WEBVTT

00:00:00.220 --> 00:00:07.020
 24 verses together, and can I say as well that as we go through a topic and a subject like this,

00:00:07.740 --> 00:00:12.500
 it probably raises more questions than it does answers.

00:00:13.179 --> 00:00:18.900
 So we're going to try and get through all that we can, but please, I say this often,

00:00:19.019 --> 00:00:26.660
 but I think I just stress this a bit more that if there are questions from this morning's talk

00:00:26.660 --> 00:00:33.299
 or anything that you want to discuss through, then please feel free to do that with me afterwards.

00:00:33.939 --> 00:00:38.700
 We're going to ask for God's help. We're going to pray. So let's do that now.

00:00:46.219 --> 00:00:53.600
 Father, we thank you for that faithful, loyal love that you show towards us.

00:00:53.600 --> 00:01:04.000
 And we are continually in need of that love, a love that cares for us in the very best possible way.

00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:11.799
 And we know that your word, your truth, is what is right and best for us,

00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:16.299
 whether we are single or whether we are married.

00:01:16.299 --> 00:01:23.739
 And so we pray that your truth would speak into our hearts, inform our minds,

00:01:24.219 --> 00:01:29.079
 that we would become a holy people, a holy people in our marriages,

00:01:30.120 --> 00:01:31.739
 a holy people in our life,

00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:35.299
 that we may honor you and reflect you

00:01:35.299 --> 00:01:39.519
 in our relationships one to another.

00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:44.219
 So please help us, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:49.079
 Well, let me start with a story.

00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:51.299
 The names are fictional,

00:01:52.399 --> 00:01:54.859
 but the story is true.

00:01:57.039 --> 00:01:59.539
 Laura felt lonely and bitter.

00:02:01.099 --> 00:02:03.579
 She and Andy had been married for a few years.

00:02:03.579 --> 00:02:08.539
 When they first met, it truly was love at first sight.

00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:11.139
 They loved being together.

00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:13.719
 And so when Andy popped the question,

00:02:14.060 --> 00:02:16.079
 it was her dreams come true.

00:02:17.219 --> 00:02:18.840
 She thought back to her wedding day.

00:02:19.699 --> 00:02:20.780
 It had been amazing.

00:02:21.699 --> 00:02:25.439
 Friends and family celebrating their new life together.

00:02:26.539 --> 00:02:30.900
 All their longings fulfilled as they set up home as husband and wife.

00:02:30.900 --> 00:02:35.700
 But all that seemed a long time ago now.

00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:41.879
 The once cosy home was now full of regret and anger.

00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:44.659
 Laura was controlling.

00:02:45.920 --> 00:02:48.020
 Andy had met someone else.

00:02:49.180 --> 00:02:51.800
 How had it all gone so wrong?

00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:56.020
 They sat opposite each other.

00:02:57.040 --> 00:02:58.500
 Andy in self-denial.

00:02:58.500 --> 00:03:01.900
 Laura in tears of self-pity.

00:03:03.740 --> 00:03:05.939
 Now, if you're married here this morning,

00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:10.539
 you might be able to relate to Laura and Andy in some way.

00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:14.300
 Marriage is a wonderful gift from God to us,

00:03:14.419 --> 00:03:18.639
 but no one has ever said marriage is easy.

00:03:19.780 --> 00:03:22.379
 The church in Corinth, like us,

00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:24.979
 also faced their marriage problems.

00:03:24.979 --> 00:03:28.459
 So have a look back at chapter 6, verse 16.

00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:33.899
 This explains what some of the marriage relationships were like,

00:03:34.280 --> 00:03:35.579
 or some of the behaviours.

00:03:36.299 --> 00:03:37.839
 Chapter 6, verse 16.

00:03:38.339 --> 00:03:39.519
 Do you not know

00:03:39.519 --> 00:03:43.799
 that he who unites himself with a prostitute

00:03:43.799 --> 00:03:46.239
 is one with her in body?

00:03:46.379 --> 00:03:47.679
 For it is said the two

00:03:47.679 --> 00:03:50.019
 will become one flesh.

00:03:50.020 --> 00:03:55.719
 You see, it was very common for a husband at that time

00:03:55.719 --> 00:04:00.460
 to have a wife who would give him children,

00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:04.379
 he would have a slave who would do his work,

00:04:05.180 --> 00:04:08.439
 and prostitutes for his sexual pleasure.

00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:10.820
 And that was the arrangement.

00:04:10.819 --> 00:04:14.560
 And sadly, this sexual immorality

00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:17.360
 was not just part of city life in Corinth.

00:04:18.060 --> 00:04:21.300
 It had become part of Christian married life

00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:22.860
 within the church.

00:04:24.620 --> 00:04:27.459
 And as the church reflected on these behaviours,

00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:30.300
 some went with that kind of lifestyle,

00:04:31.180 --> 00:04:35.060
 while other people reacted what seems to be very strongly.

00:04:35.759 --> 00:04:40.360
 So rather than this liberal approach to marriage and sex,

00:04:40.819 --> 00:04:44.540
 they instead adopted an abstinence

00:04:44.540 --> 00:04:48.939
 and separation approach to marriage and sex.

00:04:49.779 --> 00:04:52.659
 So there were these two big ideas going on

00:04:52.659 --> 00:04:55.500
 in response to the sexual immorality

00:04:55.500 --> 00:04:58.079
 that seemed to be rooting itself

00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:01.120
 in the lives of believers within the church family.

00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:05.360
 So there were some who thought that,

00:05:05.819 --> 00:05:06.920
 well, if you were married,

00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:10.640
 it was better to abstain from sex altogether.

00:05:11.640 --> 00:05:13.900
 So have a look at chapter 7, verse 1.

00:05:15.780 --> 00:05:17.439
 Paul is writing to the church.

00:05:17.540 --> 00:05:17.780
 He says,

00:05:17.860 --> 00:05:20.080
 Now for matters you wrote about.

00:05:20.920 --> 00:05:23.439
 And here's one of the things they wrote to Paul about.

00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:25.340
 And they said, it's a quote,

00:05:25.339 --> 00:05:29.139
 It is good for a man not to marry.

00:05:29.619 --> 00:05:31.179
 Or better translated,

00:05:31.579 --> 00:05:36.399
 it is good not to have a sexual relationship in marriage.

00:05:37.339 --> 00:05:40.419
 So there were some who thought it was better to abstain completely.

00:05:41.139 --> 00:05:42.259
 On the other side,

00:05:42.359 --> 00:05:43.719
 there were those who thought that,

00:05:44.059 --> 00:05:44.919
 well, if you were married,

00:05:45.019 --> 00:05:46.739
 it was actually better to separate.

00:05:46.740 --> 00:05:49.560
 So verse 10,

00:05:50.960 --> 00:05:52.540
 chapter 7, verse 10,

00:05:52.620 --> 00:05:54.340
 To the married I give this command.

00:05:55.139 --> 00:05:56.100
 Not I, but the Lord,

00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:59.560
 a wife must not separate from her husband.

00:06:01.340 --> 00:06:03.540
 So some were saying we should abstain.

00:06:03.960 --> 00:06:05.840
 Others were saying we should just separate.

00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:09.400
 Now from my experience in life,

00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:10.860
 which isn't very long,

00:06:10.939 --> 00:06:12.560
 but just in talking with people,

00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:15.460
 when marriages get into difficulty,

00:06:15.459 --> 00:06:18.979
 this is exactly what seems to happen.

00:06:20.299 --> 00:06:22.239
 People abstain.

00:06:23.779 --> 00:06:26.739
 And they in turn separate.

00:06:28.259 --> 00:06:29.699
 But marriage is holy.

00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:32.639
 It is a wonderful gift from God.

