaching to which you are committed,
225
00:20:11.390 --> 00:20:18.869
that not all things are helpful,
that so called freedom is often sin and
226
00:20:18.950 --> 00:20:22.460
actually slavery, and that, when
someone says it's natural you can do whatever
227
00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:27.619
you want, whatever you desire,
remind yourself that your body and its desires
228
00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:33.299
were made by God and you submit
to him and not to your body.
229
00:20:34.730 --> 00:20:40.009
Now, I know we've done a
lot already, but shall we give up
230
00:20:40.170 --> 00:20:44.609
on this train of thought when we
already know what the devil will say next?
231
00:20:45.049 --> 00:20:51.160
How will we defend ourselves when he
says, well, if God gave
232
00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:56.279
you the body and these desires,
then why does he not let you have
233
00:20:56.480 --> 00:21:03.880
the freedom that you want? Is
God really good? And there it is,
234
00:21:03.750 --> 00:21:07.670
right there it is the old liar, the liar from the beginning.
235
00:21:08.390 --> 00:21:14.509
Kind of one hit wonder, but
the lie is tricky nevertheless, isn't it?
236
00:21:15.470 --> 00:21:18.859
He twists the truth just like he
did with Adam and Eve, when
237
00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:22.259
he spoke to eve and he wanted
her to apply what was forbidden to what
238
00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:27.579
was allowed. In a similar way, the Corinthians were taking this proverb about
239
00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:32.970
food that's generally true and trying to
apply it to sex, as though it
240
00:21:33.049 --> 00:21:37.329
was the same thing. The stomach
is meant for food and it's a desire.
241
00:21:37.769 --> 00:21:41.170
Therefore, the body is meant for
sex and it's a desire. So
242
00:21:41.809 --> 00:21:47.200
eat what you want and sleep up
with whomever you want. But where did
243
00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:52.599
God say that the body was meant
for sex with whomever you want? He
244
00:21:52.759 --> 00:21:57.519
didn't say that. In fact,
he tells us that is meant in the
245
00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:04.349
context of a relationship, a marriage
between a man and a woman. Paul
246
00:22:04.509 --> 00:22:10.029
corrects it here and he says,
I'll read it. The body is not
247
00:22:10.829 --> 00:22:17.420
meant for sexual immorality, but for
the Lord. And what counts as sexual
248
00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:26.420
immorality anytime we feed our sexual desires
outside the bounds of marriage. Or,
249
00:22:26.500 --> 00:22:34.410
to put it another way, God
designed these desires to be acted upon in
250
00:22:34.569 --> 00:22:41.410
a baby making bond enforcing communion between
a man and a woman that are committed
251
00:22:41.450 --> 00:22:47.039
to life to death. To us
part that's what those desires are intended for,
252
00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:51.640
and when they're used for that,
it's great, and when they're not,
253
00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:57.000
it's called sexual immorality. Go back
to food, to think, to
254
00:22:57.400 --> 00:23:02.630
think about this for a moment.
You might desire to eat right, you
255
00:23:02.630 --> 00:23:06.029
might have a desire to eat,
but that doesn't mean you should sit down
256
00:23:06.069 --> 00:23:10.430
in front of a movie with a
pound of ransom meat. You, I
257
00:23:10.589 --> 00:23:14.539
desire intimacy, but that doesn't mean
you should sleep with someone who's not your
258
00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:21.900
spouse. If you desire marital intimacy, and it's a strong desire, you
259
00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:26.059
should get married. That's what Paul
says in Chapter Seven, verse Thirty Seven.
260
00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:29.730
If his passions are strong, and
it has to be, let him
261
00:23:29.769 --> 00:23:33.410
do as he wishes. Let him
marry. It is no sin. Now,
262
00:23:33.450 --> 00:23:37.690
of course this is not always easy
and sometimes we wine and we say,
263
00:23:38.450 --> 00:23:44.079
but I'm not married. That's hard, it takes time or it's impossible.
