WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.160 We're at 1 Corinthians chapter 7 and to put it bluntly it's about sex and the right use of sex where it fits in terms of God's purposes and in relationships. 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:20.620 And the passage tonight talks about it in a much more positive way than where we were last week when we were talking about pornea or immorality in 1 Corinthians chapter 6. 00:00:22.339 --> 00:00:24.780 So the tone is entirely different. 00:00:26.060 --> 00:00:29.679 I figure when you're talking about sex you don't really need an opening illustration. 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:30.780 You can just start. 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:35.979 But I did, I opened up the paper the other day or read online. 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:40.280 I think it was News Limited, that fantastic source of news. 00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:54.679 And there was a story about some bloke who's been living in Bali for the last three months and to put it really crudely he's managed to sleep his way through 100 different women and his goal is to achieve three women in the one night. 00:00:54.679 --> 00:01:07.180 And in terms of an example of pornea or immorality, it's a fantastic example of pure selfishness. 00:01:07.180 --> 00:01:26.560 And I think what I want to say tonight is that the journey from pornea, immorality, to right relationship before the Lord Jesus Christ and the beauty of what he calls us to is a journey from selfishness, utter selfishness, to selflessness. 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:31.100 And in the end it is rooted in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:32.299 --> 00:01:42.180 So right through this series Steve's picked up the idea that the way of the cross transforms our world view and that's exactly what we're going to see tonight when we talk about sex. 00:01:42.180 --> 00:01:48.640 We're talking about the cross of the cross of the cross of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ transforming the way that we do relationships. 00:01:49.340 --> 00:01:53.160 And it's a movement from selfishness to selflessness. 00:01:55.580 --> 00:02:01.900 Steve said some things last week in his message which I thought were just pure inspirational. 00:02:01.900 --> 00:02:13.700 He spoke about marriage with a very high view in terms of one flesh relationship and what it stands for and what it means. 00:02:14.659 --> 00:02:15.860 And I think I'm quoting him. 00:02:15.920 --> 00:02:20.560 I took notes while he was saying this but it might sound a mouthful but listen carefully. 00:02:20.700 --> 00:02:21.599 It's a one flesh. 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:23.800 Marriage is a one flesh relationship. 00:02:25.540 --> 00:02:29.879 A one flesh relationship is embodied in personhood, in people. 00:02:29.879 --> 00:02:34.280 And it's a place where personal transformation is going on. 00:02:34.379 --> 00:02:35.479 People are changed. 00:02:36.680 --> 00:02:40.280 And the bar is raised very high for a sexual relationship in marriage. 00:02:40.439 --> 00:02:42.780 It deeply involves the full person. 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:45.879 There is a self-giving and a self-disclosure. 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:49.240 It's not driven by self-gratification. 00:02:50.699 --> 00:02:53.979 And he said that sex is a radical self-donation. 00:02:53.979 --> 00:02:59.719 It means being vulnerable with your entire life to the other person and not independent of them. 00:03:00.759 --> 00:03:06.699 And so they become, you grow into this life of oneness, deep personal relationship and sharing. 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:08.019 You don't lose yourself. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:15.840 You are radically supplemented by the other person and changed and transformed as you seek to serve Christ together. 00:03:16.740 --> 00:03:23.599 And my words, I want to say that there is deep safety and security in a relationship like that. 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:25.120 It is deeply fulfilling. 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:29.420 It's entirely consistent with other scriptures. 00:03:29.640 --> 00:03:35.480 So when you go to Ephesians 5 where a husband and wife submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, 00:03:35.719 --> 00:03:40.840 they take up different roles within a marriage relationship, wives to husbands as to the Lord, 00:03:41.219 --> 00:03:44.319 husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:51.019 You get a picture of the same selfless giving going on and submission to Christ even as we submit to one another. 00:03:51.979 --> 00:03:58.979 And so there's its extraordinarily beautiful picture where marriage is driven by the sacrificial love of Christ for us all. 00:03:59.699 --> 00:04:01.120 Now I want you to notice the sheet. 00:04:01.219 --> 00:04:02.219 You should have noticed already. 00:04:02.359 --> 00:04:03.479 You've been given that sheet tonight. 00:04:03.579 --> 00:04:05.199 On one side is the text of the scripture. 00:04:05.740 --> 00:04:07.099 On the other side is notes. 00:04:07.099 --> 00:04:09.599 And I'm doing this in three bits sort of. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:11.519 The first bit I'm just talking for a bit. 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:15.799 The second bit I'm going to take us into the notes and scan across the whole chapter. 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:19.240 And the third bit I'm going to stop and we're going to have questions. 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:23.019 Because I think by you being able to ask questions tonight, 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:26.000 it's a way of applying what we're talking about here in the scripture 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:32.480 and maybe raising issues that are particular issues that you see for yourselves or in people around about you. 00:04:37.100 --> 00:04:46.379 The Corinthian church started four years before this letter when Paul came preaching to them. 00:04:46.460 --> 00:04:50.240 There wasn't a church there before he came along and started preaching. 00:04:51.860 --> 00:04:53.860 And as he preached the cross of Christ, 00:04:53.980 --> 00:05:00.240 it began to transform a body of people who had heard the gospel for the very first time. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:06.379 It's an immature church. 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:08.800 Last week Steve said he, 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:15.759 Paul rebuked them really severely for not being as mature as they ought to have been, 00:05:15.960 --> 00:05:17.240 even at four years old. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:20.819 And he's angry with them. 00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:23.960 He was angry with them because they were putting up with the type of immorality 00:05:23.960 --> 00:05:26.379 that anybody outside the church could look in. 00:05:26.460 --> 00:05:28.199 Anybody who's not even a Christian and say, 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:31.099 you're kidding, they do those sorts of things? 00:05:32.920 --> 00:05:35.539 So their problem was not so much the immorality, 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:37.019 but the lack of church discipline. 00:05:37.159 --> 00:05:38.560 They weren't able to say to one another, 00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:39.639 this should not be. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:43.519 And then in chapter 6, 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:46.740 these are people who have been converted 00:05:46.740 --> 00:05:49.860 out of a very licentious culture. 00:05:50.039 --> 00:05:51.300 You know, anything goes. 00:05:52.180 --> 00:05:55.279 Lots of sexual options and lots of permissiveness. 00:05:55.279 --> 00:06:04.039 Young men would have been encouraged to pursue sexual gratification from adolescence 00:06:04.039 --> 00:06:06.839 when their bodies start to work sexually from puberty 00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:10.659 until their mid to late 20s, 00:06:10.679 --> 00:06:14.419 so maybe nearly 15 years before they actually get married. 00:06:16.919 --> 00:06:20.319 And homosexual induction by older men with younger men 00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:22.519 was common in the Roman Empire. 00:06:24.139 --> 00:06:26.079 Temple prostitutes were the norm. 00:06:26.180 --> 00:06:28.259 You could go to the temple and you could have sex 00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:29.319 and you could call it worship. 00:06:31.480 --> 00:06:34.300 I grew up in an extended family culture 00:06:34.300 --> 00:06:37.560 which said it was okay for men to sow their wild oats, 00:06:37.699 --> 00:06:39.259 you know, have sex wherever they like. 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:43.500 And then we also had this double standard 00:06:43.500 --> 00:06:45.219 that sex and bodies were dirty 00:06:45.219 --> 00:06:46.779 and somehow you ought to stay pure. 00:06:46.779 --> 00:06:48.779 Very confusing. 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:52.559 And in chapter 6, 00:06:52.699 --> 00:06:54.179 Paul effectively says, 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:56.879 we don't have to keep apologising 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:59.979 for the life that we have been brought from 00:06:59.979 --> 00:07:02.959 because of the work of Christ 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:04.659 in transforming us. 00:07:05.799 --> 00:07:09.019 We don't have to continue to bear shame 00:07:09.019 --> 00:07:10.959 because of who we were 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:12.419 and what we did. 00:07:12.420 --> 00:07:17.340 He tells us that we have been made clean 00:07:17.340 --> 00:07:19.420 by the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:21.280 So in verse 11, chapter 6, 00:07:22.060 --> 00:07:23.199 we were like that, 00:07:24.120 --> 00:07:25.700 but we have been washed. 00:07:26.840 --> 00:07:28.120 It says you were washed, 00:07:28.860 --> 00:07:30.020 you were sanctified, 00:07:30.660 --> 00:07:31.560 you were justified 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:33.580 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ 00:07:33.580 --> 00:07:35.240 and by the Spirit of God. 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:41.200 Corinth's a place which is shaped by Greek culture. 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:43.560 Steve talked about that last week, 00:07:43.639 --> 00:07:44.539 hedonistic culture 00:07:44.539 --> 00:07:46.099 where anything and everything goes. 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:47.079 Their slogan was, 00:07:47.180 --> 00:07:48.459 everything's permissible for me. 00:07:49.899 --> 00:07:51.519 Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:07:51.639 --> 00:07:52.379 I'm set free. 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:53.839 And Paul's response, 00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:55.860 but not everything is beneficial. 00:07:58.719 --> 00:08:00.079 And as with any culture, 00:08:00.339 --> 00:08:02.039 new believers carried the culture 00:08:02.039 --> 00:08:04.099 that they were in, 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:05.279 into the church 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:07.699 where the gospel would now do 00:08:07.699 --> 00:08:09.259 its ongoing work of change 00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:09.959 and transformation. 00:08:09.959 --> 00:08:13.539 In other words, 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:15.120 when you come to Christ, 00:08:15.239 --> 00:08:16.979 you're not necessarily transformed 00:08:16.979 --> 00:08:17.699 out of everything 00:08:17.699 --> 00:08:18.899 that was the former life. 00:08:19.839 --> 00:08:20.939 And there's a journey 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:22.019 which goes on 00:08:22.019 --> 00:08:23.479 as you wrestle with 00:08:23.479 --> 00:08:25.039 what it means to have come to Christ 00:08:25.039 --> 00:08:26.399 and the change 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:27.579 that he now brings about 00:08:27.579 --> 00:08:28.299 in your life. 00:08:31.819 --> 00:08:33.319 And so it's not unreasonable 00:08:33.319 --> 00:08:34.480 to think that Corinth 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:35.899 was a church with people 00:08:35.899 --> 00:08:37.779 in all sorts of relationships. 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:40.220 Maybe widows 00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:41.620 who hadn't married again 00:08:41.620 --> 00:08:43.419 but were sleeping with widowers 00:08:43.419 --> 00:08:45.039 or people who'd taken a fancy 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:45.600 to them. 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:48.199 Or unmarried people. 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:49.579 So when it says virgins here, 00:08:49.620 --> 00:08:50.839 we're not necessarily talking 00:08:50.839 --> 00:08:52.279 people who haven't had sex. 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:53.259 We're talking about 00:08:53.259 --> 00:08:54.860 unmarried people. 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:57.240 And perhaps unmarried people. 00:08:57.339 --> 00:08:58.360 Virgins sleeping with 00:08:58.360 --> 00:08:58.860 boyfriends, 00:08:59.000 --> 00:08:59.360 girlfriends. 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:02.200 Or married people 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:04.539 engaging in sexual relationships 00:09:04.539 --> 00:09:05.820 outside of marriage. 00:09:05.940 --> 00:09:06.740 That's the way 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:08.519 the world of Corinth was 00:09:08.519 --> 00:09:11.019 before the gospel came. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:13.980 And it's not that different 00:09:13.980 --> 00:09:14.840 from our world. 00:09:14.940 --> 00:09:16.980 The guys were liberated back then. 00:09:17.060 --> 00:09:17.960 The girls weren't. 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:19.300 In our culture, 00:09:19.300 --> 00:09:21.120 the girls have been set free 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:21.860 in some measure. 00:09:21.940 --> 00:09:22.940 It's not real freedom, 00:09:22.940 --> 00:09:28.200 but the age of contraception 00:09:28.200 --> 00:09:29.880 and having control 00:09:29.880 --> 00:09:30.860 over your own bodies 00:09:30.860 --> 00:09:31.840 and stuff like that 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:33.000 means that young women 00:09:33.000 --> 00:09:34.260 are able to behave 00:09:34.260 --> 00:09:35.700 almost like young men. 00:09:37.820 --> 00:09:39.920 The world calls it freedom. 00:09:41.020 --> 00:09:42.540 The Bible portrays it 00:09:42.540 --> 00:09:43.660 as a slavery. 00:09:45.660 --> 00:09:47.100 And he said last week 00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:48.040 that sex matters. 00:09:48.220 --> 00:09:49.200 It's much more than just 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:50.880 another bodily function. 00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:52.200 It's not just food in 00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:52.980 and food out. 00:09:54.639 --> 00:09:55.500 In the end, 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:56.759 in 1 Corinthians 6, 00:09:56.820 --> 00:09:57.840 he makes it very clear 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:00.120 that he says, 00:10:00.179 --> 00:10:00.939 Do you not know 00:10:00.939 --> 00:10:02.399 that he who unites himself 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:03.259 with a prostitute 00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:04.460 is one with her in body? 00:10:05.439 --> 00:10:06.659 For it is said 00:10:06.659 --> 00:10:07.659 the two will become 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:08.480 one flesh. 00:10:09.620 --> 00:10:11.080 But he who unites himself 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:11.679 with the Lord 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:12.939 is one with him in spirit. 00:10:13.139 --> 00:10:14.740 Flee from sexual immorality. 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:16.360 All other sins 00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:17.139 a man commits 00:10:17.139 --> 00:10:18.419 are outside his body. 00:10:19.299 --> 00:10:20.440 But he who sins 00:10:20.440 --> 00:10:22.020 sexually sins 00:10:22.020 --> 00:10:23.300 against his own body. 00:10:24.500 --> 00:10:25.680 Do you not know 00:10:25.680 --> 00:10:26.520 that your body 00:10:26.520 --> 00:10:27.540 is a temple 00:10:27.540 --> 00:10:28.600 of the Holy Spirit 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:29.540 who is in you 00:10:29.540 --> 00:10:31.120 whom you have received 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:31.760 from God? 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:33.380 You are not your own. 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:33.980 You were bought 00:10:33.980 --> 00:10:34.580 at a price. 00:10:34.740 --> 00:10:35.020 Therefore, 00:10:35.160 --> 00:10:35.640 honour God 00:10:35.640 --> 00:10:36.440 with your body. 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:38.120 He says sex matters 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:41.060 and wrong use of it 00:10:41.060 --> 00:10:42.760 causes great harm. 00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:46.240 If sex was just 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.400 another bodily function, 00:10:47.540 --> 00:10:48.480 then why not relieve 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:49.020 that need 00:10:49.019 --> 00:10:49.860 by going down 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:50.980 for a night of worship 00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:51.980 at one of the local 00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:53.480 Corinthian temples 00:10:53.480 --> 00:10:54.779 with the prostitutes, 00:10:55.120 --> 00:10:56.179 your wife's got a headache 00:10:56.179 --> 00:10:58.259 and she will be glad 00:10:58.259 --> 00:10:58.960 not to be put 00:10:58.960 --> 00:10:59.600 under pressure. 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:04.259 But he says here 00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:05.319 to sin sexually 00:11:05.319 --> 00:11:06.279 is to sin against 00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:07.159 your own person, 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:08.460 to damage your sense 00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:09.100 of self. 00:11:11.980 --> 00:11:12.779 Plenty of that 00:11:12.779 --> 00:11:13.899 in the media this week 00:11:13.899 --> 00:11:15.240 and every other week 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:16.939 for the last yonks. 00:11:16.940 --> 00:11:19.540 one tragic story 00:11:19.540 --> 00:11:20.260 after another 00:11:20.260 --> 00:11:21.000 of teenagers 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:22.100 being violated 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:23.620 by media personalities 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:26.180 or trusted religious figures. 00:11:27.400 --> 00:11:28.200 The children 00:11:28.200 --> 00:11:28.880 didn't sin. 00:11:29.700 --> 00:11:31.000 They didn't ask for it. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:32.840 And there is 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:33.740 one story 00:11:33.740 --> 00:11:34.460 after another 00:11:34.460 --> 00:11:35.440 about the impact 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:36.440 on their person 00:11:36.440 --> 00:11:37.880 by these crimes. 00:11:39.880 --> 00:11:40.480 Alcoholism, 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:42.100 eating disorders, 00:11:42.960 --> 00:11:43.400 fear, 00:11:44.040 --> 00:11:44.480 blame, 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:45.720 promiscuity, 00:11:46.200 --> 00:11:47.620 many young people 00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:49.259 have been greatly harmed 00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:50.720 and they have carried 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:51.379 that harm 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:52.480 into older life 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:54.139 and relationships. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:57.259 And one 00:11:57.259 --> 00:11:58.139 headiness defender 00:11:58.139 --> 00:11:59.100 sits there in court 00:11:59.100 --> 00:11:59.720 the other day 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:00.420 and says it takes 00:12:00.420 --> 00:12:01.320 two to tango 00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:03.279 and after all 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:03.820 I only thought 00:12:03.820 --> 00:12:04.360 I gave them 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:04.940 a good time 00:12:04.940 --> 00:12:05.680 and they are enjoying 00:12:05.680 --> 00:12:06.960 what we are participating in. 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:11.639 terrible, 00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:12.720 terrible distortion 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:13.360 of something 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:13.800 which is 00:12:13.800 --> 00:12:14.500 a very, 00:12:14.700 --> 00:12:15.560 very good gift 00:12:15.560 --> 00:12:15.980 of God 00:12:15.980 --> 00:12:16.460 when used 00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:17.000 according to 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:18.060 the maker's instructions. 00:12:21.060 --> 00:12:22.639 The cross of Christ 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:24.240 radically transforms 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:25.060 our relationships. 00:12:26.900 --> 00:12:28.139 I joked this morning 00:12:28.139 --> 00:12:28.560 I said 00:12:28.560 --> 00:12:29.639 I went to King's Cross 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:30.340 on Friday 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:31.639 to do some research 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:32.340 for this sermon 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:34.639 and I did. 00:12:35.560 --> 00:12:36.200 I did. 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:37.080 I went to visit 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:38.060 my friend Ed Vaughan 00:12:38.060 --> 00:12:38.780 who's the minister 00:12:38.780 --> 00:12:40.340 at St John's Darlinghurst 00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:41.100 which is right there 00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:41.600 at the cross 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.420 and I had heard 00:12:43.420 --> 00:12:44.500 a story through the week 00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:45.940 of a marriage, 00:12:46.040 --> 00:12:46.320 a wedding 00:12:46.320 --> 00:12:46.980 that he took 00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:47.580 last Saturday 00:12:47.580 --> 00:12:49.660 and I heard it 00:12:49.660 --> 00:12:50.639 from a very dear friend 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:51.680 from a long way back 00:12:51.680 --> 00:12:53.080 and I know Ed really well 00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:53.800 and I went to him 00:12:53.800 --> 00:12:54.320 to say look 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:54.759 I was told 00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:55.820 what a fantastic service 00:12:55.820 --> 00:12:57.100 you took 00:12:57.100 --> 00:12:59.060 but it's an amazing story 00:12:59.060 --> 00:12:59.980 of the grace of God 00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:02.800 the couple 00:13:02.800 --> 00:13:03.360 that were married 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:04.080 last Saturday 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:06.019 the woman 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:06.539 was in 00:13:06.539 --> 00:13:07.800 the Bible study 00:13:07.800 --> 00:13:08.420 I went to 00:13:08.420 --> 00:13:10.039 25, 30 years ago 00:13:10.039 --> 00:13:10.960 I don't even remember 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:13.539 and she went 00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:14.340 to Bible college 00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.139 and at Bible college 00:13:15.139 --> 00:13:15.980 went to SMBC 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:17.820 and studied there 00:13:17.820 --> 00:13:18.180 for a while 00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:18.820 Sydney Missionary 00:13:18.820 --> 00:13:19.620 Bible College 00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:21.820 was in a 00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:22.700 relationship 00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:23.240 with someone 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:23.720 I don't mean 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:24.279 an inappropriate 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:24.879 relationship 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:25.840 but in a relationship 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:26.440 with someone 00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:26.980 that looked like 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:27.680 they might marry 00:13:27.680 --> 00:13:28.500 and then something 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:29.200 happened 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:30.200 the wheel fell off 00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:31.280 and it just 00:13:31.280 --> 00:13:31.980 didn't go anywhere 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:33.720 and almost 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:34.520 on the rebound 00:13:34.520 --> 00:13:35.280 she took up 00:13:35.280 --> 00:13:36.040 with another fellow 00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:36.700 that everybody 00:13:36.700 --> 00:13:37.420 who knew her 00:13:37.420 --> 00:13:37.920 just thought 00:13:37.920 --> 00:13:39.180 this is a disaster 00:13:39.180 --> 00:13:41.780 and she was married 00:13:41.780 --> 00:13:42.860 and within two years 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.759 she was divorced 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:47.440 20, 25 years 00:13:47.440 --> 00:13:48.160 has gone by 00:13:48.160 --> 00:13:50.480 she's working 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:51.460 in Christian ministry 00:13:51.460 --> 00:13:52.759 in the eastern suburbs 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:56.180 and she is diagnosed 00:13:56.180 --> 00:13:58.100 with terminal cancer 00:13:58.100 --> 00:13:59.540 that has come 00:13:59.540 --> 00:14:00.279 quite rapidly 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:01.080 upon her 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:03.019 now what's 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:03.680 actually happened 00:14:03.680 --> 00:14:04.240 in the couple 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:04.600 of months 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:05.379 or period of time 00:14:05.379 --> 00:14:06.259 just before this 00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:07.560 is she's somehow 00:14:07.560 --> 00:14:09.519 been back in 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:10.180 communication 00:14:10.180 --> 00:14:11.100 with the man 00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:12.240 that she might 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:12.680 have married 00:14:12.680 --> 00:14:14.040 25 years before 00:14:14.040 --> 00:14:14.519 who's gone 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:14.879 to the other 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:15.659 side of Australia 00:14:15.659 --> 00:14:18.200 and in the course 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:19.100 of communication 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:21.019 she then communicates 00:14:21.019 --> 00:14:21.379 with him 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:22.040 and says 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:25.199 I'm dying 00:14:25.199 --> 00:14:25.819 and this is 00:14:25.819 --> 00:14:26.379 what's happened 00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:28.399 and his immediate 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:29.299 response was 00:14:29.299 --> 00:14:32.360 to leave 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:32.980 his work 00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:34.179 and to say 00:14:34.179 --> 00:14:34.659 to her 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:36.179 I've always 00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:36.799 loved you 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:37.980 I still 00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:38.659 loved you 00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:40.039 and I am 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:40.719 coming back 00:14:40.719 --> 00:14:41.919 to care for you 00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:42.980 until you die 00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:45.539 and they were 00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:46.139 married in front 00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:47.079 of 200 people 00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:47.659 last Saturday 00:14:47.659 --> 00:14:49.600 who were just 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:50.799 joyous and tearful 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:51.679 at the same time 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:53.879 and I don't know 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:54.299 about you 00:14:54.299 --> 00:14:54.939 but the story 00:14:54.939 --> 00:14:55.500 for me 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:57.819 just engaged 00:14:57.819 --> 00:14:58.339 my heart 00:14:58.339 --> 00:14:59.199 because it was 00:14:59.199 --> 00:15:00.939 pure selflessness 00:15:00.939 --> 00:15:05.419 not selfish 00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:06.079 I'm going into 00:15:06.079 --> 00:15:06.620 this for what 00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:07.219 I can get out 00:15:07.219 --> 00:15:07.480 of it 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:08.079 but it was 00:15:08.079 --> 00:15:09.059 such an expression 00:15:09.059 --> 00:15:09.899 of the servant 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:10.639 heart of God 00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:11.199 that we see 00:15:11.199 --> 00:15:11.740 in Christ 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:12.500 in this man's 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.279 response to this 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:13.579 woman 00:15:13.579 --> 00:15:14.559 and it's even 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:15.159 more beautiful 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:15.539 than that 00:15:15.539 --> 00:15:16.059 for lots of 00:15:16.059 --> 00:15:16.419 reasons 00:15:16.419 --> 00:15:16.959 but she's 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:17.420 obese 00:15:17.420 --> 00:15:17.940 the cancer 00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:18.460 treatment 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:19.220 has destroyed 00:15:19.220 --> 00:15:19.680 her body 00:15:19.680 --> 00:15:21.139 and she 00:15:21.139 --> 00:15:21.519 bought a 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:22.160 wedding dress 00:15:22.160 --> 00:15:22.900 and she 00:15:22.900 --> 00:15:23.340 grew out 00:15:23.340 --> 00:15:23.519 of the 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:23.960 wedding dress 00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:24.320 and needed 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:24.900 another one 00:15:24.900 --> 00:15:25.360 before the 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:25.580 wedding 00:15:25.580 --> 00:15:26.440 so in 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:26.860 terms of 00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:27.240 the beauty 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:27.560 of the 00:15:27.560 --> 00:15:27.820 world 00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:28.200 she's 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:28.440 probably 00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:28.740 nothing 00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:29.160 to look 00:15:29.160 --> 00:15:29.440 at 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:30.580 but in 00:15:30.580 --> 00:15:30.960 terms of 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:31.320 the inner 00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:31.639 beauty 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:32.060 which is 00:15:32.060 --> 00:15:32.639 radiated 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.200 in Christ 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:33.660 this was 00:15:33.660 --> 00:15:34.019 something 00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:34.540 which was 00:15:34.540 --> 00:15:35.220 very very 00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:36.019 very special 00:15:36.019 --> 00:15:37.019 that happened 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:38.300 and continues 00:15:38.300 --> 00:15:39.040 to go on 00:15:39.040 --> 00:15:43.900 so when 00:15:43.900 --> 00:15:44.240 you get 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:44.519 to 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:45.519 Corinthians 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:47.420 move beyond 00:15:47.420 --> 00:15:48.120 immorality 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:48.540 and you 00:15:48.540 --> 00:15:49.060 move into 00:15:49.060 --> 00:15:49.900 what do 00:15:49.900 --> 00:15:50.259 you do 00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:50.800 with sex 00:15:50.800 --> 00:15:51.420 where does 00:15:51.420 --> 00:15:51.860 it fit 00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:52.480 in terms 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.040 of God's 00:15:53.040 --> 00:15:53.379 kingdom 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.100 and God's 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:54.480 plan 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:55.120 and God's 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:55.639 purposes 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:58.900 and Paul 00:15:58.900 --> 00:15:59.460 brings them 00:15:59.460 --> 00:15:59.980 back to the 00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:00.440 way of the 00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:00.820 cross 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:02.400 and as he 00:16:02.400 --> 00:16:03.000 goes into 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:03.820 chapter 7 00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:04.560 there's a 00:16:04.560 --> 00:16:05.440 very distinct 00:16:05.440 --> 00:16:06.180 turn that 00:16:06.180 --> 00:16:06.879 goes on here 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:07.620 in the text 00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:09.019 this is the 00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:09.620 first time 00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:10.200 this happens 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:11.019 in Corinthians 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:11.800 but he says 00:16:11.800 --> 00:16:12.580 now for the 00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:13.220 matters that 00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:13.900 you wrote 00:16:13.900 --> 00:16:14.300 about 00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:16.139 he turns 00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:16.699 his attention 00:16:16.699 --> 00:16:17.139 for what 00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:17.599 he wants 00:16:17.599 --> 00:16:18.039 to say 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:18.299 and he's 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:18.979 now responding 00:16:18.979 --> 00:16:19.419 to some 00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:20.019 stuff that 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.599 they've asked 00:16:20.599 --> 00:16:21.099 him about 00:16:21.099 --> 00:16:23.679 and he quotes 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:23.859 them 00:16:23.859 --> 00:16:24.419 it's not that 00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:25.099 obvious in the 00:16:25.099 --> 00:16:25.379 English 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.139 but he's actually 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:26.899 quoting them 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:27.500 so when it 00:16:27.500 --> 00:16:28.159 says here 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:29.079 it's good 00:16:29.079 --> 00:16:29.559 for a man 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:30.019 not to 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:30.399 marry 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:32.159 he's not 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:32.819 saying it's 00:16:32.819 --> 00:16:33.279 good for a 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:33.639 man not 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:34.159 to marry 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:35.179 he's quoting 00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:35.519 them 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:36.019 they've gone 00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:36.539 back and said 00:16:36.539 --> 00:16:36.799 to him 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:37.199 so is it 00:16:37.199 --> 00:16:37.639 better for a 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:37.979 man not 00:16:37.979 --> 00:16:38.439 to marry 00:16:38.439 --> 00:16:39.199 in light of 00:16:39.199 --> 00:16:39.879 the immorality 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:40.319 that's here 00:16:40.319 --> 00:16:40.599 in this 00:16:40.599 --> 00:16:40.979 world 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:45.440 and that's 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:46.120 a really hard 00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:46.480 thing to 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:46.980 understand 00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:47.320 and even 00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:47.800 when you read 00:16:47.800 --> 00:16:48.480 the commentaries 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:48.860 on this 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:49.240 they go 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:49.920 different ways 00:16:49.920 --> 00:16:50.360 one of the 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:50.820 ways that the 00:16:50.820 --> 00:16:51.600 commentators go 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:52.120 is they say 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:52.659 like it's an 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:53.800 aesthetic response 00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:55.120 it's sort of 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:55.659 like I'm going 00:16:55.659 --> 00:16:56.300 to try and live 00:16:56.300 --> 00:16:57.159 the pure holy 00:16:57.159 --> 00:16:58.159 lifestyle now 00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:59.100 rather than get 00:16:59.100 --> 00:16:59.860 my hands dirty 00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:00.600 with immorality 00:17:00.600 --> 00:17:01.340 and sex and all 00:17:01.340 --> 00:17:01.840 that sort of 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:02.120 stuff 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:03.000 no 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:05.400 but you do 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:06.180 see that 00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:08.180 I had a 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:08.480 friend 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.700 he's not a 00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:10.200 friend really 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:10.840 someone I 00:17:10.840 --> 00:17:11.120 knew 00:17:11.120 --> 00:17:12.039 who's very 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:12.660 high up in 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:14.180 the Hare 00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:15.019 Krishna movement 00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:15.720 and when he 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.580 was about 25 00:17:16.580 --> 00:17:17.220 we grew up 00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:17.819 parallel to 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:18.240 one another 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:18.660 knew one 00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:18.980 another 00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:19.840 at the end 00:17:19.840 --> 00:17:20.140 of high 00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:20.460 school he 00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:20.880 became a 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:21.440 Hare Krishna 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:21.819 and he's 00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.259 risen in 00:17:22.259 --> 00:17:22.700 the movement 00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:23.180 I remember 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:23.460 he got 00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:23.819 married 00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:24.299 I think 00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:24.620 he's now 00:17:24.620 --> 00:17:24.940 on about 00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:25.440 his third 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:25.819 marriage 00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:26.580 but he 00:17:26.580 --> 00:17:27.340 got married 00:17:27.340 --> 00:17:27.779 and he 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:28.059 said 00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:29.140 we believe 00:17:29.140 --> 00:17:30.080 that sex 00:17:30.080 --> 00:17:30.880 is purely 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:31.819 for procreation 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:32.480 so we only 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:33.059 come together 00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:33.700 and have sex 00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:34.240 and make love 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:34.779 in our marriage 00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:35.100 when we're 00:17:35.100 --> 00:17:35.480 trying to have 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:35.920 a child 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:37.420 we don't do 00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:37.720 it for 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:38.240 enjoyment 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:42.779 Roman 00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:43.220 Catholic 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:43.720 priests 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:44.140 at their 00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:44.720 ordination 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.220 are asked 00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:45.920 this question 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:46.220 in the 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:46.799 presence of 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:47.220 God and 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:47.859 his church 00:17:47.859 --> 00:17:48.240 are you 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:48.759 resolved 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:49.440 as a sign 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:49.779 of your 00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:50.319 interior 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.099 dedication 00:17:51.099 --> 00:17:51.839 to Christ 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:52.940 to remain 00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:53.559 celibate 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:53.900 for the 00:17:53.900 --> 00:17:54.240 sake of 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:54.660 the kingdom 00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:55.079 and in 00:17:55.079 --> 00:17:55.480 lifelong 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:55.940 service 00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:56.359 to God 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:57.000 and mankind 00:17:57.000 --> 00:18:00.220 two of 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:00.720 my friends 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:01.160 resolved 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:01.480 not to 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:01.940 have sex 00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.200 on the 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:02.500 night of 00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:02.640 their 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:02.920 marriage 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:03.180 because 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:03.380 they 00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:03.559 wanted 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:03.980 to spend 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:04.299 the night 00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:04.599 in prayer 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:05.019 to God 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:09.740 I never 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:10.460 really thought 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.500 it was my 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:11.960 place to 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:12.379 ask how 00:18:12.379 --> 00:18:12.660 they got 00:18:12.660 --> 00:18:12.900 on 00:18:12.900 --> 00:18:17.599 but their 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:18.139 desire 00:18:18.139 --> 00:18:19.160 was to 00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:19.839 lay aside 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:20.319 their 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:20.819 desires 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:21.220 and give 00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:21.619 themselves 00:18:21.619 --> 00:18:21.960 to the 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:22.139 Lord 00:18:22.139 --> 00:18:22.460 on that 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:22.720 night 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:24.279 and I 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:24.500 don't want 00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.059 to criticise 00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:25.359 them for 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:25.799 doing that 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:26.079 but I 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:26.339 think I 00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:26.599 want to 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:26.879 say and 00:18:26.879 --> 00:18:27.139 I think 00:18:27.139 --> 00:18:27.819 Paul says 00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:28.220 here 00:18:28.220 --> 00:18:29.079 you're not 00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:29.940 more holy 00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:30.660 by taking 00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:31.259 a disposition 00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:32.139 like that 00:18:32.139 --> 00:18:33.980 and in fact 00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:34.259 in the 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:34.879 opening words 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.340 he actually 00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:35.960 says yeah 00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:36.620 husband and 00:18:36.620 --> 00:18:37.260 wife might 00:18:37.260 --> 00:18:38.180 decide not 00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:38.520 to have 00:18:38.520 --> 00:18:39.040 sex for a 00:18:39.040 --> 00:18:39.340 little bit 00:18:39.340 --> 00:18:39.860 just so they 00:18:39.860 --> 00:18:40.260 can pray 00:18:40.260 --> 00:18:40.640 but make 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:41.020 sure it's 00:18:41.020 --> 00:18:41.440 not too 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:41.880 long 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:44.200 and no 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:44.580 I'm not 00:18:44.580 --> 00:18:45.240 prescribing 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:45.820 it I'm not 00:18:45.820 --> 00:18:46.380 teaching it 00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:46.820 as something 00:18:46.820 --> 00:18:47.300 that you 00:18:47.300 --> 00:18:48.180 should do 00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:50.360 so that's 00:18:50.360 --> 00:18:51.000 the ascetic 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:51.860 type response 00:18:51.860 --> 00:18:52.340 and he's 00:18:52.340 --> 00:18:53.140 not endorsing 00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:53.340 it 00:18:53.340 --> 00:18:55.080 but there is 00:18:55.080 --> 00:18:55.660 another way 00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:56.300 you can read 00:18:56.300 --> 00:18:56.920 this if you 00:18:56.920 --> 00:18:57.600 understand the 00:18:57.600 --> 00:18:58.360 immorality that 00:18:58.360 --> 00:18:58.840 they've come 00:18:58.840 --> 00:18:59.360 from and if 00:18:59.360 --> 00:18:59.920 you understand 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:00.400 the people 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:01.100 asking these 00:19:01.100 --> 00:19:01.800 questions have 00:19:01.800 --> 00:19:02.340 been in all 00:19:02.340 --> 00:19:02.820 sorts of 00:19:02.820 --> 00:19:03.560 messy places 00:19:03.560 --> 00:19:04.280 in terms of 00:19:04.280 --> 00:19:04.740 sex 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:06.680 they might 00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:07.160 just be 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:07.840 saying so we 00:19:07.840 --> 00:19:08.280 shouldn't be 00:19:08.280 --> 00:19:08.820 sleeping with 00:19:08.820 --> 00:19:09.220 girls 00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:11.040 we shouldn't 00:19:11.040 --> 00:19:11.400 be doing 00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:11.820 the barley 00:19:11.820 --> 00:19:12.220 thing 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:14.520 and he 00:19:14.520 --> 00:19:14.980 will come 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.400 in now 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:15.860 and teach 00:19:15.860 --> 00:19:16.500 about that 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:17.880 and now I 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.420 want to turn 00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:19.200 I think to 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:20.540 that sheet 00:19:20.540 --> 00:19:22.540 which I've 00:19:22.540 --> 00:19:22.980 called my 00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.520 mud map 00:19:23.520 --> 00:19:26.640 and if you 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.280 need to know 00:19:27.280 --> 00:19:27.640 what a mud 00:19:27.640 --> 00:19:28.080 map is 00:19:28.080 --> 00:19:28.880 don't even 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:29.300 bother I'll 00:19:29.300 --> 00:19:29.660 explain it 00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:29.860 later 00:19:29.859 --> 00:19:32.539 but the 00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.359 green line 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:34.179 is sort of 00:19:34.179 --> 00:19:34.779 verses 1 00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.259 to 40 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:35.799 of 1 00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:36.339 corinthians 00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:36.740 7 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:37.199 and you're 00:19:37.199 --> 00:19:37.359 going to 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:37.659 see this 00:19:37.659 --> 00:19:38.000 isn't going 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.259 to take 00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:38.759 very long 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.000 I'm not 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:39.159 going to 00:19:39.159 --> 00:19:39.639 take ages 00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:39.959 to go 00:19:39.959 --> 00:19:40.419 through 40 00:19:40.419 --> 00:19:40.799 verses 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:43.500 but above 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.099 the line 00:19:44.099 --> 00:19:45.559 this whole 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:45.979 section 00:19:45.979 --> 00:19:46.559 breaks into 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:46.819 three 00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:47.439 the first 00:19:47.439 --> 00:19:48.779 16 verses 00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:49.399 are addressed 00:19:49.399 --> 00:19:50.039 to people 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:51.139 who are 00:19:51.139 --> 00:19:51.939 either married 00:19:51.939 --> 00:19:53.019 or who have 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:53.740 formally been 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.000 married 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:54.619 so a married 00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:55.119 person is 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:55.579 someone who's 00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:56.259 happily married 00:19:56.259 --> 00:19:57.160 somebody who's 00:19:57.160 --> 00:19:58.119 unhappily married 00:19:58.119 --> 00:19:59.240 and a 00:19:59.240 --> 00:19:59.980 formally married 00:19:59.980 --> 00:20:00.539 person is 00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:01.140 somebody who 00:20:01.140 --> 00:20:02.000 is widowed 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:02.480 or perhaps 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:03.099 divorced or 00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:03.539 whatever it 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:03.779 is 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:04.379 they're not 00:20:04.379 --> 00:20:04.879 specifically 00:20:04.879 --> 00:20:05.500 mentioned 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:07.879 the middle 00:20:07.879 --> 00:20:08.660 sections about 00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:09.779 circumcision and 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:10.460 slavery and 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.299 that at first 00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:11.920 glance you think 00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:12.700 what's that doing 00:20:12.700 --> 00:20:13.180 in the middle of 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:13.759 this stuff on 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:15.019 sex and the 00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:15.640 third part 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:16.379 really it's to 00:20:16.379 --> 00:20:16.720 some of the 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.140 people at 00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:17.680 Sunday night 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.279 churches to 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:18.940 people who 00:20:18.940 --> 00:20:19.819 are not yet 00:20:19.819 --> 00:20:20.619 married haven't 00:20:20.619 --> 00:20:21.220 been married 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:23.000 and so you've 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:24.000 got my green 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.920 fences there you've 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:25.440 got you know 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.079 people who are 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:26.819 in a marriage 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:27.720 relationship and 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:28.500 sex is part of 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:29.159 it or not part 00:20:29.159 --> 00:20:30.000 of it and then 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:30.539 you've got people 00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.039 who haven't been 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:31.720 married yet and 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.480 sex is part of 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.199 it or not part 00:20:33.199 --> 00:20:35.740 of it and 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.519 sometimes when 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:37.019 you're in one of 00:20:37.019 --> 00:20:37.839 those places you 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.399 look over the 00:20:38.399 --> 00:20:39.019 fence and think 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.439 oh it looks 00:20:39.439 --> 00:20:40.079 better over there 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:40.579 I'd like to be 00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.119 getting some of 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:41.500 what they're 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:44.259 getting I'd be 00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:45.079 really interested 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:46.039 to try that out 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.919 and see how that 00:20:46.919 --> 00:20:49.079 works and I 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:49.559 don't want to 00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:50.480 I think that's a 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:51.720 very normal type 00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:52.539 of response for 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:53.699 all of us to be 00:20:53.699 --> 00:20:54.720 interested in these 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:55.539 things and how it 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:56.059 works and how it 00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:57.559 goes on so if 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:58.000 you come back 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.659 again to the 00:20:58.659 --> 00:20:59.339 first section 00:20:59.339 --> 00:20:59.980 sex and the 00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:00.619 married and the 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:01.319 formerly married 00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:02.819 you've got four 00:21:02.819 --> 00:21:03.759 sections in there 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.559 you've got he talks 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:05.359 to married couples 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:06.019 and then he talks 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.740 to widows and 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:07.359 then he talks to 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:08.179 unhappily married 00:21:08.179 --> 00:21:09.019 people that's people 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:09.579 who might be 00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:10.480 considering divorce 00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.740 and then he speaks 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.480 to people who are 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:13.059 married to someone 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:13.500 who's not a 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:15.379 Christian so somebody 00:21:15.379 --> 00:21:16.279 who's married to 00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:17.720 not a believer and 00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:18.579 he's got things to 00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:19.399 say to each of them 00:21:19.399 --> 00:21:20.220 so let me just read 00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:21.379 a little bit and 00:21:21.379 --> 00:21:21.899 that because I want 00:21:21.899 --> 00:21:22.679 to get to the end 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:25.560 verse 2 00:21:25.560 --> 00:21:26.420 since there is so 00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:27.220 much immorality 00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:28.100 each man should 00:21:28.100 --> 00:21:28.640 have his own 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:29.220 wife and each 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:29.840 woman her own 00:21:29.840 --> 00:21:31.340 husband the 00:21:31.340 --> 00:21:31.940 husband should 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:32.539 fulfill his 00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.440 marital duty to 00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:34.100 his wife and 00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:35.140 likewise the wife 00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:35.860 to her husband 00:21:35.860 --> 00:21:37.160 the wife's body 00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:38.140 does not belong to 00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:39.160 her alone but also 00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:40.000 to her husband 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:41.200 and in the same 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:42.039 way the husband's 00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:42.740 body does not 00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.340 belong to him 00:21:43.340 --> 00:21:44.200 alone but also 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:45.019 to his wife 00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:46.779 don't deprive 00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:47.639 each other except 00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:48.740 by mutual consent 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.799 and for a time so 00:21:49.799 --> 00:21:50.559 that you may devote 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.559 yourselves to prayer 00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:52.660 and then come 00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:53.619 together again so 00:21:53.619 --> 00:21:54.579 that Satan will not 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.420 tempt you because of 00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:56.079 your lack of self 00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:56.660 control 00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:59.359 and on it goes 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:00.480 let me tell you 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.539 that most men read 00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:02.400 that passage and 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:03.440 go wacko the 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:04.819 wife's body belongs 00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.700 to me 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:10.779 and I'm not sure it 00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:12.059 works in reverse 00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:14.160 quite the same 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:16.960 and let me tell 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.420 you that there 00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:17.800 are some 00:22:17.800 --> 00:22:18.460 evangelical 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:19.100 Christian 00:22:19.100 --> 00:22:20.380 publications 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:21.480 written by 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.700 friends of ours 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:24.040 who have written 00:22:24.040 --> 00:22:24.800 if you can't 00:22:24.800 --> 00:22:25.620 control yourself 00:22:25.620 --> 00:22:26.640 sexually solve 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:27.400 the problem by 00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:28.140 getting married 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:31.040 and let me tell 00:22:31.040 --> 00:22:31.720 you that that is 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:32.800 a really crass 00:22:32.800 --> 00:22:33.400 and wrong 00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:34.279 understanding of 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:34.800 what is written 00:22:34.800 --> 00:22:37.500 here because 00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.160 it's not just 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:38.920 people who aren't 00:22:38.920 --> 00:22:39.460 married who 00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.160 haven't got a 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.100 sexual relationship 00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:42.240 people can be 00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:43.080 married and in a 00:22:43.080 --> 00:22:44.019 sexual relationship 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:44.720 and still not 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:46.019 satisfied so what 00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:46.859 do you do go and 00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:47.779 get more sex from 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.639 outside the marriage 00:22:48.639 --> 00:22:49.740 of course he's not 00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.559 saying that here 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:53.279 but can you see that 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:53.980 if you take that 00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:55.000 sort of turn if you 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:56.059 if you grab hold of 00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:57.039 this passage and say 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.720 see what the little 00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:58.519 woman should be giving 00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.480 me and she's not 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:01.180 you have turned from 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:04.160 a selfless stance to 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:06.339 a selfish stance 00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:07.539 because the question 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:09.000 now becomes about 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:11.220 me and what I get 00:23:11.220 --> 00:23:11.980 out of this 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:13.440 relationship and what 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:15.599 is due to me 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:20.220 selflessness to 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.240 selfishness 00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:26.180 it's hard for young 00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:27.160 blokes I can speak 00:23:27.160 --> 00:23:28.120 as a man I can't 00:23:28.120 --> 00:23:29.039 speak as a woman I'm 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:29.900 glad I can't speak as 00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:30.579 a woman but I will 00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:31.319 speak as a man 00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:33.640 and guys are 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:34.599 initiators when it 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.599 comes to sex often 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:37.700 and there's something 00:23:37.700 --> 00:23:38.460 about how we're 00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.360 wired that that's how 00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:43.479 we are guys are 00:23:43.479 --> 00:23:44.539 interested in the 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:47.179 female form guys are 00:23:47.179 --> 00:23:48.099 drawn to particular 00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:49.179 forms of pornography 00:23:49.179 --> 00:23:50.019 that women aren't 00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:51.319 necessarily drawn to in 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:52.479 the same way but some 00:23:52.479 --> 00:23:53.139 of that stuff's 00:23:53.139 --> 00:23:57.819 changing and guys can 00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:59.699 be very big in terms 00:23:59.699 --> 00:24:00.799 of thinking about sex 00:24:00.799 --> 00:24:03.919 and as a young man not 00:24:03.919 --> 00:24:04.959 married it's really easy 00:24:04.959 --> 00:24:06.599 to think like I can I 00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:07.439 want to get married 00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:08.160 because I want to be 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:08.860 able to enjoy that 00:24:08.860 --> 00:24:10.680 sort of stuff and I 00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.620 think I'm just saying 00:24:11.620 --> 00:24:12.580 if that's where we're 00:24:12.580 --> 00:24:13.920 working from in terms 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:15.820 of mindset we're 00:24:15.820 --> 00:24:16.900 working from a selfish 00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:18.160 place where it is all 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:19.320 about us and what we're 00:24:19.320 --> 00:24:20.980 going to get and 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:22.080 without regard to the 00:24:22.080 --> 00:24:23.380 other person coming as 00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:24.680 the selfless man looking 00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:28.220 to serve this woman who 00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:29.299 I'm going to take as my 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.559 life partner who will say 00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:32.059 yes to me as I say yes 00:24:32.059 --> 00:24:33.940 to her to serve before 00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:35.200 the Lord Jesus from this 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:36.080 day forward and forever 00:24:36.080 --> 00:24:37.799 more as long as God 00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:38.920 gives us breath on this 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:39.259 planet. 00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:44.080 So sex can distort our 00:24:44.080 --> 00:24:44.860 thinking in really 00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:45.840 unhelpful ways. 00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:47.559 It becomes the goal 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.380 rather than the 00:24:48.380 --> 00:24:49.460 relationship and the 00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:51.759 person and we live in 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.380 that distorted 00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:53.720 environment and I have 00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.860 experienced some of the 00:24:54.860 --> 00:24:55.779 distortion of that 00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:57.279 environment and it ends 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:58.259 up having to be worked 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.140 out in your marriage. 00:24:59.380 --> 00:25:01.519 It's not a great thing to 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.440 bring to your marriage. 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:09.519 But I think he upholds 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:11.980 sex as a wonderful thing 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:14.460 given by God but he 00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:15.400 takes it out of the 00:25:15.400 --> 00:25:16.940 Corinthian world environment 00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:17.900 where you can get it 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:20.180 anywhere and he brings it 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:21.779 inside a marriage live 00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:23.160 before the cross of the 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:25.600 Lord Jesus Christ and at 00:25:25.600 --> 00:25:26.779 the same time as he does 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:28.000 that with sex and marriage 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:29.340 he also affirms singleness 00:25:29.340 --> 00:25:30.480 as a really great thing. 