1 Cor 6

Introduction

Misused inventions in history

V 12-14

The argument that the church in Corinth is making to paul is that because they feel desires, it must be good

Ironically we see a similar argument today don’t we?

What feels best, what feels right, whatever is what we should pursue

Is this idea wrong? Are our desires bad?

Not at all. Our desires are given to us by God to be used in a holy manner

When we think of times when we’ve felt lonely or felt sad, is it wrong to want friends around us? Or when we’re happy, is it wrong to want others?

Sexual desire is a natural desire that has been twisted since Genesis 3

We see story after story in the old testament of what is good and holy. These desires for sex can be holy, but outside of their original design, it can be used for evil

Corinthians are making an argument here that just as desires for food are no longer bound by the law, neither are desires for sex

Application: Just because we have been given a desire does not mean we are using it correctly

V 15-17

This goes back to genesis when the idea of intimacy between man and woman is introduced

“a man shall leave his father and mother to be joined with his wife and the two shall become one flesh”

Casual sex does not exist. You cannot pick and choose when something is intimate with sex, but rather it all is

With that very idea, Paul is condemning those who think that sleeping with prostitutes or any form of sexual immorality within the church is acceptable

The people are uniting with prostitutes and those who are outside of the church. In the same way they would not marry those who are doing evil consistently, they also must abstain from all forms of sexual immorality

Not only does this give us cause as invidivuals to live lives that are holy and pure, but as the body of Christ it impacts the way we show the world who we are

If we are uniting ourselves others in the world who do not belong to the fold of Christ, then what will the world see of us?

Think of leaders today who have fallen into sexual sin and temptation. Has it helped or hurt?

V 18-19

Paul concludes his argument with a charge for this church that they should flee from any form of impure sexuality

Includes things like Pornography, sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, etc.

There is a particular effect with this sin

It isn’t necessarily grander or greater than other sins, but its effect is particularly different than that of other sins

It should cause hesitation from anyone who is partaking in this kind of immorality as a whole. For it goes directly against and defiles us as having bodies who are the temple of the Holy Spirit