Studies in becoming like Christ and ushering in His kingdom in your daily life April 29, 2007
Surrendering to God’s Word
God’s Word on Sex
This Week’s Essential singles is no different than that of non-Christians. In
this lesson you’ll examine what the apostle Paul
Authority of the Bible: I believe the Bible, wrote to the Corinthians about sexual morality.
God’s timeless love story to humanity, is the ne commentator calls Paul’s letters to the
inspired, trustworthy Word of God and has the
right to command my life.
O Christians at Corinth “First and Second
Californians” because his words to them long ago
2 Timothy 3:16&17 All Scripture is God-breathed remain so applicable to us today. The culture of the
and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and ancient city of Corinth challenged the faith of
training in righteousness, so that the man of God may believers who lived there then just as the culture of
be thoroughly equipped for every good work. contemporary big cities challenges the faith of
believers who live in them now. Like other seaports,
A growing disciple of Jesus Christ is marked by a
desire to know and to do the will of God. Had
God not taken the initiative to disclose his will, as
it was a very licentious city even to the extent that the
Greeks coined the word Korinthiazein which means
“to lead a life of debauchery.” When Plato referred
well as truth about himself and our world, we would to a prostitute in one of his literary works, he used the
not know what to believe or how to behave. To meet expression “Corinthian girl” (Republic 404d). No
our need, God has given us the Bible. Because it wonder Paul says to them, “Neither the sexually
alone is inspired, literally “God-breathed” (2 Tim. immoral nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor
3:16), it alone is an infallible and authoritative homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor
handbook for living the Christian life. What we drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit
believe about the Bible determines to a large degree the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you
where we look to discover God’s will for our lives. were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you
were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
W e can tell what we truly believe about the Bible
by examining our own behavior. How we
respond to what the Bible tells us to do or believe, as
and by the Spirit of God” (6:9b-11). Praise God for
his amazing grace!
a rule, indicates whether we believe that it has the he apostle Paul’s contacts and correspondence
right to command our action and belief or not. If our
obedience to the Word of God amounts to no more
T with the church in Corinth can be summarized as
follows. Paul spent about 18 months in Corinth when
than agreeing with what is commonly believed by the he first visited them during his second missionary
general public, we can hardly say journey. He probably wrote the
that we believe in the authority of
the Bible. When the Bible
We can tell what we letter mentioned in 1 Corinthians
commands us to do what is believe about the Bible 5:9 while on his third missionary
journey soon after arriving in
contrary to our personal
preferences or to believe what by examining our own Ephesus. This letter was written
in response to questions posed to
contradicts our own wisdom, and
we still choose to obey or believe
behavior. him earlier by the church via
members of Chloe’s household.
it. this response demonstrates that He then wrote 1 Corinthians to address these matters.
we truly believe in the authority of the Bible. However, his letter did not solve the church’s
problems. so he made a “painful” visit to the
I n this lesson we’ll examine what the Bible says
about sexual morality. In this area many
contemporary Christians behave like they do not
congregation. Subsequently he traveled to
Macedonia. From Macedonia he wrote 2 Corinthians
believe in the authority of God’s Word. Current and followed it up with his third visit there. These
research indicates that the sexual conduct of Christian events occurred between A.D. 51 and 57.
step 1 LOOK CLOSELY—observe what you are reading.
Consider what this passage says about the Essential Belief “Authority of the Bible”
Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
12
“Everything is permissible for me” – but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me” –
but I will not be mastered by anything. 13“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food” – but God will destroy
them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14By his power
God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15Do you know that your bodies are members of Christ
himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite then with a prostitute? Never! 16Do you not know that he
who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17But
he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
18
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins
against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you
have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your
body.
Digging deeper into its meaning
“All things are lawful for me” (v.12, 13) Christian freedom is not license. Before engaging in any action Paul
says we must consider whether it is beneficial – that is, if it contributes to personal and corporate spiritual growth.
We must also consider whether it has the potential of overpowering and dominating us, and so threatening the
lordship of Christ in our lives. In this passage, Paul flatly condemns sexual immorality.
“Food for the stomach…” (v. 13) While the Corinthians may have been confused by Paul’s teaching concerning
the freedom to eat meat offered to idols, this freedom should not be considered a basis for freedom regarding sexual
sin (compare with 1 Cor. 8:8; Rom 14:14, 17). Paul found freedom to eat meat offered to idols because both meat
and the “belly,” for which meat was created are to be destroyed. But “the body is not made for sexual immorality,
but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” Therefore sexual immorality is not to be equated with the consumption
of meat offered to idols, since it is a sin against one’s own body which is not to be destroyed, but to be raised to
eternal existence.