264
00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:48.759
Well, that may be true or
maybe not. That's something to think
265
00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:55.710
about with good counselors and friends,
but it doesn't really change anything that it's
266
00:23:55.789 --> 00:24:00.470
difficult. Just because it's difficult doesn't
mean that the command has changed. So,
267
00:24:00.869 --> 00:24:04.109
for example, let's say the only
thing you have in yourself house is
268
00:24:04.109 --> 00:24:07.869
rants of meat. It doesn't mean
you eat rants of meat. Means you
269
00:24:07.910 --> 00:24:11.660
go to the grocery store and if
somebody says, well, I got to
270
00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:14.779
get up, I got to the
store and I don't have enough money and
271
00:24:14.859 --> 00:24:17.980
I got to work that money and
well, you know, well, don't
272
00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:22.220
even ransom meat. It doesn't mean
that it's difficult. You still have to
273
00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:26.289
do what you have to do.
Yes, it'll take time, but it's
274
00:24:26.369 --> 00:24:30.890
worth it. Now, of course
I know, and I speak with great
275
00:24:30.930 --> 00:24:36.170
sensitivity here, great getting married is
way harder than going to the grocery store.
276
00:24:36.250 --> 00:24:40.559
Right, five minutes, five years, you know, you know it,
277
00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:44.759
you know what I'm talking about,
but keep this in mind. Acting
278
00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:51.480
on one's sexual desire is also much
more consequential than acting on one's desire for
279
00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:59.430
food. There's a reason it's harder
and a reason that Paul says what he
280
00:24:59.470 --> 00:25:03.910
says in verse eighteen. Sex is
in a different category, he says in
281
00:25:03.990 --> 00:25:08.059
Verse Eighteen. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is
282
00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:12.380
outside of the body, but sexually
more important. But the sexually immoral person
283
00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:21.099
sends against his own body. Yes, it's more difficult to get married,
284
00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:25.890
but it should be that way.
Shouldn't it in a sense, like you
285
00:25:25.930 --> 00:25:30.130
were taking this super powerful thing,
right, sex, and we're applying it
286
00:25:30.369 --> 00:25:36.759
in a particution, in a very
powerful way? It should be within the
287
00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:41.880
bounds of commitment and and trust.
Think about what Paul says here about the
288
00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:52.990
nature of this desire. He says
in Verse Fifteen, do you not know
289
00:25:52.230 --> 00:25:56.990
that your bodies are members of Christ? Okay, so what is he saying
290
00:25:57.029 --> 00:26:02.549
there? He's saying that in you
know, in so that, in a
291
00:26:03.230 --> 00:26:07.220
spiritual say, he'll say, by
the Holy Spirit, are physical bodies,
292
00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:12.660
are members of Christ's body. Now
that's a great mystery, right. That's
293
00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:22.089
an amazing thing, and that could
only be accomplished by God, Divine God,
294
00:26:22.250 --> 00:26:26.650
who himself was able to take on
human flesh. Another great mystery,
295
00:26:26.690 --> 00:26:30.809
right. So our bodies are united
to his body in such a way that
296
00:26:30.890 --> 00:26:33.559
we can be described as the body
of Christ, where you are members of
297
00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:37.400
that body. Okay. Going on, he says, shall I then take
298
00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:47.390
the members of Christ and make them
members of a prostitute? Should the Lord's
299
00:26:47.630 --> 00:26:55.269
body be united with the body of
a prostitute? Right, like that's repulsive.
300
00:26:55.829 --> 00:26:57.549
When we think about the holiness of
the Lord, the goodness of the
301
00:26:57.630 --> 00:27:03.180
Lord, his his perfect her his
perfection in every way, to be united
302
00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:10.259
in such an intimate way with in
in this kind of sexual immorality. The
303
00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:14.420
answer is, of course, what
Paul says right before Verse Sixteen. Never
304
00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:19.250
like, let's just stop talking about
that and read on. He says in
305
00:27:19.329 --> 00:27:25.210
Verse Sixteen. Or do you not
know that he who is joined to a
306
00:27:25.329 --> 00:27:33.000
prostitute becomes one body with her.