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:33.620 So I know when you come 00:25:33.620 --> 00:25:34.420 into youth group and 00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:35.380 young adult ministry 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:37.200 sometimes the big 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.539 questions are will I 00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:38.839 marry? 00:25:39.019 --> 00:25:39.720 Will I have a life 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.099 partner? 00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:42.420 And some of the 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:43.980 attitudes that lie in 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:45.380 the background and 00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:46.819 aren't helpful attitudes 00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:48.140 are attitudes like I'm 00:25:48.140 --> 00:25:50.240 not complete unless I am 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:52.620 married, unless I am in 00:25:52.620 --> 00:25:53.279 relationship. 00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:56.240 And right through this 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:58.440 passage the apostle 00:25:58.440 --> 00:26:00.220 affirms the goodness of 00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:01.600 singleness in its own 00:26:01.600 --> 00:26:02.960 right as opposed to 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:03.380 marriage. 00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:06.360 It's a counter-cultural 00:26:06.360 --> 00:26:07.160 value. 00:26:07.860 --> 00:26:08.820 Steve told me the other 00:26:08.820 --> 00:26:10.100 day that with regard to 00:26:10.100 --> 00:26:11.000 widows in the Roman 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.980 Empire if a woman was 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:14.539 widowed she was only 00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:15.759 allowed to remain a 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:17.120 widow for two years or 00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:18.440 she was fined if she 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:19.400 hadn't remarried. 00:26:21.080 --> 00:26:22.600 So to affirm singleness 00:26:22.600 --> 00:26:24.440 is actually to affirm a 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:26.779 counter-cultural value and 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:28.879 say this is a state before 00:26:28.879 --> 00:26:31.920 God which is complete and 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:35.000 whole and valid and from 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:36.480 which the Lord Jesus 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:38.639 Christ can be fruitfully 00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.240 served. 00:26:41.079 --> 00:26:41.779 I think he's really 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.759 careful not to put 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:44.720 singleness over marriage or 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:46.259 marriage over singleness and 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:47.500 yet at the same time when you 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:50.359 get down to the very end he 00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:51.879 will say that there are a lot 00:26:51.879 --> 00:26:53.660 of advantages to singleness 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:55.640 in terms of serving Christ. 00:26:57.080 --> 00:26:58.140 Might get to that in a 00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:58.259 minute. 00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:59.340 I'd like to get to that in a 00:26:59.340 --> 00:26:59.460 minute. 00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:01.620 So when you look at the 00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:02.900 sheet, the mud map, the 00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.840 lines below are the 00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:05.040 separation between different 00:27:05.040 --> 00:27:06.160 places in life that we 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.259 might find ourselves. 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:09.580 Verses 10 to 11 is probably 00:27:09.580 --> 00:27:10.740 a really important one. 00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:12.279 In most of those there's a 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:13.620 place for being content. 00:27:14.040 --> 00:27:15.160 The one that's different are 00:27:15.160 --> 00:27:16.040 maybe people who are 00:27:16.040 --> 00:27:16.860 considering divorce. 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:18.019 So he's speaking, not 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:19.040 saying everything that there 00:27:19.040 --> 00:27:20.340 is to be said about divorce 00:27:20.340 --> 00:27:21.720 but he's speaking to people in 00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:23.180 church who could be 00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:25.480 considering divorce and he's 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:27.799 saying divorce is not the 00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.600 way out of marriage. 00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:29.900 If you're going to separate 00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:31.019 for a time if things are 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:32.100 really tough and sometimes 00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:33.000 in a marriage they are 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:34.480 really tough but don't 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.779 separate thinking I can just 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.960 change horses and go to 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.680 someone else. 00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.460 Separate with the intention 00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:41.720 of reconciliation or remain 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:42.960 single. 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:45.100 But it's speaking to the 00:27:45.100 --> 00:27:46.600 devious mind, the person 00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:48.059 who's manipulating here to 00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:49.319 try and get out of marriage 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:50.339 because it's just not 00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:53.000 working and he's saying no 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:54.480 and he has the Lord's 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.899 authority in that. 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.539 There's some wonderfully 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.619 reassuring stuff. 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:01.759 There's people here who are 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.779 married to unbelievers. 00:28:02.879 --> 00:28:03.539 I'm going to say to you 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:04.919 tonight if you're a believer 00:28:04.919 --> 00:28:06.139 don't marry an unbeliever. 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.500 But if you have married an 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.700 unbeliever and it's by your 00:28:09.700 --> 00:28:11.480 own choice then be reassured 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.960 here by what's said. 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:14.759 Or if you've become a 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:15.980 Christian along the way 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:17.579 after maybe starting marriage 00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:18.639 with both of you not 00:28:18.639 --> 00:28:19.539 knowing the Lord and then 00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:20.519 one of you comes to the 00:28:20.519 --> 00:28:22.059 Lord the question that gets 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:23.839 asked is should I get out of 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:25.039 this relationship because 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:26.379 it's not really holy before 00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:26.819 the Lord. 00:28:27.899 --> 00:28:28.839 And the answer from the 00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:30.240 passage is so clear. 00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:32.480 Stay in it if your partner 00:28:32.480 --> 00:28:33.740 is willing to live with you 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:35.439 because you have a 00:28:35.439 --> 00:28:37.879 sanctifying influence and 00:28:37.879 --> 00:28:40.199 impact on your spouse and 00:28:40.199 --> 00:28:40.879 on your children. 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:42.079 You have an influence. 00:28:42.659 --> 00:28:44.159 You bring the gospel good to 00:28:44.159 --> 00:28:45.539 bear in this marriage in 00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:47.359 which you live and before 00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:49.099 God it is a valid marriage 00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:50.119 and a place where you 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:51.420 ought to remain and find 00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:52.200 contentment. 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:55.159 And that's the theme that 00:28:55.159 --> 00:28:56.180 runs right through here. 00:28:56.279 --> 00:28:56.920 So if you look at the 00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:59.139 sheet the mud map it's sort 00:28:59.139 --> 00:29:00.819 of a violet colour but right 00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:02.639 through in every circumstance 00:29:02.639 --> 00:29:05.879 here there is the notion 00:29:05.879 --> 00:29:07.399 of contentment like being 00:29:07.399 --> 00:29:08.980 content where you are. 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.920 And I think that makes sense 00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:11.920 of the middle bit because he 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:12.980 goes off and talks about 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:14.539 circumcision and slavery and 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:15.319 says if you've been 00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:16.480 circumcised you don't need 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.740 to be uncircumcised. 00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:19.559 And any guy thinking about 00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:21.000 that goes well that's good 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:22.539 because that only sounds 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:24.619 painful and I don't even 00:29:24.619 --> 00:29:25.559 know how you do it. 00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:28.159 And if you're a slave there's 00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:29.159 a sense of contentment. 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:29.940 If you've got an opportunity 00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:31.139 to come out of slavery we'll 00:29:31.139 --> 00:29:32.480 take the opportunity but 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:34.079 otherwise be content. 00:29:35.079 --> 00:29:36.240 And that feeds into the 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:38.079 next bit from verse 25 on 00:29:38.079 --> 00:29:39.039 where it says if you're bound 00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:40.420 to a wife don't seem to be 00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:40.859 loosed. 00:29:41.139 --> 00:29:42.859 Don't seek to be loosed. 00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:44.219 And if you're not married 00:29:44.219 --> 00:29:45.459 don't seek to be bound. 