2 False Understandings / Applications of Sexuality:

A Case Study of Corinth in 1 Cor. 6:12-7:5

1) Lust exercise of sexual desire in thought or action outside of the marriage covenant (Theme of 1 Cor. 6:12-20) a. Biblical Umbrella Word: porneia (sexual immorality) b. Examples i. Fornication usually defined as sexual encounters between 2 people not married to one another ii. Adultery a breaking of the marriage covenant by way of sexual contact with a non-spouse

iii. Homosexuality sexual contact with a member of the same gender iv. Lust of the eyes gazing upon a non-spouse in a sexual manner or with sexual intentchecking out the body of a non-spouseincludes looking at pornography v. Lust in the heart indulging sexual thoughts about a nonspouse (see Matt. 5:28) vi. Sensuality (lasciviousness) intentionally arousing sexual desires in a non-spouse (by words, dress, touch, or movements of the body) c. Scriptures (all through the Bible) i. Matt. 5:27-30 (lust is a form of adultery) ii. 1 Thess. 4:1-8 (sanctifying the body as a home of the Spirit) iii. Eph. 5:3-5 (Gods expectations of purity) iv. Gal. 5:19-21 (the works of the flesh) v. Heb. 13:4 (purity of the marriage bed) vi. 1 Cor. 6:9-11 (sexual sins not part of Gods kingdom) vii. 1 Cor. 6:12-20 (body as a temple of the Spirit) viii. 2 Tim. 2:22 (flee from youthful lusts) ix. 1 Pet. 2:11 (abstain from fleshly lusts) x. Rev. 21:8 (the sexually immoral in the lake of fire) d. Lust is selfishit seeks its own (opposite of 1 Cor. 13:5) e. Corinthian church slogans i. All things are lawful for me (1 Cor. 6:12) Pauls Answer: a. But not all things are profitable b. But I will not be enslaved by anything ii. Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food and God will do away with both of them (1 Cor. 6:13) Pauls Answer: Yet the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. iii. (And Possibly) Every sin that a man commits is outside the body (1 Cor. 6:18) 1. Pauls Answer: But the immoral man sins against his own body

2) Asceticism for a married persondepriving oneself or spouse of sexual contact and/or minimizing the importance of sexual intimacy in a marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1-6)or remaining unmarried solely because sex is viewed as evil (1 Tim. 4:3) a. Other forms of asceticism i. Self-abuse ii. Depriving oneself of food or other needs iii. Punishing oneself for various reasons iv. Viewing anything that brings the body pleasure as evil b. Scriptures i. Col. 2:18 self-abasement (NASB) ascetism (ESV) ii. Col. 2:23 self-abasement and severe treatment of the body iii. 1 Tim. 4:3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe c. Examples in regard to sex i. Avoiding sex with your spouse ii. Intentionally shutting down sexual desire iii. Teaching our children that sex is evil and is of Satan iv. Feeling guilty for desiring physical intimacy d. Corinthian church slogan: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. (1 Cor. 7:1) i. Pauls Answer: But because of sexual immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband