Sexual Holiness

Introduction:

· Two “magnetic north”, therefore, our compass needle is pulled in two directions:

· The world: hedonism; self-actualization, but consent

LEVITICUS MIGHT SEEM LIKE AN ODD PLACE TO GO, GIVEN THE MANY “OUTDATED” RULES; BUT IT LAYS A FOUNDATION FOR US. LET’S LOOK AT…

I) God Redeems us for Holiness

A. God Redeems us For A Covenant Relationship (vv.

i. God Establishes His Authority over his redeemed people (vv. 2, 4, 5, 6,…)

1. Why read only vv. 1-5? Covenant document!

2. God repeats his name: As redeemer, He asserts his authority

ii. God Establishes his Relationship With His people

1. “How do redeemed people live in the presence of a holy God?”

2. God’s presence in our lives: Nothing is off-limits – including sex!

B. God Redeems us for Holiness

i. Redeemed from slavery…into Freedom (vs. 3)

1. We are not to be shaped by “Egypt or Canaan” which enslave us

2. EXAMPLE:

a. M. Ryan: “my primary loyalty was to sex…certainly not ethics.”

b. Lisa Wade: The pressure to have fun à anxiety and guilt

ii. Redeemed for “purity” (vv. 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28)

1. The theme: To be “clean” – not “sex is dirty”, but moral purity

2. So, while sin enslaves us, obedience is freedom

NOW THE QUESTION IS – WHAT IS THAT? GOD ESTABLISHED BOUNDARIES AND BORDERS.

II) God Calls us to Obedience

A. God Establishes Boundaries

i. “Uncovering Nakedness” – (16x in the text)

1. “Uncovering nakedness” = a euphemism for illicit sexualactivity

2. Sin brings shame, nakedness now must be protected and kept in a context where it can be a blessing, not a curse.

ii. God’s Law: (vv. 6-23)

1. focus on one verse, but there are many sins that are off-limits

2. Incest (which was common) Bestiality, adultery, incest

iii. God’s Will:

1. The NT calls us to obedience by reaffirming these commands

2. EXAMPLE: Pornography; casual sex;

B. God Establishes Borders

i. The Borders of God’s kingdom

1. God’s law depicts where allegiance to the king

2. The bible: Sex positive or prudish? Great freedom to embrace sexuality!

ii. God’s Purpose: Flourishing (vs. 5)

1. SO: HU culture, Michael Ryan, promise the world àleave us wanting;

2. God’s design is for our flourishing

THE FINAL PIECE OF THIS PUZZLE IS THE GRACE THAT EMPOWERS US FOR THIS OBEDIENCE.

III) God Commissions us In Grace

A. The Penalty of Sin and the Power of Grace

i. The two-fold penalty for sin: (vv. 24-30)

1. Corporate: Israel would be expelled from theland as Canaan was

2. Individual: Guilty parties would be stoned (see. Ch. 20)

ii. Jesus was…(Heb. 13:4, 12)

a. …expelled from the city so that we might be brought into the land

b. Therefore: Come to him for forgiveness and grace

B. Jesus Has Redeemed us from the penalty of the Law to be his Servants

i. Therefore:

1. We ARE holy – in Christ.

2. Therefore, we “keep the marriage bed pure”

ii. Jesus…

1. …redeems us, body and soul, to be his own

2. …calls us to

Transition:

Conclusion

Augustine – “But it’s not I.”