Well, why is that? Why is
307
00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:38.119
it that a person I'm not married
to, I can become almost like one
308
00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:45.309
flesh or one body, I'm united
to that person? Why is that intimacy
309
00:27:45.950 --> 00:27:52.069
that close, when it was when
maybe somebody else said this was just a
310
00:27:52.109 --> 00:27:56.309
financial transaction or pleasure thing or something
like that. But like, why is
311
00:27:56.430 --> 00:28:04.380
it touching at such a deep and
intimate spiritual place with someone that is unknown
312
00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:14.890
or even despised? Well, he
answers. As it is written, the
313
00:28:15.210 --> 00:28:22.089
two will become one flesh. That's
how God designed it. You go by,
314
00:28:22.329 --> 00:28:25.329
you go to the hardware store and
you buy a really powerful, really
315
00:28:25.450 --> 00:28:29.960
sharp saw. That saw is going
to be able to cut through wood really
316
00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:38.000
fast. That's what it's designed for. Sex brings to people together in such
317
00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:44.589
an intimate way that they become as
one flash that you can speak about it
318
00:28:45.029 --> 00:28:56.579
as like one body. So the
Lord has placed around that rules to protect
319
00:28:57.019 --> 00:29:00.779
a right. You don't when you're
operating a power tool. You make sure
320
00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:04.900
it's plugged into the proper extension cord, that you don't have the thing looped
321
00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:07.859
around right in front of your saw. Right you get at everything in place,
322
00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:11.690
you look carefully and then you go
and you're super happy that it was
323
00:29:11.769 --> 00:29:15.769
so easy. But if you let
the electrical cord, you know, sort
324
00:29:15.809 --> 00:29:18.329
of sit there in front of your
saw, or it's plugged into the wrong
325
00:29:18.369 --> 00:29:22.329
thing or half plugged in or your
blades doll, you can lose a finger,
326
00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:26.480
you can lose an arm, something
can go really, really wrong.
327
00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:32.839
It's similar with sex. It's a
powerful thing, it's meant to be powerful,
328
00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:36.319
it's designed for this. And so
when we just say well, whatever,
329
00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:45.430
tragedy happens, tragedy happens, and
not only sinning against our own body.
330
00:29:45.589 --> 00:29:49.029
But as Paul continues and just keeps
impressing and impressing this point on us,
331
00:29:49.029 --> 00:29:52.779
verse nineteen now, or do you
not know that your body is a
332
00:29:53.059 --> 00:30:00.779
temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God. You
333
00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:04.900
see how it keeps impressing this point, that your body is something special.
334
00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:11.369
This union in the soul that you
have is something special. It's kind of
335
00:30:11.490 --> 00:30:18.250
in a different category than eating food, is wonderful as that is. Your
336
00:30:18.410 --> 00:30:22.359
body is a temple of the Holy
Spirit. For those of you who have
337
00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:26.279
been listening to the evening Sir moments
through Ezekiel, you remember how Zekiel was
338
00:30:26.359 --> 00:30:32.440
placed in a vision outside the temple
and God gave him in this tour.
339
00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:37.990
He got to go inside the temple
and as he went in he saw abomination
340
00:30:37.029 --> 00:30:44.230
after a bombination, who after horror, as the Israelites had erected false gods
341
00:30:44.829 --> 00:30:51.019
in the temple of the Lord.
They had brought into the temple of the
342
00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:53.940
most holy God, who had set
his name and his presence and his his
343
00:30:55.140 --> 00:30:59.779
people in this place, and they
had brought in all of these abominations.
344
00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:06.529
That's why the prophets talk about horroring
after other gods. They use this language
345
00:31:06.569 --> 00:31:11.450
to describe their idolatry. Well,
in a similar way, we could use
346
00:31:11.490 --> 00:31:18.200
it to describe our adultery or our
sexual immorality in general. When we take
347
00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:22.960
our bodies, which are united to
the son of God, the second person
348
00:31:23.160 --> 00:31:27.920
of the Trinity, which are temples
for the Holy Spirit, the third person
349
00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:33.990
of the Trinity and all and bring
it and and bring ourselves into union.
350
00:31:34.589 --> 00:31:40.470
That is illicit. Well, as
Paul says, may it never be.
351
00:31:41.470 --> 00:31:48.259
It's a tragedy and there are consequences. Paul's conclusions, then, are very
352
00:31:49.059 --> 00:31:56.900
straightforward and memory able. Flee sexual
immorality. Glorify God with your body.
353
00:31:57.099 --> 00:32:01.009
Take your body and don't present it
two members for sin. But to God,
354
00:32:01.569 --> 00:32:06.250
sex is God's gift. Food is
God's gift and these are great within
355
00:32:06.369 --> 00:32:09.690
their parameters. But the body,
as he says, he is not meant
356
00:32:09.769 --> 00:32:15.369
for this. So when the world
tells you you're free and it's natural,
357
00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:22.759
we say no, that's not freedom
and my body is for the Lord.