00:06:32.899 --> 00:06:35.159
 And marriage is set apart for God.

00:06:35.500 --> 00:06:37.859
 And so we should seek to follow God's design

00:06:37.859 --> 00:06:40.419
 as it reflects something of who he is.

00:06:40.859 --> 00:06:42.879
 And in the first part of chapter 7,

00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:46.659
 we're going to see why we should not abstain

00:06:46.659 --> 00:06:50.219
 and why we should not separate.

00:06:51.540 --> 00:06:54.379
 So here's the first big heading.

00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:56.139
 First, marriage and sex.

00:06:56.420 --> 00:06:58.939
 Why abstinence is wrong.

00:06:58.939 --> 00:07:04.360
 I remember babysitting for two young boys.

00:07:05.300 --> 00:07:06.219
 Many years ago,

00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:09.680
 their dad was the local Presbyterian minister

00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:11.600
 and we were very good friends of the family.

00:07:13.019 --> 00:07:14.839
 Well, anyway, on this particular evening,

00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:17.139
 I could see that the older brother

00:07:17.139 --> 00:07:19.939
 was pushing the younger brother

00:07:19.939 --> 00:07:21.360
 to ask me a question.

00:07:22.720 --> 00:07:24.399
 And their concern was

00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:26.319
 their mum was pregnant.

00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:29.879
 Well, when it dawned on them

00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:32.279
 that their parents needed to have sex

00:07:32.279 --> 00:07:33.159
 for this to happen,

00:07:33.599 --> 00:07:34.300
 the elder brother,

00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:35.980
 he was absolutely horrified

00:07:35.980 --> 00:07:37.379
 and he blurted out to me and he said,

00:07:37.719 --> 00:07:39.199
 but my dad's a minister.

00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:43.560
 Well, I'm a minister too

00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:45.219
 and sex is not wrong.

00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:47.879
 It's a beautiful gift from God,

00:07:48.019 --> 00:07:49.740
 but only in the context

00:07:49.740 --> 00:07:51.240
 of a married relationship

00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:52.600
 between one man

00:07:52.600 --> 00:07:54.439
 and one woman.

00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:56.879
 So first,

00:07:57.579 --> 00:07:58.660
 as we've been seeing,

00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:01.439
 God says there is no sex

00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:03.939
 outside of marriage.

00:08:04.579 --> 00:08:06.259
 We've seen this through chapter 5

00:08:06.259 --> 00:08:07.259
 and chapter 6.

00:08:07.740 --> 00:08:10.339
 Sexual immorality was not just part of city life,

00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:13.079
 it had become rooted within church life

00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:14.560
 and within married life.

00:08:15.379 --> 00:08:17.159
 And so in response to all of this,

00:08:17.220 --> 00:08:18.779
 look at the end of chapter 6,

00:08:19.899 --> 00:08:21.360
 just the last couple of lines.

00:08:21.600 --> 00:08:22.000
 He says,

00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:22.980
 you are not your own,

00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:24.480
 so you're not free to do

00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:25.639
 whatever you like in life.

00:08:25.899 --> 00:08:27.259
 You were bought at a price.

00:08:27.660 --> 00:08:29.019
 Jesus died for you.

00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:30.160
 He rescued you

00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:31.699
 from a life of immorality

00:08:31.699 --> 00:08:33.799
 to live a holy life for God.

00:08:34.220 --> 00:08:34.620
 Therefore,

00:08:35.220 --> 00:08:37.220
 honour God with your body.

00:08:38.059 --> 00:08:39.659
 Now, if we're going to honour God

00:08:39.659 --> 00:08:40.320
 with our body,

00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:41.240
 that means we're to

00:08:41.240 --> 00:08:43.299
 follow God's good design

00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:44.259
 for marriage.

00:08:44.259 --> 00:08:44.340
 marriage,

00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:47.500
 and God's good design

00:08:47.500 --> 00:08:48.059
 for marriage

00:08:48.059 --> 00:08:49.879
 is clearly put right

00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:50.539
 at the beginning

00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:51.960
 of the story of the Bible

00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:53.500
 in Genesis 2, 24,

00:08:53.960 --> 00:08:54.819
 where God says,

00:08:54.899 --> 00:08:56.460
 a man will leave

00:08:56.460 --> 00:08:57.600
 his father and mother,

00:08:57.960 --> 00:08:59.600
 be united to his wife,

00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:00.500
 and they will become

00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:01.580
 one flesh.

00:09:01.899 --> 00:09:03.000
 And that becoming

00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:04.120
 one flesh means

00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:05.299
 that they become

00:09:05.299 --> 00:09:06.779
 together as one

00:09:06.779 --> 00:09:08.799
 through their sexual relationship,

00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:10.759
 united to each other,

00:09:10.980 --> 00:09:12.480
 and one with each other.

00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:14.500
 It seals their marriage

00:09:14.500 --> 00:09:15.019
 commitment.

00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:19.259
 Now, while God is very clear

00:09:19.259 --> 00:09:20.620
 that there is no sex

00:09:20.620 --> 00:09:21.860
 outside of marriage,

00:09:22.820 --> 00:09:25.100
 on a positive note,

00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:27.220
 and in contrast,

00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:29.220
 God says,

00:09:30.060 --> 00:09:31.740
 there should be no marriage

00:09:31.740 --> 00:09:33.700
 without sex.

00:09:34.920 --> 00:09:36.420
 And this is where it begins

00:09:36.420 --> 00:09:38.159
 to answer the question.

00:09:38.379 --> 00:09:40.120
 So, chapter 7, verse 1.

00:09:41.259 --> 00:09:41.860
 He says,

00:09:41.860 --> 00:09:42.740
 now for the matters

00:09:42.740 --> 00:09:43.620
 you wrote about,

00:09:44.580 --> 00:09:46.480
 it is good for a man

00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:47.360
 not to marry.

00:09:48.539 --> 00:09:49.899
 So, some were saying,

00:09:50.680 --> 00:09:51.480
 it's good,

00:09:51.580 --> 00:09:52.620
 it's better for us

00:09:52.620 --> 00:09:53.919
 not to have a sexual

00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:55.300
 relationship in marriage.

00:09:56.899 --> 00:09:58.100
 Well, nothing could be

00:09:58.100 --> 00:09:59.200
 further from the truth.

00:10:00.060 --> 00:10:01.500
 Sex is crucial

00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:02.440
 for growing

00:10:02.440 --> 00:10:04.000
 and nurturing

00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:05.440
 the marriage.

00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:07.220
 Three things

00:10:07.220 --> 00:10:08.139
 we're going to look at here.

00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:08.699
 first,

00:10:10.139 --> 00:10:11.580
 sex protects

00:10:11.580 --> 00:10:12.779
 the marriage union.

00:10:13.819 --> 00:10:14.720
 Look at verse 2.

00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:17.819
 But since there is

00:10:17.819 --> 00:10:19.159
 so much immorality,

00:10:19.319 --> 00:10:20.319
 there was so much

00:10:20.319 --> 00:10:21.740
 wrong behaviour,

00:10:22.379 --> 00:10:23.519
 husbands in particular

00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:24.360
 carrying on

00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:25.360
 the way that they were,

00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:28.000
 he says to those

00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:28.699
 who were married,

00:10:29.399 --> 00:10:30.419
 each man

00:10:30.419 --> 00:10:31.899
 should have

00:10:31.899 --> 00:10:33.179
 his own wife,

00:10:33.899 --> 00:10:34.519
 should have a

00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:36.019
 sexual relationship

00:10:36.019 --> 00:10:37.720
 with his own wife,

00:10:37.799 --> 00:10:38.939
 not anybody else,

00:10:39.579 --> 00:10:40.799
 and each woman

00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:42.480
 her own husband.

00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:44.120
 You see,

00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:45.299
 the marriage relationship

00:10:45.299 --> 00:10:46.939
 is exclusive.

00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:49.360
 And so,

00:10:49.439 --> 00:10:50.899
 their sexual relationship

00:10:50.899 --> 00:10:52.460
 is exclusive.

00:10:53.460 --> 00:10:54.799
 And this is what actually

00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:56.000
 keeps husband

00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:56.779
 and wife

00:10:56.779 --> 00:10:57.519
 together.

00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:58.079
 So,

00:10:58.159 --> 00:10:58.519
 look down

00:10:58.519 --> 00:10:59.419
 at verse 5.

00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:02.679
 He says,

00:11:02.779 --> 00:11:03.759
 do not deprive

00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:04.759
 each other

00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:06.460
 except by

00:11:06.460 --> 00:11:07.699
 mutual consent

00:11:07.699 --> 00:11:09.679
 and for a time.

00:11:09.779 --> 00:11:09.899
 So,

00:11:09.939 --> 00:11:10.340
 it must be

00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:10.960
 agreed

00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:12.819
 so that you

00:11:12.819 --> 00:11:13.699
 may devote

00:11:13.699 --> 00:11:14.340
 yourselves

00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:14.960
 to prayer.

00:11:15.079 --> 00:11:15.179
 Now,

00:11:15.220 --> 00:11:15.620
 I think the

00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:16.439
 implication there

00:11:16.439 --> 00:11:16.960
 is that

00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:18.159
 as married couples

00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:18.879
 we should be

00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:19.699
 praying together.

00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:20.799
 Praying together

00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:21.960
 to protect

00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:22.759
 the marriage

00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:23.419
 relationship.

00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:26.319
 and the

00:11:26.319 --> 00:11:27.099
 concern here

00:11:27.099 --> 00:11:27.759
 is he's saying

00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:28.959
 that don't

00:11:28.959 --> 00:11:29.559
 deprive

00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:30.360
 each other

00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:31.019
 sexually

00:11:31.019 --> 00:11:32.779
 because by

00:11:32.779 --> 00:11:33.659
 depriving

00:11:33.659 --> 00:11:34.399
 one another

00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:35.360
 all you do

00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:36.000
 is you drive

00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:36.539
 a wedge

00:11:36.539 --> 00:11:37.199
 of division

00:11:37.199 --> 00:11:38.299
 between each

00:11:38.299 --> 00:11:38.639
 other

00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:40.399
 which causes

00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:41.159
 the marriage

00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:41.779
 relationship

00:11:41.779 --> 00:11:43.299
 to break apart

00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:44.259
 and it could

00:11:44.259 --> 00:11:44.860
 lead to

00:11:44.860 --> 00:11:45.559
 temptation.

00:11:46.419 --> 00:11:46.519
 So,

00:11:46.599 --> 00:11:47.099
 look at the rest

00:11:47.099 --> 00:11:47.860
 of verse 5.

00:11:49.079 --> 00:11:49.959
 Then come

00:11:49.959 --> 00:11:50.799
 together again

00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:52.339
 so that

00:11:52.339 --> 00:11:53.199
 Satan

00:11:53.199 --> 00:11:53.819
 will not

00:11:53.819 --> 00:11:54.759
 tempt you

00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:56.039
 because of

00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:56.539
 your lack

00:11:56.539 --> 00:11:57.179
 of self

00:11:57.179 --> 00:11:57.939
 control.

00:11:59.379 --> 00:11:59.779
 Now,

00:11:59.819 --> 00:12:00.219
 while this

00:12:00.219 --> 00:12:00.819
 should never

00:12:00.819 --> 00:12:01.379
 ever be

00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:02.299
 an excuse

00:12:02.299 --> 00:12:04.339
 sexual

00:12:04.339 --> 00:12:05.379
 inactivity

00:12:05.379 --> 00:12:07.459
 can be

00:12:07.459 --> 00:12:08.459
 one reason

00:12:08.459 --> 00:12:09.479
 for a

00:12:09.479 --> 00:12:09.799
 husband

00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:10.299
 or a

00:12:10.299 --> 00:12:10.659
 wife

00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:11.719
 leaving

00:12:11.719 --> 00:12:12.620
 and having

00:12:12.620 --> 00:12:13.099
 an affair

00:12:13.099 --> 00:12:13.740
 with somebody

00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:14.039
 else

00:12:14.039 --> 00:12:14.659
 or causing

00:12:14.659 --> 00:12:15.199
 the marriage

00:12:15.199 --> 00:12:15.799
 relationship

00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:16.339
 to drift

00:12:16.339 --> 00:12:16.779
 apart.

00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:18.559
 It can

00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:19.039
 cause

00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:19.740
 division

00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:21.060
 rather

00:12:21.060 --> 00:12:21.360
 than

00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:21.940
 unite.

00:12:23.419 --> 00:12:24.340
 Verse 6,

00:12:24.560 --> 00:12:25.019
 he says,

00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:25.700
 I say this

00:12:25.700 --> 00:12:26.159
 as a

00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:26.879
 concession

00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:28.539
 not as

00:12:28.539 --> 00:12:29.120
 a command.

00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:29.779
 In other

00:12:29.779 --> 00:12:29.980
 words,

00:12:30.180 --> 00:12:30.759
 if you

00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:31.419
 must

00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:32.240
 abstain,

00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:33.440
 if you

00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:34.080
 think that's

00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:34.779
 important

00:12:34.779 --> 00:12:35.159
 for you

00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:35.720
 to do,

00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:37.320
 make sure

00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:37.919
 you are

00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:38.360
 very,

00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:39.240
 very careful

00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:40.080
 in how

00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:40.539
 you do

00:12:40.539 --> 00:12:41.180
 that because

00:12:41.180 --> 00:12:42.299
 it can

00:12:42.299 --> 00:12:42.639
 cause

00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:43.120
 division.

00:12:44.060 --> 00:12:44.480
 It could

00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.060
 break

00:12:45.060 --> 00:12:46.159
 the marriage

00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:46.799
 relationship.

00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:48.860
 So,

00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:49.360
 first of

00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:49.519
 all,

00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:49.899
 sex

00:12:49.899 --> 00:12:50.539
 protects

00:12:50.539 --> 00:12:50.820
 the

00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:51.159
 marriage

00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:51.659
 union.

00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:52.440
 It is

00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:52.879
 between

00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:53.500
 one

00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:53.879
 husband

00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:54.180
 and

00:12:54.180 --> 00:12:54.500
 one

00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:54.820
 wife

00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:55.279
 together

00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:55.779
 and

00:12:55.779 --> 00:12:55.919
 it

00:12:55.919 --> 00:12:56.139
 is

00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:56.820
 crucial

00:12:56.820 --> 00:12:58.120
 that

00:12:58.120 --> 00:12:58.259
 it

00:12:58.259 --> 00:12:58.460
 is

00:12:58.460 --> 00:12:58.820
 kept

00:12:58.820 --> 00:12:59.259
 in

00:12:59.259 --> 00:12:59.460
 that

00:12:59.460 --> 00:12:59.800
 way.

00:13:01.800 --> 00:13:02.440
 Second,

00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:04.820
 sex

00:13:04.820 --> 00:13:05.539
 serves

00:13:05.539 --> 00:13:05.960
 the

00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:06.399
 other's

00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:06.899
 needs.

00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:07.680
 So,

00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:07.960
 look at

00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:08.519
 verse 3.

00:13:10.419 --> 00:13:10.840
 The

00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:11.200
 husband

00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:11.560
 should

00:13:11.560 --> 00:13:11.919
 fulfil

00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:12.340
 his

00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:12.740
 marital

00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:13.100
 duty

00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:13.340
 to

00:13:13.340 --> 00:13:13.539
 his

00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:13.899
 wife

00:13:13.899 --> 00:13:14.779
 and

00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:15.240
 likewise

00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:15.620
 the

00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:15.960
 wife

00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:16.240
 to

00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:16.420
 her

00:13:16.420 --> 00:13:16.820
 husband.

00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:18.180
 Now,

00:13:18.260 --> 00:13:18.420
 again,

00:13:18.520 --> 00:13:18.940
 when husband

00:13:18.940 --> 00:13:19.460
 and wife

00:13:19.460 --> 00:13:20.060
 get married,

00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:20.460
 they are

00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:21.280
 giving

00:13:21.280 --> 00:13:21.860
 themselves

00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:22.860
 over to

00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:23.240
 the other

00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:23.700
 person.

00:13:24.580 --> 00:13:25.120
 With my

00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:25.580
 body,

00:13:25.780 --> 00:13:26.540
 I serve

00:13:26.540 --> 00:13:27.180
 my wife

00:13:27.180 --> 00:13:27.940
 and she

00:13:27.940 --> 00:13:28.480
 in turn

00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:29.379
 serves

00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:29.760
 me.

00:13:30.900 --> 00:13:31.200
 So,

00:13:31.400 --> 00:13:31.740
 sex

00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:32.060
 isn't

00:13:32.060 --> 00:13:32.379
 something

00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:32.780
 that we

00:13:32.780 --> 00:13:33.400
 demand

00:13:33.400 --> 00:13:34.080
 from each

00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:34.300
 other.

00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:34.920
 That's

00:13:34.920 --> 00:13:35.800
 very selfish.

00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:37.960
 That makes

00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:38.600
 marriage all

00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:39.400
 about my

00:13:39.400 --> 00:13:40.080
 wants and

00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:41.400
 my desires

00:13:41.400 --> 00:13:42.280
 and my

00:13:42.280 --> 00:13:42.740
 pleasure.

00:13:42.740 --> 00:13:43.259
 it turns

00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:43.720
 the other

00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:44.320
 person

00:13:44.320 --> 00:13:45.200
 into an

00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:45.700
 object

00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:46.139
 of

00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:46.500
 self-

00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:47.440
 gratification.

00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:50.500
 No,

00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:51.019
 sex is

00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:51.399
 something

00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:52.519
 we don't

00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:53.279
 take

00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:54.259
 or we

00:13:54.259 --> 00:13:54.539
 don't

00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:55.000
 look at

00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:55.299
 something

00:13:55.299 --> 00:13:55.539
 as

00:13:55.539 --> 00:13:56.120
 getting.

00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:57.659
 It is

00:13:57.659 --> 00:13:57.980
 something

00:13:57.980 --> 00:13:59.039
 we give

00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:00.220
 in loving

00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:01.139
 service to

00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:01.779
 fulfil the

00:14:01.779 --> 00:14:02.919
 needs of

00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:03.460
 our husband

00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:04.379
 or wife.

00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:04.580
 So,

00:14:04.680 --> 00:14:05.340
 it is

00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:05.799
 loving

00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:06.480
 service.

00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:08.279
 And I

00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:08.639
 think that

00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:09.039
 should be

00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:10.500
 a good

00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:11.220
 answer to

00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:12.000
 verse 9.

00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:12.639
 So,

00:14:12.700 --> 00:14:12.899
 have a

00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:13.100
 look at

00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:13.580
 verse 9.

00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:14.379
 All the

00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:15.379
 hot-blooded

00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:16.179
 young males

00:14:16.179 --> 00:14:16.840
 read this

00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:17.299
 verse and

00:14:17.299 --> 00:14:17.639
 they go,

00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:18.340
 but if they

00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:19.080
 cannot control

00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:19.539
 themselves,

00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:19.940
 they should

00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:20.279
 marry,

00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:20.700
 for it is

00:14:20.700 --> 00:14:21.159
 better to

00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:21.580
 marry than

00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:21.919
 to burn

00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:22.440
 with passion.

00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:22.860
 So,

00:14:22.899 --> 00:14:23.259
 that's why

00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:23.539
 I need

00:14:23.539 --> 00:14:23.820
 to get

00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:24.200
 married.

00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:26.360
 Well,

00:14:26.580 --> 00:14:27.460
 that must

00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:28.299
 be balanced

00:14:28.299 --> 00:14:29.200
 very carefully

00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:29.659
 with what

00:14:29.659 --> 00:14:30.100
 we've just

00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:30.500
 looked at

00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:30.960
 in verse

00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:31.440
 3.

00:14:31.740 --> 00:14:32.360
 It's not

00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:32.759
 about

00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:33.539
 getting

00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:34.720
 or taking

00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:36.559
 and fulfilling

00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:38.019
 my desires

00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:38.639
 and my

00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:39.220
 wants.

00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:41.080
 It's about

00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:41.580
 loving

00:14:41.580 --> 00:14:42.660
 service to

00:14:42.660 --> 00:14:43.320
 fulfil the

00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:44.639
 needs of

00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:45.300
 our husband

00:14:45.300 --> 00:14:46.920
 or wife.

00:14:48.780 --> 00:14:49.460
 Third

00:14:49.460 --> 00:14:49.840
 thing,

00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:51.700
 sex

00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:52.820
 creates a

00:14:52.820 --> 00:14:53.139
 deeper

00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:53.860
 intimacy.

00:14:54.060 --> 00:14:54.280
 This is

00:14:54.280 --> 00:14:54.700
 all in

00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:55.300
 relation to

00:14:55.300 --> 00:14:56.180
 protecting and

00:14:56.180 --> 00:14:56.860
 keeping that

00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:57.540
 bond of

00:14:57.540 --> 00:14:57.879
 marriage

00:14:57.879 --> 00:14:58.320
 together.

00:14:58.440 --> 00:14:58.560
 So,

00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:58.820
 look at

00:14:58.820 --> 00:14:59.360
 verse 4.

00:15:00.540 --> 00:15:01.300
 The wife's

00:15:01.300 --> 00:15:02.660
 body does

00:15:02.660 --> 00:15:03.320
 not belong

00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:03.780
 to her

00:15:03.780 --> 00:15:04.220
 alone,

00:15:04.900 --> 00:15:06.220
 but also

00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:06.620
 to her

00:15:06.620 --> 00:15:06.980
 husband.

00:15:07.640 --> 00:15:08.280
 In the

00:15:08.280 --> 00:15:08.860
 same way,

00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:09.740
 the husband's

00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:10.280
 body does

00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:11.039
 not belong

00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:11.500
 to him

00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:11.740
 alone,

00:15:11.819 --> 00:15:12.240
 but also

00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:12.620
 to his

00:15:12.620 --> 00:15:12.879
 wife.

00:15:13.199 --> 00:15:13.339
 Now,

00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:14.059
 how radical

00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:14.939
 and revolutionary

00:15:14.939 --> 00:15:15.559
 is that

00:15:15.559 --> 00:15:16.339
 in today's

00:15:16.339 --> 00:15:16.759
 culture?

00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:17.939
 We all

00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:18.339
 say it's

00:15:18.339 --> 00:15:19.100
 my body

00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:19.759
 to do

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:20.439
 with whatever

00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:21.199
 I want

00:15:21.199 --> 00:15:21.559
 to do.

00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:24.059
 No,

00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:24.819
 we belong

00:15:24.819 --> 00:15:25.360
 to one

00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:25.699
 another.

00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:27.799
 And sex

00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:28.579
 is deeply

00:15:28.579 --> 00:15:29.179
 intimate.

