Reclaiming Biblical Sexuality Part 3

Biblical Sexuality is the lens through which we understand and

process relationships. It is the essential element of reflecting

Biblical Sexuality is expressed through intimacy and vulnerability with Christ and his community.

Sexuality is not self-expression; sexuality is a God-designed symbol.

Recap last two sermons

Sexuality as relationships that image God

Sexuality in community that images God

When we participate in intercourse we are either:

Magnifying or mocking him.

Worshiping Him, or ourselves.

Proclaiming his love or profaning it.

Ephesians 5:21–32 ESV

21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Sexual Intimacy: Imaging Christ Loving His Bride

Christ commits to his bride

Christ waits for his bride.

Sexual Intimacy: Imaging the Trinity

One flesh union

Mutual Submission

“Because sexuality is a holy metaphor of a God who invites us into covenant with Himself. God created you as a sexual person in order to unlock the mystery of knowing an invisible God"

“Your sexuality tells the story of God’s intention to draw you into His covenant love, the celebration of intimacy with Him, and the devastation of betraying Him. Written within your sexuality are echoes of an eternal, invisible truth.”

Slattery, Juli. Rethinking Sexuality (p. 53). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.