Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20001231.htm

1 CORINTHIANS: MINISTERING TO BELIEVERS WITH DEEP PAGAN BACKGROUNDS
Part XII: The Christian's Edifying View Of Human Sexuality
(1 Corinthians 7:1-9)
  1. Introduction
    1. Due to the Victorian Era and its reactionary "sexual revolution" of recent generations, Christians today can be quite confused on how to approach human sexuality. Questions arise reflecting this confusion, questions like: "Is sex for reproduction only or for recreation?" "Is it mainly for the edification of men or for that of women?" "How is having sex different from lust?" "Is holier for a believer to be celibate than to marry?" "How far should the Christian go within marriage of spicing' up his sex life with his spouse?" "Are there good and bad ways of making love in Christian marriage? If so, what are they?"
    2. The Apostle Paul handled these questions in 1 Corinthians 7:-9 and related passages as follows:
  2. The Christian's Edifying View Of Human Sexuality, 1 Corinthians 7:1-9.
    1. Principle One - For believers who do not have a demanding sex drive, it is better for them to remain celibate so they can focus their minds and energies on fellowship with the Lord, 1 Cor. 7:1, 6-9, 32.
    2. Principle Two - However, marriage is honorable, and sexual fulfillment within marriage is wholesome in God's view, Hebrews 13:4. Thus, for those believers facing undue temptations toward immorality were they not to marry, they should get married to a believing partner, 1 Cor. 7:2; Gen. 2:24; 2 Cor. 6:14.
    3. Principle Three - Within marriage, sexual gratification should go beyond merely reproductive purposes to meet the sexual drive need itself, 1 Corinthians 7:3-5.
    4. Principle Four - In meeting sexual drives within marriage, both men and women are to have their respective sexual drive needs met by their respective spouse, 1 Corinthians 7:3-5.
    5. Principle Five - Since sexual intimacy is to be used to meet the sexual drive in addition to purposes of reproduction, birth control methods that do not destroy human life at the point of conception is acceptable:
      1. Human life begins at conception according to Psalm 51:5, making birth control sin if it destroys human life after that point of conception.
      2. If one wonders about any kind of birth control, we must consider the human life of Jesus: His very abstinence by way of celibacy during His earthly ministry was itself a form of birth control, and of necessity involved the death of reproductive sperm cells. Thus, preconception birth control is valid!
    6. Principle Six - Since it is "good" for one to refrain from having sex (1 Cor. 7:1), it is hence "good" for him not to "spice" up his sexual behaviors in marriage beyond fulfilling his sexual drive needs or risk sinning in "lust"! Paul warns against taking undue sexual advantage of one's spouse in 1 Thess. 4:3-6.
    7. Principle Seven - Sexual fulfillment is to be confined to a permanent, heterosexual, monogamous union, Rom. 1:24-27; 1 Cor. 6:9.
    8. Principle Eight - A married couple needs to come to agreement as to what methods both agree are edifying in the foreplay and intercourse levels of sexual expression, 1 Thess. 4:3-6; 1 Cor. 6:12; 8:13.
    9. Principle Nine - For guidance on how lovemaking may be done for full expression as God might suggest, the Song of Solomon can be followed. The Pastor has a printout on this subject for interested parties. However, nowhere does Scripture teach this method have to be followed in a legalistic way!
Lesson: Sexual gratification is not the main spiritual goal of the Christian life, but a PART of what the believer's MORTAL life includes. Thus, sexual expression is to be handled like any other need of the believer's TEMPORAL, earthly life -- with moderation, self-control and edification for all involved in relating to the believer in view of his eternal goals and values.

Application: Sexual expression is part of what God had ORIGINALLY planned to be the main drive for propagating the earth in the Adamic era of innocence, Genesis 1:27-28a. However, since sin entered the human race, and drastically altered our DESTINY from that of an earthly ADAMIC eternity to a GLORIFIED, asexual one, human sexuality is to be viewed as part of a TEMPORAL state: it is to be addressed like hunger, temperature control needs, etc. It is to be faced with the goal of USING one's sexuality so as to EDIFY with ETERNAL values in mind, that's all!