00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:30.620
 And within

00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:31.360
 that intimacy

00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.259
 it is very,

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:33.659
 very vulnerable.

00:15:35.079 --> 00:15:35.740
 My wife

00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:36.159
 is saying

00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:36.659
 to me,

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.699
 my body

00:15:37.700 --> 00:15:38.160
 is for

00:15:38.160 --> 00:15:38.660
 you

00:15:38.660 --> 00:15:39.180
 and for

00:15:39.180 --> 00:15:39.420
 you

00:15:39.420 --> 00:15:39.820
 alone.

00:15:40.640 --> 00:15:41.100
 And the

00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:41.660
 husband is

00:15:41.660 --> 00:15:41.920
 saying,

00:15:42.280 --> 00:15:42.860
 my body

00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:43.320
 is for

00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:43.620
 you

00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:44.060
 and for

00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:44.320
 you

00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:44.640
 alone.

00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:46.360
 And

00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:46.720
 together

00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.259
 it's not

00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:47.840
 just about

00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:48.140
 being

00:15:48.140 --> 00:15:48.940
 physically

00:15:48.940 --> 00:15:49.400
 naked,

00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:50.340
 but it's

00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:50.940
 about being

00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:51.960
 emotionally

00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:52.759
 naked.

00:15:53.520 --> 00:15:54.020
 We are

00:15:54.020 --> 00:15:54.820
 entrusting

00:15:54.820 --> 00:15:55.420
 ourselves

00:15:55.420 --> 00:15:55.920
 to one

00:15:55.920 --> 00:15:56.240
 another

00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:57.020
 and giving

00:15:57.020 --> 00:15:57.640
 access

00:15:57.640 --> 00:15:58.660
 to the

00:15:58.660 --> 00:15:59.020
 other

00:15:59.020 --> 00:15:59.660
 in the

00:15:59.660 --> 00:15:59.920
 most

00:15:59.920 --> 00:16:00.580
 deepest

00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:01.500
 possible

00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:01.920
 way.

00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:03.800
 And in

00:16:03.800 --> 00:16:04.440
 this way

00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:05.220
 it grows

00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:05.980
 trust,

00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:07.000
 it builds

00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:07.620
 ties,

00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:08.560
 that together

00:16:08.560 --> 00:16:09.320
 creates

00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:10.379
 intimacy.

00:16:12.940 --> 00:16:13.660
 So you

00:16:13.660 --> 00:16:13.899
 see,

00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:15.279
 sex is a

00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:15.779
 good gift

00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:16.320
 from God.

00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.200
 Contrary to

00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:17.560
 what the

00:16:17.560 --> 00:16:18.100
 world says,

00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:18.560
 God is

00:16:18.560 --> 00:16:19.340
 not against

00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:19.879
 sex.

00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:20.700
 He is

00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:21.300
 for it

00:16:21.300 --> 00:16:22.019
 within the

00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:22.820
 context of

00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:23.680
 that loving

00:16:23.680 --> 00:16:24.980
 relationship

00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:25.639
 between a

00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:26.279
 husband and

00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:26.560
 wife.

00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:27.279
 And it

00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:27.480
 is,

00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:27.920
 yes,

00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:28.700
 of course,

00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.200
 from other

00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:29.620
 scriptures,

00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.800
 it is for

00:16:30.800 --> 00:16:31.600
 creating

00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.519
 new life,

00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:32.579
 love,

00:16:33.579 --> 00:16:34.240
 but it

00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:34.740
 is also

00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:35.159
 for the

00:16:35.159 --> 00:16:35.939
 growing and

00:16:35.939 --> 00:16:36.740
 the nurturing

00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:38.120
 of that

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:38.980
 holy

00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:39.960
 marriage

00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:41.059
 relationship.

00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:43.860
 But it's

00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.360
 not always

00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:44.740
 easy,

00:16:44.819 --> 00:16:45.240
 is it?

00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:47.340
 Verse 7,

00:16:48.939 --> 00:16:49.500
 he says,

00:16:49.579 --> 00:16:50.039
 I wish that

00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:50.539
 all men

00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:51.059
 were as I

00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:51.240
 am.

00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:51.980
 Paul was

00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:52.539
 single at

00:16:52.539 --> 00:16:52.879
 the time.

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:53.240
 We're not

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:53.740
 sure if he

00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:54.779
 was ever

00:16:54.779 --> 00:16:55.259
 married,

00:16:55.439 --> 00:16:56.159
 we don't

00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:56.559
 know that,

00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:56.860
 but at

00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.299
 this time

00:16:57.299 --> 00:16:57.759
 it seems

00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:58.120
 that he

00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:59.100
 was single.

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:00.779
 But each

00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.539
 one has

00:17:01.539 --> 00:17:02.139
 his own

00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:02.399
 gift,

00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:02.939
 from God.

00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:03.759
 One has

00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.339
 this gift,

00:17:04.460 --> 00:17:05.119
 another has

00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:05.639
 that.

00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:08.000
 Some are

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:08.400
 single,

00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:08.960
 he's saying,

00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:09.700
 and that's

00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:10.039
 a gift

00:17:10.039 --> 00:17:10.660
 from God.

00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:11.379
 It may

00:17:11.379 --> 00:17:12.059
 change in

00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:12.440
 time.

00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:14.779
 Others are

00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:15.180
 married,

00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:16.059
 and that

00:17:16.059 --> 00:17:16.680
 is a gift

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:17.420
 from God.

00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:18.879
 Now,

00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:19.160
 in the

00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:19.859
 context of

00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:20.240
 marriage,

00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:20.980
 if we

00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:22.019
 are married,

00:17:22.519 --> 00:17:23.000
 we should

00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:23.519
 be very

00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.379
 careful to

00:17:24.379 --> 00:17:25.559
 nurture this

00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.660
 special gift

00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:27.480
 that marriage

00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:27.740
 is.

00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:28.460
 It is a

00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.000
 gift from

00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:30.059
 God to

00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:30.420
 us,

00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.079
 not to

00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:31.779
 be abused

00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.319
 or used

00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:32.740
 as we

00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:33.000
 want,

00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:33.379
 so we

00:17:33.379 --> 00:17:33.619
 must

00:17:33.619 --> 00:17:34.460
 nurture

00:17:34.460 --> 00:17:35.339
 that gift.

00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:37.379
 And

00:17:37.379 --> 00:17:37.879
 every

00:17:37.879 --> 00:17:38.599
 marriage

00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:39.659
 will at

00:17:39.659 --> 00:17:39.939
 some

00:17:39.939 --> 00:17:40.619
 stage

00:17:40.619 --> 00:17:42.359
 struggle,

00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:43.919
 and they

00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:44.519
 will struggle

00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.279
 sexually,

00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:46.539
 and it

00:17:46.539 --> 00:17:46.859
 has the

00:17:46.859 --> 00:17:47.579
 potential to

00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:48.839
 tear marriages

00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:49.339
 apart,

00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:50.039
 and the

00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:50.799
 solution to

00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:51.240
 that is

00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:52.439
 not abstinence,

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.339
 but a

00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.519
 learning to

00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.159
 serve,

00:17:56.659 --> 00:17:56.919
 and a

00:17:56.919 --> 00:17:57.879
 learning to

00:17:57.879 --> 00:17:58.339
 give.

00:17:58.339 --> 00:17:58.480
 love.

00:17:59.679 --> 00:18:00.480
 And that

00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:00.819
 takes

00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:01.459
 gentleness

00:18:01.459 --> 00:18:02.240
 and care,

00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:02.859
 and that's

00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.319
 why I think

00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:04.079
 in verse

00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:04.539
 five it

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.099
 talks about

00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:05.480
 prayer,

00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:06.419
 the need

00:18:06.419 --> 00:18:07.000
 for husbands

00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:07.539
 and wives

00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:07.919
 to be

00:18:07.919 --> 00:18:08.419
 praying

00:18:08.419 --> 00:18:09.000
 together,

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.980
 and making

00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:10.419
 that a

00:18:10.419 --> 00:18:10.899
 part of

00:18:10.899 --> 00:18:11.519
 your life

00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.000
 together.

