Christian marriage was designed in heaven for the blessing and good of man, and to portray the proper picture as we studied in the last chapter. Sinful men have despised God’s ideal for a man and a woman, and they have PERVERTED THE PICTURE.
How can we know. what is right or wrong, proper or improper, holy or sinful in the realm of sex, love and marriage? According to Christ, the STANDARD for what is right is what God did at "the B _____________________" (Matthew 19:8). In other words, Genesis 2 is the norm (see the beginning of chapter 6)--this is what God intended and this is what is proper and lawful and right and holy and beautiful. Anything that deviates from what God instituted in Genesis 2 must be considered as abnormal, unnatural, improper and CONTRARY to God’s perfect design and plan for a man and woman.
It did not take long for sinful (fallen) man to deviate from God’s standard and ideal. As you look through Genesis chapter 4, can you find an example of a man deviating from what God had established in the beginning concerning marriage? What verse tells of this deviation? _________________________ How many women did God bring to Adam at the beginning (Genesis 2:22)? _________ Later in the book of Genesis man sank to the very depths of depravity and wickedness, and God had to completely destroy the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah because their sin was very great (Genesis 18:20; 19:4-9). This sexual corruption is spoken of by Paul in Romans1:26-28:
26) For this cause (see verse 21 for how the problem started) God gave them up (they abandoned God, so God abandoned them and gave them up to these horrible sins) unto vile affections (degrading, disgraceful and dishonorable passions): for even their women (females) did change the natural use into that which is against nature (unnatural, abnormal, perverse, improper):
27) And likewise also the men (males) leaving the natural use of the woman, burned (were inflamed sexually) in their lust (sinful desire) one toward another; men with men (this is HOMOSEXUALITY; homo= same, and thus "sexual activity between members of the same sex," men with men, women with women) working that which is unseemly (shameful, something which any decent person would be utterly ashamed of), and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet (God will judge!--Hebrews 13:4).
28) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient (fitting, proper).
God’s holy law contained certain commands which were given to protect God’s holy institution of marriage. Can you find one of the 10 Commandments in Exodus chapter 20 which relates directly to marriage? ________________________________ Another command which seeks to protect marriage is found in Leviticus 18:22. Notice the words, "thou shalt not." This is the strongest way in the Hebrew language to tell a person not to do something (this is the same thing we find in the 10 Commandments). It could be translated, "THOU SHALT NEVER!" This is a strong prohibition against homosexuality (Lev. 18:22). In the beginning, did God bring. a man to Adam (Genesis 2:22)? ______
Homosexuality is such a dreadful deviation from God’s original intention that God calls it an A____________________________ (Leviticus 18:22). The word "abomination" means "detestable." It is a stench in God’s nostrils like the smell of vomit! It is something that is disgusting to God! It makes God sick! He hates it! It is so contrary to what He has designed and established for the enjoyment and good of mankind! As you read to the end of Leviticus 18, notice how often the word "abominations" occurs!
In Deuteronomy 27 (especially verses 20-23), those who are guilty of sexual sins are said to be under God’s terrible CURSE! In Colossians 3:5-6, those who are guilty of uncleanness and fornication (see chapter 6), are on a collision course with the WRATH OF GOD! In Hebrews 13:4 we learn that GOD WILL ____________ such people! It is so important to stay on the path of sexual purity until we reach the Castle of Holy Companionship (see the illustration at the end of chapter 6)!
According to 1 Corinthians chapter 5, when a person is found to be guilty of a horrible sexual sin, what should the church do?
The Lord Jesus taught that sexual sins can be committed in the heart or in the mind of a person, even if there is no outward act:
"Whosoever __________________________ on a woman to ______________ after her hath committed adultery with her already ____________________________________ (Matthew 5:28)
Purity is demanded in our inner thoughts as well as our outer actions! This will be studied more in detail in a later chapter dealing with "temptation."
Where do sexual sins originate? Can I blame my environment? My friends? My parents? The books and magazines I read? The places I go? The corruption in society? Where do such sins come from (Mark 7:21-23)? _______________________________________________________________Paul says that such things are "the W _______________of the F__________________ " (Galatians 5:19), which means that they are a product of the FLESH, that old sinful nature which we inherited from Adam.
Consider 1 Timothy 1:9-10. According to verse 10, all these things (including shameful sexual sins) are C___________________ to sound D__________________ These things are CONTRARY to God’s Word and CONTRARY to God’s original plan for a man and woman so clearly revealed in Genesis 2. May we learn to HATE anything that is CONTRARY to God’s perfect design and blueprint for the man-woman relationship. May we detest anything which PERVERTS THE PROPER PICTURE. Remember, God wants only our best. He wants us to be holy and happy (and without true holiness there can be no true happiness).
If a person is a whoremonger (fornicator) or unclean, will he have any part in Christ’s kingdom (Ephesians5:5)? ______ Will the unrighteous inherit God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)? _______ Is there any hope for such people? Can anyone help them and deliver them from their sins? Is there any good news for those who are guilty of shameful sexual sins?
If a person is desperately ill, and refuses to go to the doctor or to take medicine, then who is to blame if he dies? _________________________ He refused to avail himself of the help that was at hand. Likewise, if a person CONTINUES in his sins, then there is no hope. He is on a collision course with the wrath of God (Colossians 3:5-6; Ephesians 5:5-6). On the other hand, if a person comes to the Saviour (the Great Physician who can heal the sin-sick soul), then God will do the wonderful threefold work as described in 1 Corinthians 6:11:
| 1. They were once FILTHTY AND MORALLY UNCLEAN |
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| but now they are W ________________________! (Cleansed by the blood of the Lamb! Forever forgiven!) | |
| 2.They were once UNHOLY AND SLAVES TO SIN |
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| but now they are S _________________________! (set apart and separated unto the Lord !) |
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| 3. They were once UNRIGHTEOUS |
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| but now they are J __________________________! (seen and considered as righteous in Christ !) |
HAS CHRIST MADE YOU CLEAN?
HAS HE SET YOU APART UNTO HIMSELF?
HAS HE DECLARED YOU TO BE RIGHTEOUS IN HIS SIGHT?
IF SO, THEN YOU HAVE A NEW LIFE! YOU ALSO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF ENJOYING THE BLESSINGS AND BENEFITS WHICH COME TO THOSE WHO LIVE IN HARMONY (not CONTRARY TO) GOD’S WORD, GOD’S STANDARDS, and GOD’S PLAN FOR THE WOMAN AND MAN.
Remember, God wants nothing less that the very best for you, both now and forever!
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