“will destroy” (v. 13) Referring to the Lord’s return when He will change the natural bodies of believers into
spiritual bodies at the end of the age.
“will raise us” (v. 14) Referring to the resurrection of dead believers at the Lord’s coming at the end of the age.
“your bodies are members of Christ himself” (v. 15) This represents Paul’s perspective on the body. Through
union with Christ our bodies have become one with Him. Whatever we do in the body must honor Christ, for He is
present in us.
“he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body” (v. 16) Paul refers back to Genesis 2:24 to
find the language of “oneness” related to sexual intercourse. The function of the “one flesh” doctrine here in the
context of prostitution is to highlight the oneness that occurs during and only during sexual intercourse.
“All other sins … his own body” (v. 18) On the face of it, Paul’s affirmation seems incorrect since drunkenness
or suicide also do harm to one’s body. But none of the other sins that Paul has mentioned elsewhere in 1
Corinthians actually create a bodily union with a prostitute. While drunkenness or suicide cause physical harm to
one’s body, they do not, as it were, contaminate the body by a unification with immorality.
“your body is a temple … You are not your own” (v. 19) The holiness of the believer’s body is incompatible
with sexual immorality. As sacred dwellings, the believer’s bodies are not to be contaminated with unclean and
impure objects and people.
step 2 THINK CAREFULLY—interpret what you have read.
Answering Interpretive Questions
1. What is Paul talking about in verses 12–20? Put the subject of this passage into your own words.
2. The quotation marks in the NIV indicate that the quoted words are someone else’s words. Who could Paul
possibly be quoting in verses 12 and 13?
3. As far as the subject of this passage is concerned, what conclusion do these three quotes suggest? (v. 12-13).
4. While Paul’s antagonists seem to think that having sex is no different from having a meal, the two hardly
deserve to be compared. Why can’t having a sexual relationship be flippantly dismissed as a purely
physiological phenomenon like eating a meal?
5. How would you describe the relationship of the Lord to the physical bodies of believers based on these verses?
6. Paul asks twice “Do you not know?” What do you think these two rhetorical questions imply about what
the Corinthians know or don’t know?
7. Verses 18-20 explain why sexual immorality is wrong. What questions would you like to ask Paul regarding
the first reason he gives in verse 18?
8. What additional reason or reasons does Paul give in verses 19 and 20?
9. Do Paul’s words only apply to sex with a prostitute? To what extent do they apply to other sexual practices?
The Message of This Passage
Honor God with your body by saying no to every kind of sexual sin because you belong to him.
step 3 RESPOND WISELY—apply what you have read.
10. How do people excuse or rationalize their disobedience to the message of this passage? How do you do this
in your own life?
11. What does your response to the message of this passage indicate about your belief in the authority of the Bible?
12. After reading each of the following statements, assess your belief in the authority of the Bible
on a scale from 0 (does not apply) to 5 (applies completely).
(Do not score yourself on whether you believe the statement is right but rather on whether it is a way of life for you.)
a. I believe the Bible is absolutely true in matters of faith and morals. 0 1 2 3 4 5
b. I believe the words of the Bible are words from God. 0 1 2 3 4 5
c. I believe the Bible has decisive authority over what I say and do. 0 1 2 3 4 5
d. I believe the Bible is relevant to address the needs of contemporary culture. 0 1 2 3 4 5
13. Spend time journaling and praying about your own sexual purity as well as your loved ones’ sexual purity?
List practical steps you can take to promote a position of victory on this issue in your own life and in your
loved ones’ lives.
14. Now specifically think and journal about the role that modern technology currently plays to promote or
weaken sexual purity in your own life or in your loved ones’ lives.
Memorize:
I believe the Bible, God’s timeless love story to humanity, is the inspired, trustworthy Word of God
and has the right to command my life.
Paul’s commands in 1 Corinthians 6:18, 20.
“Flee from sexual immorality.”
“Honor God with your body.”
Journal how God spoke to you through this passage
You don’t need a leather bound gilded journal; a simple spiral notebook will do.
Date your entry and note the Scripture reference.
Then simply record how God spoke to you as you read the passage.
The mission of The New Life Parchments
is to help you and your family become like Christ
and usher in His kingdom in your daily lives.
New Life Bible Fellowship
3727 W. Kiest Blvd. Dallas, Texas 75233 214-331-5459 www.nlbf.org