00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:15.159
 So if

00:18:15.159 --> 00:18:15.480
 we're here

00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:16.159
 this morning,

00:18:16.899 --> 00:18:18.000
 and we're

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.379
 married,

00:18:19.379 --> 00:18:20.679
 and we

00:18:20.679 --> 00:18:21.419
 struggle in

00:18:21.419 --> 00:18:21.980
 this whole

00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:22.559
 area,

00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:24.419
 don't be

00:18:24.419 --> 00:18:25.039
 embarrassed,

00:18:25.919 --> 00:18:26.639
 don't be

00:18:26.639 --> 00:18:27.419
 afraid to

00:18:27.419 --> 00:18:28.159
 ask for

00:18:28.159 --> 00:18:29.279
 help or

00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.200
 for support,

00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:32.200
 nurture

00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.940
 that holy

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.559
 gift of

00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:34.879
 marriage,

00:18:34.980 --> 00:18:35.279
 it is

00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:35.759
 God's

00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:36.339
 means of

00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:36.839
 keeping

00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:38.399
 that

00:18:38.399 --> 00:18:39.099
 relationship

00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:40.460
 intact.

00:18:41.179 --> 00:18:41.679
 So that's

00:18:41.679 --> 00:18:42.139
 the first

00:18:42.139 --> 00:18:44.440
 big question

00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:44.980
 or first

00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:45.619
 big answer.

00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:46.379
 The next

00:18:46.379 --> 00:18:46.700
 one he

00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.059
 looks at

00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:47.799
 is marriage

00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:48.019
 and

00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:48.839
 unbelievers,

00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:49.639
 so why

00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:50.299
 separation

00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:50.899
 is wrong.

00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:53.200
 You see,

00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:53.839
 marriage isn't

00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:54.220
 just an

00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:54.740
 exclusive

00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.379
 relationship

00:18:55.379 --> 00:18:55.839
 between

00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:56.659
 one man

00:18:56.659 --> 00:18:57.079
 and one

00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:57.379
 woman,

00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:58.139
 it's a

00:18:58.139 --> 00:18:59.039
 lifelong

00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:00.000
 relationship,

00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:01.480
 and this

00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:02.379
 applies whether

00:19:02.379 --> 00:19:03.220
 our spouse

00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.579
 is a

00:19:03.579 --> 00:19:03.960
 believer,

00:19:04.099 --> 00:19:04.519
 a follower

00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.099
 of Christ,

00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:05.839
 or is

00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:06.079
 an

00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:06.859
 unbeliever.

00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:08.759
 First,

00:19:08.899 --> 00:19:09.700
 marriage is

00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:10.940
 for life.

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:11.319
 Look at

00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:11.899
 verse 10.

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:13.740
 To the

00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:14.279
 married I

00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:14.899
 give this

00:19:14.899 --> 00:19:15.379
 command,

00:19:15.539 --> 00:19:15.980
 not I

00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:16.339
 but the

00:19:16.339 --> 00:19:16.539
 Lord,

00:19:16.639 --> 00:19:17.460
 so he's

00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:18.379
 quoting here,

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.339
 he's applying

00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:19.960
 the teaching

00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:20.500
 of Jesus.

00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:22.059
 He says,

00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:22.559
 a wife

00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.179
 must not

00:19:23.179 --> 00:19:23.720
 separate

00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:24.519
 from her

00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:24.940
 husband,

00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:26.460
 but if

00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:26.879
 she does,

00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:27.339
 she must

00:19:27.339 --> 00:19:27.960
 remain

00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:29.159
 unmarried

00:19:29.159 --> 00:19:30.099
 or else

00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:31.319
 be reconciled

00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:31.740
 to her

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.200
 husband,

00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:32.539
 and a

00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:33.179
 husband must

00:19:33.179 --> 00:19:33.879
 not divorce

00:19:33.879 --> 00:19:34.539
 his wife.

00:19:35.879 --> 00:19:36.700
 Can you

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.339
 remember what

00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:38.940
 Jesus spoke

00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.559
 about when

00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:40.200
 he quoted

00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:41.299
 God's design

00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:42.259
 in Genesis?

00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:42.579
 Do you

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.039
 remember his

00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:43.399
 words?

00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:44.379
 What God

00:19:44.379 --> 00:19:44.899
 has joined

00:19:44.899 --> 00:19:45.519
 together,

00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:47.339
 let man

00:19:47.339 --> 00:19:48.279
 not separate.

00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:50.079
 So it's

00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:50.539
 to be a

00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.940
 lifelong union,

00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:54.460
 now sadly,

00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:56.159
 there will

00:19:56.159 --> 00:19:56.980
 be times

00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:58.399
 when we

00:19:58.399 --> 00:19:59.019
 do deal

00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.919
 with separation

00:19:59.919 --> 00:20:01.279
 or divorce,

00:20:01.679 --> 00:20:02.139
 and we're

00:20:02.139 --> 00:20:02.440
 going to

00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:02.799
 come to

00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.119
 that in

00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:03.460
 a moment,

00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:03.799
 so if

00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:04.139
 that's a

00:20:04.139 --> 00:20:04.720
 question in

00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:05.119
 your mind

00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:05.559
 right now,

00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:06.079
 just hold

00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:06.679
 on to it,

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:07.460
 and we'll

00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:07.919
 come back

00:20:07.919 --> 00:20:08.379
 to it.

00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:09.559
 But for

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:09.819
 now,

00:20:09.899 --> 00:20:10.159
 I don't

00:20:10.159 --> 00:20:10.500
 want us

00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:10.919
 to lose

00:20:10.919 --> 00:20:11.579
 the focus

00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.819
 that marriage

00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:14.240
 is lifelong,

00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:15.539
 and the

00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:16.279
 reason that

00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:16.619
 it is

00:20:16.619 --> 00:20:17.559
 lifelong is

00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:17.919
 this,

00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:18.779
 it can

00:20:18.779 --> 00:20:20.400
 lead to

00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:21.320
 the salvation

00:20:21.320 --> 00:20:23.460
 of an

00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.120
 unbeliever.

00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.200
 And this

00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:26.920
 is true

00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:27.600
 in two

00:20:27.600 --> 00:20:28.100
 ways.

00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:29.820
 First,

00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:30.200
 it can

00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:30.580
 lead to

00:20:30.580 --> 00:20:31.300
 the salvation

00:20:31.300 --> 00:20:32.539
 of an

00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:33.420
 unbelieving

00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:34.120
 spouse.

00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.480
 So this

00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:35.860
 is thinking

00:20:35.860 --> 00:20:36.200
 of a

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:36.500
 marriage

00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:37.039
 relationship

00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:37.640
 where one

00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:37.880
 of them

00:20:37.880 --> 00:20:38.180
 is a

00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:38.560
 Christian

00:20:38.560 --> 00:20:39.640
 and the

00:20:39.640 --> 00:20:39.820
 other

00:20:39.820 --> 00:20:40.200
 one is

00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:40.580
 not.

00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.220
 So first,

00:20:42.340 --> 00:20:42.800
 marriage can

00:20:42.800 --> 00:20:43.320
 save your

00:20:43.320 --> 00:20:44.120
 unbelieving

00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:44.600
 spouse.

00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:45.000
 So look

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.299
 at verse

00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:45.799
 12.