00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:48.139 In other words be content in 00:29:48.139 --> 00:29:49.579 the stage of life that you're 00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:49.819 in. 00:29:50.699 --> 00:29:51.779 And I think when you look at 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.779 that part when you're in 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:55.839 verses 25 to 40 you get a 00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:56.759 picture there that maybe 00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:58.099 helps us in young adult and 00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:59.500 youth ministry because as I 00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.459 said before you know how 00:30:00.459 --> 00:30:01.639 sometimes you think this is 00:30:01.639 --> 00:30:03.219 all about pairing up and 00:30:03.219 --> 00:30:03.939 there's all sorts of 00:30:03.939 --> 00:30:05.079 acronyms out there for 00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:06.039 hatching and matching and 00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:07.719 dispatching and it's obvious 00:30:07.719 --> 00:30:09.059 at this stage of life when 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:10.879 people do marry they do come 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:11.860 together they do get 00:30:11.860 --> 00:30:12.960 interested in one another 00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:14.080 there's something really 00:30:14.080 --> 00:30:15.220 nice about all that there's 00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:16.320 nothing wrong with all of 00:30:16.320 --> 00:30:16.560 that. 00:30:17.040 --> 00:30:18.620 But sometimes people come to 00:30:18.620 --> 00:30:19.980 that driven like really 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:20.860 needy I've got to be 00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:21.140 married. 00:30:21.400 --> 00:30:22.080 If I haven't got a 00:30:22.080 --> 00:30:23.040 relationship I'm not 00:30:23.040 --> 00:30:23.500 complete. 00:30:24.980 --> 00:30:25.940 And I think what he's 00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:26.760 urging here is a 00:30:26.760 --> 00:30:27.960 contentment in where we 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:29.060 are and actually you make 00:30:29.060 --> 00:30:31.860 yourself a more presentable 00:30:31.860 --> 00:30:33.960 marriage prospect by being 00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:36.020 secure and content in 00:30:36.020 --> 00:30:37.380 serving the Lord in the 00:30:37.380 --> 00:30:38.320 state of life that you're 00:30:38.320 --> 00:30:38.520 in. 00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:40.539 And sometimes people who 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.460 come across as really 00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:42.859 needy are people who come 00:30:42.859 --> 00:30:44.039 across as maybe carrying 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:45.539 problems and difficulties 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:47.379 and setting themselves up 00:30:47.379 --> 00:30:48.180 for going into a 00:30:48.180 --> 00:30:49.259 relationship which is a 00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:50.779 really bad relationship for 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.019 them. 00:30:54.119 --> 00:30:56.400 But throughout this section 00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.339 see I haven't gone into the 00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:58.680 detail of the passage I'm not 00:30:58.680 --> 00:31:00.200 reading that again but he's 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:01.579 really affirming that if you 00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:03.200 do get married it's not a 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:03.440 sin. 00:31:04.879 --> 00:31:06.259 If you do enter into a 00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.319 relationship a marriage 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:08.960 relationship and sex is part 00:31:08.960 --> 00:31:10.139 of that it's a normal part 00:31:10.139 --> 00:31:11.939 of that it's not a sin it's 00:31:11.939 --> 00:31:13.960 not to be despised it's not 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:15.879 unholy it is not less. 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:18.960 But if you are a young 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:20.960 person or an older person and 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:22.419 you're not married and you are 00:31:22.419 --> 00:31:24.099 content in that place 00:31:24.099 --> 00:31:26.279 firstly saying be content with 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:28.319 who you are and where you are 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:33.019 be content in your singleness and 00:31:33.019 --> 00:31:34.559 he will add to it even more 00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:35.859 because he will say 00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:40.919 he will say that there are 00:31:40.919 --> 00:31:43.399 distinct advantages in the 00:31:43.399 --> 00:31:44.279 single life. 00:31:45.940 --> 00:31:47.440 Married people have troubles. 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:50.519 Anybody who's married here my 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:52.000 wife confirmed this very readily 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:53.379 for me this morning but married 00:31:53.379 --> 00:31:54.839 people have to sort things out 00:31:54.839 --> 00:31:55.740 between themselves. 00:31:55.740 --> 00:32:00.039 It's not always pure bliss. 00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:03.000 One high bedroom high to 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:04.599 another is life you know in the 00:32:04.599 --> 00:32:06.259 terms of the world it's just not 00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:07.420 quite like that. 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:11.500 But when it's working there is a 00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:13.920 deep place of security and comfort 00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:16.519 and things that God does give. 00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:22.380 And marriage itself is like the 00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:24.440 world itself it's coming to an end. 00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:28.900 Everything's winding down and I 00:32:28.900 --> 00:32:30.320 often say that when I marry 00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:32.700 somebody sometimes people get 00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:34.539 upset with me for this but the 00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:36.960 only way a good marriage will end 00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:37.680 is sadly. 00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:41.860 It's going to come to an end with 00:32:41.860 --> 00:32:43.160 the death of one of the spouses. 00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:46.440 And marriage is not eternal it 00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:48.039 doesn't go into eternity so when 00:32:48.039 --> 00:32:49.519 people say I can't wait to be 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:51.200 reunited in heaven well there is a 00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:53.080 sense of being reunited in heaven 00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:54.419 with the body of believers and 00:32:54.419 --> 00:32:55.740 face to face with the Lord. 00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:58.539 But Jesus himself says you don't 00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:59.779 understand the scriptures to the 00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:01.399 Sadducees in heaven there won't be 00:33:01.399 --> 00:33:02.819 marriage or being given in 00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:03.259 marriage. 00:33:03.939 --> 00:33:05.339 Because they've come to Jesus and 00:33:05.339 --> 00:33:06.559 asked a really tricky question. 00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:08.159 Jesus there's this woman she's been 00:33:08.159 --> 00:33:09.299 married to seven different men 00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:10.799 whose wife is she going to be in 00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.139 heaven. 00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:13.879 Well life is pretty complicated and 00:33:13.879 --> 00:33:15.119 there are people like that and that 00:33:15.119 --> 00:33:16.019 question stands. 00:33:17.099 --> 00:33:18.500 Well Jesus says in heaven there's no 00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:19.199 marriage or being. 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:21.080 So marriage itself is going to 00:33:21.080 --> 00:33:21.500 finish. 00:33:21.860 --> 00:33:24.420 It's a temporary relationship. 00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:28.799 And it's going to end sadly and 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:30.100 there's going to be problems and 00:33:30.100 --> 00:33:31.680 heartache and perhaps that problem 00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:33.059 and heartache won't just be in your 00:33:33.059 --> 00:33:34.900 own relationship it will be with your 00:33:34.900 --> 00:33:36.519 children and the challenges of life 00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:37.660 that come to you through those 00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:37.940 things. 00:33:38.039 --> 00:33:40.539 So he's saying there are reasons for 00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:42.319 the single life you're not distracted 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:44.640 by the things of married life and you 00:33:44.640 --> 00:33:46.900 are freer to serve the Lord in those 00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:47.340 ways. 00:33:47.339 --> 00:33:50.879 But he's very careful I think not to 00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:53.079 exalt singleness over marriage or 00:33:53.079 --> 00:33:55.079 marriage over singleness but he will 00:33:55.079 --> 00:33:56.379 validate both. 00:33:59.679 --> 00:34:01.720 So I think the aha even since I preached 00:34:01.720 --> 00:34:05.079 this this morning the aha for me is 00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:06.740 the journey from chapter 6 of 1 00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:08.480 Corinthians to chapter 7 is this 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:10.639 journey from porneia immorality 00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:16.119 selfishness to a journey of in 00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:18.719 relationship now of selflessness that you 00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:20.059 see in chapter 7. 00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:24.960 And it's like this whole body of 00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:26.559 people that have been converted out of 00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:28.079 the world they carry all the world 00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:29.659 with them they've come from all sorts 00:34:29.659 --> 00:34:31.299 of stuff that if you had to put it up 00:34:31.299 --> 00:34:32.819 on the projector and show us in church 00:34:32.819 --> 00:34:34.719 tonight for any of us we'd be 00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:35.539 embarrassed by. 00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:39.119 But made clean justified sanctified 00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:43.420 washed new beginning and in this new 00:34:43.420 --> 00:34:46.079 beginning it's a journey from selfishness 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:49.119 to selflessness which is the way of the 00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:50.820 cross of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:34:50.820 --> 00:34:53.220 the selflessness of Christ 00:34:53.220 --> 00:34:57.320 transforming our world view on the 00:34:57.320 --> 00:35:05.079 place of sex and making us content with 00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:07.679 who we are and where we are in life right at 00:35:07.679 --> 00:35:08.779 this moment.