B.A.S.I.C. Training

Permissiveness Runs Rampant We live in a sexually permissive and expressive society. God’s values and the worlds values often differ greatly. We must know God’s will. Society accepts and expects things that God forbids. Let’s explore God’s will on sexuality.

God expressed His ideal for sexuality during creation week: Genesis 1: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

Jesus clarified God’s word in Matthew 19:4-6 – "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,’ and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

In the Old Covenant God actually commanded some behaviors that today would be immoral. Genesis 38:8 -- Then Judah said to Onan, "Lie with your brother's wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother."

Deuteronomy 25:5 -- If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. Vs further state: If he does not want to do so she is to take off one of his sandals, spit in his face and humiliate him in front of the elders of Israel.

God allowed some behaviors without immediate consequences: Genesis 38:15-18 – Judah sleeps with his daughter-in-law Tamar and yet God allows it and also blesses the line of Judah, since Tamar was then in the lineage of Christ Jesus.

New Testament Sexual Morality God now expects us to understand morality: Acts 17:30 -- In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

1 Corinthians 6:18 -- Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 1 Thessalonians 4: It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God….

Types of Immorality expressed by the words used: PORNEIA – fornication (incest, prostitution) – sexual activity outside of marriage usually considered to be between two unmarried people. (1 Corinthians 6:13)

MOICHEUO – Adultery – sexual relationship between unmarried people where at least one person is married to someone else. Galatians 5:19 -- The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality (MOIKEIA), impurity (PORNEIA) and debauchery;

MALAKOS – usually translated “effeminate” – as in a man who acts effeminate. Probably also addresses transgender behavior. (1 Corinthians 6:9) ARSENOKOITES – homosexuality (1 Corinthians 6:9)

Romans 1:26 -- Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones… Lesbianism forbidden

Galatians 5: The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. And things like these!