00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:47.659
 To the

00:20:47.659 --> 00:20:48.039
 rest I

00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:48.519
 say this,

00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:48.919
 so those

00:20:48.919 --> 00:20:49.240
 who are

00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:49.639
 in that

00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:49.980
 married

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.759
 relationship,

00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:52.019
 I, not

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:52.399
 the Lord,

00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:52.759
 so he's

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.159
 no longer

00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:54.439
 quoting what

00:20:54.439 --> 00:20:55.000
 Jesus has

00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.419
 said, but

00:20:55.419 --> 00:20:56.240
 Paul's words

00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:57.159
 are just

00:20:57.159 --> 00:20:58.559
 as authoritative

00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:59.179
 as Jesus.

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.119
 He says,

00:21:01.199 --> 00:21:01.480
 if any

00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:02.179
 brother has

00:21:02.179 --> 00:21:03.099
 a wife who

00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:03.759
 is not a

00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.099
 believer,

00:21:04.939 --> 00:21:05.740
 and she

00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:06.199
 is willing

00:21:06.199 --> 00:21:06.659
 to live

00:21:06.659 --> 00:21:07.000
 with him,

00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:07.480
 he must

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.219
 not divorce

00:21:08.219 --> 00:21:08.500
 her.

00:21:09.559 --> 00:21:09.959
 And the

00:21:09.959 --> 00:21:10.359
 same is

00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:10.659
 true in

00:21:10.659 --> 00:21:11.079
 the opposite.

00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:11.740
 So if a

00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.299
 woman has

00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:12.799
 a husband

00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:14.199
 who is

00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:14.720
 not a

00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.080
 believer,

00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:16.220
 and he

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:16.620
 is willing

00:21:16.620 --> 00:21:17.000
 to live

00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:17.440
 with her,

00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:18.340
 she must

00:21:18.340 --> 00:21:19.200
 not divorce

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:19.759
 him.

00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:21.380
 You see,

00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:21.940
 some people

00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:22.420
 may take

00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:22.759
 the view

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.240
 that, well,

00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:24.200
 look, if

00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:24.720
 my husband

00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.240
 or wife,

00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:26.019
 they're not

00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:26.559
 Christians,

00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:28.240
 then it's

00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:28.759
 not good

00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:29.180
 for me.

00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:29.660
 It's not

00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:30.080
 good for

00:21:30.080 --> 00:21:30.400
 me and

00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:31.180
 my relationship

00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:31.759
 with God.

00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:32.799
 So I

00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.240
 need to

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:33.539
 kind of

00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:34.000
 get out

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.380
 of this

00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:34.920
 relationship

00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:35.640
 and find

00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:36.259
 myself a

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:36.620
 Christian

00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:37.559
 husband or

00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.059
 a Christian

00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:38.539
 wife.

00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:39.980
 If I'm

00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:40.640
 really going

00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:41.039
 to grow

00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:41.360
 as a

00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:41.660
 Christian,

00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:42.440
 then I

00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:42.840
 need to

00:21:42.840 --> 00:21:43.220
 leave them.

00:21:43.340 --> 00:21:43.700
 And I

00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:44.279
 think that's

00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:44.539
 kind of

00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:44.980
 what some

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.220
 of the

00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:45.620
 thinking

00:21:45.620 --> 00:21:47.340
 was within

00:21:47.340 --> 00:21:48.080
 these marriages

00:21:48.080 --> 00:21:48.740
 in Corinth.

00:21:50.580 --> 00:21:51.420
 But there's

00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:52.039
 actually a

00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:53.340
 greater purpose

00:21:53.340 --> 00:21:54.799
 than our

00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:55.580
 own spiritual

00:21:55.580 --> 00:21:56.220
 life.

00:21:57.640 --> 00:21:58.220
 And that

00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:59.059
 greater purpose

00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.600
 is the

00:21:59.600 --> 00:22:01.700
 salvation of

00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:02.720
 our unbelieving

00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.480
 husband or

00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:03.860
 wife.

00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:05.140
 So look at

00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:05.900
 verse 14.

00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:07.819
 Follow with

00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:08.279
 me through

00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:08.640
 these,

00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.759
 because they're

00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.559
 quite technical

00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:11.340
 and we need

00:22:11.340 --> 00:22:11.740
 to follow

00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.080
 along.

00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:12.579
 So verse

00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.119
 14.

00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:15.379
 For the

00:22:15.379 --> 00:22:16.039
 unbelieving

00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:18.019
 husband has

00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:19.339
 been sanctified

00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:20.480
 through his

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:22.519
 wife, and

00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:23.460
 the unbelieving

00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:24.059
 wife has

00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:25.119
 been sanctified

00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:25.740
 through her

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.460
 believing

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:27.179
 husband.

00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:28.399
 Now

00:22:28.399 --> 00:22:29.339
 sanctified,

00:22:29.419 --> 00:22:29.799
 we've come

00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.299
 across that

00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:31.000
 word before

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:31.939
 in Corinthians.

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.659
 It means to

00:22:32.659 --> 00:22:33.099
 be made

00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:34.439
 holy before

00:22:34.439 --> 00:22:35.019
 God, to

00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:35.879
 be pure

00:22:35.879 --> 00:22:36.619
 and blameless

00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:37.019
 in his

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:37.339
 sight.

00:22:37.339 --> 00:22:38.039
 and it

00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:38.579
 also means

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:39.159
 to be set

00:22:39.159 --> 00:22:39.980
 apart for

00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.299
 God.

00:22:40.459 --> 00:22:41.319
 So God

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:41.859
 has won

00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:42.579
 you over

00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:43.039
 and now

00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:43.500
 you live

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:43.919
 for him.

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.359
 You're set

00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:44.980
 apart for

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:46.099
 his ways.

00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:47.859
 So as

00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:48.579
 God looks

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.099
 upon the

00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:49.699
 marriage of

00:22:49.699 --> 00:22:50.980
 a believing

00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:52.199
 person and

00:22:52.199 --> 00:22:53.039
 an unbeliever

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.579
 together,

00:22:54.139 --> 00:22:55.000
 God looks

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.500
 upon that

00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.039
 marriage as

00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:56.659
 sanctified.

00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.139
 He's saying

00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:57.899
 that marriage

00:22:57.899 --> 00:22:58.659
 is holy.

00:22:59.139 --> 00:23:00.179
 It's pure.

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.359
 I recognise

00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:02.379
 that marriage.

00:23:02.919 --> 00:23:03.459
 Marriage is

00:23:03.459 --> 00:23:03.740
 good.

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:04.399
 It's a gift

00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:05.000
 of God

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:06.200
 to you.

00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:08.440
 And what's

00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:09.160
 the implication?

00:23:10.080 --> 00:23:10.580
 Well it

00:23:10.580 --> 00:23:11.840
 doesn't mean

00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:12.980
 that an

00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:13.820
 unbeliever is

00:23:13.820 --> 00:23:14.720
 saved simply

00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.340
 because they

00:23:15.340 --> 00:23:16.000
 are married

00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.880
 to a

00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:17.180
 believer.

00:23:17.340 --> 00:23:17.700
 So just

00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.280
 because an

00:23:18.280 --> 00:23:18.880
 unbeliever

00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:19.680
 is with

00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.880
 a believer

00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:21.340
 doesn't mean

00:23:21.340 --> 00:23:22.240
 they're going

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.740
 to become

00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.380
 a Christian.

00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:26.019
 But what it

00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.660
 does mean

00:23:26.660 --> 00:23:27.259
 is that it

00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:28.080
 provides the

00:23:28.080 --> 00:23:28.920
 opportunity

00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:30.140
 for salvation

00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:31.320
 and that

00:23:31.320 --> 00:23:32.220
 salvation is

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:33.080
 very real

00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:33.759
 because they

00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.619
 are married

00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:35.180
 to a

00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:35.539
 believer.