358
00:32:23.880 --> 00:32:32.029
He rules over me, not my
desires. Now, as we bring this
359
00:32:32.150 --> 00:32:37.029
to a conclusion, we've heard much
of the law thus far and that's very
360
00:32:37.109 --> 00:32:40.910
good that we've had. It's important
that we think about the decisions behind the
361
00:32:42.069 --> 00:32:45.900
decisions. It's important we think about
where we're starting for our morality. The
362
00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:50.819
world tells us these lies. You're
free and everything, it's natural, do
363
00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:53.740
what you want. But where did
those come from? What do they lead
364
00:32:53.819 --> 00:33:00.329
to. We have to ask ourselves
these things. But it's also important that,
365
00:33:00.369 --> 00:33:06.049
as we conclude, we remember the
Gospel, the Good News, about
366
00:33:06.089 --> 00:33:10.529
where our hope comes from, where
our strength comes from, where forgiveness comes
367
00:33:10.609 --> 00:33:15.000
from, because all of us at
this moment are going, oh, wretched
368
00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:22.319
person that I am, man or
woman, these desires in me and I
369
00:33:22.359 --> 00:33:25.039
keep giving myself over to them and
it's struggle and it's hard and it's this
370
00:33:25.240 --> 00:33:32.230
and it's that. I want to
finish by reminding you of what God has
371
00:33:32.309 --> 00:33:39.269
done and what God is doing.
We think about where our sanctification comes from.
372
00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:46.180
Where does it come from? It
comes from that Holy Spirit, the
373
00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:52.059
Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
That's an amazing and I'll put it in
374
00:33:52.180 --> 00:33:57.609
this sort of silly way, but
resource. But if you're looking for help,
375
00:33:58.410 --> 00:34:04.849
look to God who is dwelling inside
of your body. That's an amazing
376
00:34:04.930 --> 00:34:10.000
thing. If you're looking to fight
the temptations of the flesh, which is
377
00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:15.960
a different thing in some ways than
the body, it describes that sinful nature
378
00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:22.039
inside of us that our body sometimes
falls into. When we're fighting that,
379
00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:28.630
let us also remember that we fight
in the spirit and that God is on
380
00:34:28.750 --> 00:34:32.949
your side. God didn't accidentally come
into your life right. You didn't sort
381
00:34:32.989 --> 00:34:37.070
of grab him down or pull him
out of a book. He came into
382
00:34:37.070 --> 00:34:44.659
your life to help you, to
sanctify you, to forgive your sins and
383
00:34:44.820 --> 00:34:49.460
to remind you, day after day
after day, you are my son and
384
00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:55.929
you are my daughter and I've got
you and I love you. Our purpose
385
00:34:57.090 --> 00:35:00.929
in this life is not for the
things of this world. Our purpose in
386
00:35:00.050 --> 00:35:06.610
this life is not to grasp and
hold fast to our desires. Our purpose
387
00:35:06.690 --> 00:35:09.280
in this life is to live for
him, to glorify and enjoy him,
388
00:35:09.280 --> 00:35:15.880
and that is also his purpose for
us, and Paul reminds us of that
389
00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:22.269
here in many ways. One of
my favorite ways is when he says your
390
00:35:22.469 --> 00:35:27.469
body was meant for the Lord,
and the Lord was meant for the body.
391
00:35:30.030 --> 00:35:34.630
You see that in verse thirteen.
The body is not meant for sexual
392
00:35:34.670 --> 00:35:37.699
in the reality, but for the
Lord and the Lord for the body.
393
00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:51.050
Think about that. The Lord Jesus, fully God and fully man, who
394
00:35:51.130 --> 00:35:59.210
came into this world in massive ways, limited his freedom and quotes there freedom
395
00:35:59.289 --> 00:36:02.929
to do all that is good and
well. Let me step back for a
396
00:36:02.969 --> 00:36:09.719
second. He limited his he limited
himself by taking on a human body right
397
00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:15.039
now. He was somebody who got
tired. Now. He was somebody who
398
00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:20.389
faced temptations, just like you do
now. He was somebody who could die
399
00:36:20.630 --> 00:36:28.989
and did die on a cross.
The son of God came for your bodies.
