Purity Talk

Sermon

1 Corinthians 6:15–20 ESV

15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Tonight, going to take some time in our small groups to discuss sexual purity.

Unlike years past, we are going to be in small groups with people your own age. That way some groups can discuss things a little different if they need to, based on age.

Intimacy

That is the word that comes to mind with this passage.

Oxford dictionary says that it means “close familiarity or friendship; closeness”

Unfortuntately, our culture has kind of spoiled the word. To be intimate together, typically has a sexual conitation. And it can mean that for sure, but its more about letting people in to your world. Letting them know you, without guards up. Another word is vulnerability.

This is supposed to be the special relationship of marriage.

A closeness and familairty that you just dont have with anyone else, save one. Christ.

Not out of filth or dirtiness. But purity. You have an intimate relationship with God that is not anything dirty, its of utmost purity and honesty. and then one day, on earth, you have this same type of beautiful relationship with one other. and that relationship always points you back to your relationship with God.

We are talking about knowing someone, pretty much as well, as you know yourself.

That takes dedicated time spent with them.

As we look at this passage, you need to understand that sexual immorality kills that intimacy.

Prostitution will sort of be the icon of sexual imorality, and i guess thats true. Theres an exchange of what you have for what you want to feel. Mostly money, but not always.

Verse 15 and 16 are what we will call the union principle. When you have intimate relations with someone, you become one, in a way. No matter what you do, you will always be connected with that person.

Do you understand that?

A one time thing is not a one time thing. Now some times it plagues us more and sometimes less, but YOU CARRY IT ALWAYS.

Verse 17 is where we want to be, joined with the Holy Spirit, walking with the Holy Spirit.

When was the last time you felt like you were walking with the Holy Spirit?

Why?

Is it possibly because you havent been doing what verse 18 says?

Verse 18 is a hard to understand. Ive studied it before. Heres the jist: Sexual sin is basically using your own body and organs against your self to destroy you from the inside out. You use your body against your mind and your mind against your body.

And understand: IT WILL DESTROY YOU

Verse 19 and 20 are the pay off.

Are you a christian? If you answer yes, then this applies to you. You are not your own.

Think of the gravity of that.

Embezzlement is the word that comes to mind. Spending money that is not yours.

You do not belong to your self anymore.

What does that mean? Well my goals in life and purpose, my actual body parts, do not belong to me. They belong to Jesus and should be used for his purposes.

If not, the question is why?

Do i not care?

Do I not know?