1. Collision over Sexuality
When Relationships Collide

2. Introduction Parable of the young man back from college
“Tame him as we will by day, he rages all the wilder in our dreams by night. Just when we think we’re safe from him, he raises up his ugly head and smirks, and there’s no river in the world flows cold and strong enough to strike him down. Almighty God, why dost thou deck men out with such a loathsome toy?” Frederick Buechner, Godric, p. 159

3. Introduction
Gen 1 27 So God created mankind in his own image,     in the image of God he created them;     male and female he created them.
The struggle and the reward
1 Corinthians talks more about our sexuality than any other book in the NT

4. I. THE QUESTION OF THE CORINTHIANS
1Co 7 1 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” (NIV) Literal: “touch” (KJV/NASB) Euphemism: say something in a polite way. Problem: meaning is lost with distance.

5. Roman Thinking Marriage Outside Marriage Procreational intimacy
Recreational intimacy
Intimacy with Spouse
Intimacy with concubines, other household slaves, prostitutes, etc.
Children, legitimate heirs
Not for children. If children produced, not heirs
Raise godly children
No responsibility
Legal obligation to spouse
No legal obligation

6. PAUL’S RESPONSE
1. It’s good for you to marry 1Co 7 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.

7. PAUL’S RESPONSE
2. Fulfill your marital duties 1Co 7 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband

8. PAUL’S RESPONSE
3. Your body does not belong to you to do as you please * 1Co 7 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.

9. PAUL’S RESPONSE
4. Seek your satisfaction with your spouse and do not deprive each other 1Co 7 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control

10. PAUL’S RESPONSE
4. Seek your satisfaction with your spouse and do not deprive each other 1Co 7 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control

11. PAUL’S RESPONSE
5. Do this according to your gifting 1Co 7 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that

12. TOWARDS A CHRISTIAN MORALITY
Marriage Type
Mating Type
Practice of Monogamy A
Polygamy
Polygyny
Ecologically imposed monogamy B
Monogamy
Socially Imposed Monogamy C
Monogyny

13. Life in the Kingdom
If we live in God’s Kingdom, we expect to live according to the will of God 1Co 6 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God

14. Five kingdom principles on monogyny
1. Your bodies are members of Christ himself 1Co 6 12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!

15. Five kingdom principles on monogyny
2. We become one flesh in intimacy 1Co 6 16 Do 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.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit

16. Five kingdom principles on monogyny
3. Sexual sins are self-destructive 1Co 6 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body

17. Five kingdom principles on monogyny
4. “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit”
1Co 6 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

18. Five kingdom principles on monogyny
5. “You are not your own, you were bought at a price.” 1Co 6 You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

19. Conclusion Return to creation Return to the cross
Overcome passion to win the freedom in Christ