400
00:36:31.150 --> 00:36:35.699
When you think about how he came
and how he died and all that
401
00:36:35.860 --> 00:36:40.179
he emptied himself of the glory which
he set aside, and that he did
402
00:36:40.420 --> 00:36:45.380
that for you, for your soul's
to not denying that, but for the
403
00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:52.849
moment, for your bodies, the
emphasis there which means that you get to
404
00:36:53.090 --> 00:36:58.210
hope because of what Jesus did for
you on the Cross, in a resurrection
405
00:36:58.369 --> 00:37:02.239
from the dead, that the struggle
and the pain and the way you desire
406
00:37:04.280 --> 00:37:08.599
things that are disorderly and inordinance and
all the rest, you can look forward
407
00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:12.280
to this day, because of what
Christ has done, that he's going to
408
00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:15.789
set everything right and that one day
your body will not be at war with
409
00:37:15.829 --> 00:37:22.110
itself and your soul will not be
at war with itself, but everything will
410
00:37:22.110 --> 00:37:29.429
be at peace, everything will be
at rest. When we think about what
411
00:37:29.949 --> 00:37:34.420
the Lord did for our bodies and
what he is doing from them now,
412
00:37:36.139 --> 00:37:39.179
we can breathe a sigh of relief. We can know who is on our
413
00:37:39.219 --> 00:37:45.090
side. We can fight against the
devil, we can fight against the temptations
414
00:37:45.170 --> 00:37:47.250
of the flesh. We can fix
our minds on the things that have been
415
00:37:47.289 --> 00:37:52.489
committed to us, knowing what he
has done for us and knowing that he's
416
00:37:52.530 --> 00:37:58.840
done it for us in love.
When we think about the indwelling spirit,
417
00:37:58.960 --> 00:38:01.400
the redemption of our bodies, that
is he says, was bought with a
418
00:38:01.559 --> 00:38:07.639
price, the price of his own
body. When we think about our union
419
00:38:07.760 --> 00:38:13.869
with Christ, our union with the
father, our union with the spirit,
420
00:38:13.909 --> 00:38:20.550
keep these things in mind, and
I'm finishing this with this now, when
421
00:38:20.670 --> 00:38:29.059
your body and your soul is tempted
and tried, remember the command glorify God
422
00:38:29.260 --> 00:38:35.739
with your body and remember the commander
who came into this world to live and
423
00:38:35.860 --> 00:38:39.820
to die for you, to draw
you into himself, into his own body,
424
00:38:39.980 --> 00:38:45.650
to have an intimacy with you that
is mysterious and wonderful and deeply connected,
425
00:38:47.010 --> 00:38:52.849
filled with joy and compassion and friendship
that isn't wavering in back and forth.
426
00:38:53.690 --> 00:38:58.440
That's the one who gives you this
command, that's the one who loves
427
00:38:58.480 --> 00:39:00.719
you, and that's the one who, even now, dwells in you and
428
00:39:00.840 --> 00:39:06.639
empowers you to stand strong, and
he's the one, our God, who
429
00:39:06.679 --> 00:39:12.550
will also raise you from the dead. As Paul says, the body is
430
00:39:12.670 --> 00:39:15.349
not meant for sexual immorality, but
for the Lord, and the Lord for
431
00:39:15.469 --> 00:39:21.349
the body, and God raise the
Lord and will also raise us up by
432
00:39:21.469 --> 00:39:28.860
his power. If you're not used
to thinking in moments of sexual temptation about
433
00:39:28.860 --> 00:39:34.300
the resurrection, maybe this is a
good time to start. That's what Paul
434
00:39:34.380 --> 00:39:42.369
points us to, among many other
things. Praise be to God that God
435
00:39:42.489 --> 00:39:50.730
has designed us and this world in
such a perfect way. Maybe repent of
436
00:39:50.769 --> 00:39:53.760
our sins, where we have fallen
short and where we have brought all kinds
437
00:39:53.800 --> 00:39:59.559
of trouble on ourself. Maybe repent
even of our original sin in us,
438
00:39:59.559 --> 00:40:05.000
which is inherited from Adam and eve
and their fall into stand and maybe look
439
00:40:05.079 --> 00:40:10.190
to Christ every day, every moment, not just internally and emotionally, but
440
00:40:10.349 --> 00:40:16.710
even with our physical bodies, giving
our hands and our feet and every part
441
00:40:16.710 --> 00:40:22.380
of us, every precious part of
us, every wonderful part of us,
442
00:40:22.019 --> 00:40:29.739
over to the Lord and glorify him
as he is glorifying us in Christ.
443
00:40:29.780 --> 00:40:32.059
Let's pray our