00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:37.379
 So look

00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:37.720
 at verse

00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.339
 16.

00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.279
 So how

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:40.640
 do you

00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:40.940
 know

00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.519
 wife

00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:42.700
 whether

00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.119
 you will

00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:43.480
 save

00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.680
 your

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.099
 husband?

00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:46.420
 Or how

00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:46.859
 do you

00:23:46.859 --> 00:23:47.160
 know

00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:47.839
 husband

00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:49.000
 whether

00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:49.519
 you will

00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:49.859
 save

00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:50.099
 your

00:23:50.099 --> 00:23:50.559
 wife?

00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.140
 So the

00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:53.599
 purpose

00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:54.119
 he's saying

00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:54.980
 of not

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.839
 separating

00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:57.480
 but staying

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.140
 together

00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:58.759
 is the

00:23:58.759 --> 00:23:59.420
 salvation

00:23:59.420 --> 00:24:00.980
 of your

00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.940
 unbelieving

00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:03.160
 spouse.

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:07.220
 and it's

00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:07.759
 applied in

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.200
 a second

00:24:08.200 --> 00:24:09.039
 way to

00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:11.099
 unbelieving

00:24:11.099 --> 00:24:11.799
 children.

00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.160
 So

00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:14.839
 marriage

00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:15.779
 can also

00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.420
 save

00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.440
 your

00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.160
 unbelieving

00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:18.640
 children.

00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:19.180
 So look

00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.559
 at verse

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.279
 14.

00:24:21.299 --> 00:24:21.839
 We'll read

00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:22.160
 the whole

00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:22.400
 of it

00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:22.740
 again.

00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:23.099
 Verse

00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:23.619
 14.

00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:24.740
 For the

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.379
 unbelieving

00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:26.119
 husband has

00:24:26.119 --> 00:24:27.039
 been sanctified

00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:27.579
 through his

00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.640
 wife and

00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:29.200
 the unbelieving

00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:29.660
 wife has

00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:30.519
 been sanctified

00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:31.019
 through her

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.339
 believing

00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:31.799
 husband.

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:33.099
 children

00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:33.259
 otherwise

00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:33.639
 your

00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:34.139
 children

00:24:34.139 --> 00:24:34.680
 would be

00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:35.399
 unclean.

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:37.079
 But as

00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:37.419
 it is

00:24:37.419 --> 00:24:38.319
 they are

00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:38.700
 holy.

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:39.940
 So I

00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.259
 think the

00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:40.980
 same idea

00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.359
 is being

00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:42.059
 applied here

00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:43.059
 to children.

00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.220
 It's a

00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:45.579
 great

00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:46.139
 privilege

00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:46.599
 it's a

00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:47.039
 wonderful

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:47.500
 privilege

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.339
 for a

00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:49.099
 child to

00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:49.519
 grow up

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:49.720
 in a

00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.180
 home where

00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:51.000
 both

00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.440
 parents

00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:51.980
 believe.

00:24:52.639 --> 00:24:52.919
 I

00:24:52.919 --> 00:24:53.419
 thank

00:24:53.419 --> 00:24:54.299
 God

00:24:54.299 --> 00:24:55.440
 that

00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:55.779
 that's

00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:56.220
 how my

00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:56.519
 life

00:24:56.519 --> 00:24:57.079
 started.

00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:58.460
 A

00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:58.659
 mum

00:24:58.659 --> 00:24:58.960
 who's

00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.240
 going to

00:24:59.240 --> 00:24:59.879
 pray for

00:24:59.879 --> 00:25:00.119
 you.

00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:00.799
 a dad

00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:01.000
 who's

00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.219
 going to

00:25:01.219 --> 00:25:01.599
 read the

00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:01.919
 Bible

00:25:01.919 --> 00:25:02.459
 with you.

00:25:02.739 --> 00:25:02.979
 And if

00:25:02.979 --> 00:25:03.359
 that's

00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:04.019
 you here

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.759
 this morning

00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:05.959
 mums and

00:25:05.959 --> 00:25:06.579
 dads can

00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:06.979
 I just

00:25:06.979 --> 00:25:07.619
 encourage

00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:09.779
 you to

00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:10.859
 invest that

00:25:10.859 --> 00:25:12.419
 time in

00:25:12.419 --> 00:25:13.219
 praying for

00:25:13.219 --> 00:25:13.859
 your children

00:25:13.859 --> 00:25:15.179
 and reading

00:25:15.179 --> 00:25:15.799
 with them.

00:25:16.939 --> 00:25:17.799
 That is the

00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:18.539
 most wonderful

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.259
 gift you

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:19.819
 could ever

00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:21.159
 give to

00:25:21.159 --> 00:25:21.899
 your children.

00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:25.019
 And through

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:26.079
 the believing

00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:26.959
 parents they

00:25:26.959 --> 00:25:27.579
 get to hear

00:25:27.579 --> 00:25:28.019
 the good

00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:28.519
 news of

00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.000
 Christ.

00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:29.140
 Christ.

00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:30.500
 And the

00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:31.059
 same is

00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:32.039
 true if

00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:32.660
 only one

00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:32.960
 of the

00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:33.380
 parents

00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:34.200
 believes or

00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:34.539
 if only

00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:34.900
 one of

00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:35.420
 the parents

00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:35.779
 is a

00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:36.160
 Christian.

00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:37.599
 So in

00:25:37.599 --> 00:25:38.339
 that sense

00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:38.700
 look at

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:38.980
 the end

00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.299
 of verse

00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:40.220
 14 he

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.920
 describes

00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:41.480
 the children

00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:41.900
 of that

00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:42.259
 married

00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:42.799
 relationship

00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.500
 as holy.

00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:44.960
 In other

00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:45.480
 words they're

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.339
 also set

00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:47.079
 apart for

00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:47.680
 God.

00:25:48.700 --> 00:25:49.200
 They're

00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:49.700
 under the

00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.279
 care of

00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:50.819
 a loving

00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:51.859
 parent who

00:25:51.859 --> 00:25:52.460
 can pray

00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:52.960
 for them

00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:53.839
 and teach

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.220
 them the

00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:54.720
 good news

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.259
 of Christ.

00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:56.359
 You may

00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:57.019
 not have

00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.680
 the support

00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.019
 of your

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.819
 spouse in

00:25:58.819 --> 00:25:59.559
 doing so

00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.299
 but there

00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:00.759
 is nothing

00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.319
 to stop

00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:02.000
 you praying

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.539
 for them

00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.859
 and encouraging

00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:04.240
 them.

00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:05.240
 They are

00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.279
 in a

00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:07.379
 very special

00:26:07.379 --> 00:26:07.939
 unique

00:26:07.939 --> 00:26:08.700
 relationship

00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:09.919
 with their

00:26:09.919 --> 00:26:10.960
 believing mum

00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:11.799
 or dad

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:13.779
 because through

00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.399
 them they get

00:26:14.399 --> 00:26:15.179
 to see and

00:26:15.179 --> 00:26:16.759
 hear the

00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.279
 good news

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:17.919
 of Christ.

00:26:18.919 --> 00:26:19.859
 So the

00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.460
 purpose of

00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:21.519
 not separating

00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:22.559
 but staying

00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:23.899
 together including

00:26:23.899 --> 00:26:24.559
 with your

00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:26.379
 children is

00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:27.120
 salvation

00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:28.600
 of their

00:26:28.600 --> 00:26:29.180
 lives.

00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:33.740
 Now

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.200
 sadly

00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:36.240
 sometimes

00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.200
 marriages do

00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:37.840
 come to

00:26:37.840 --> 00:26:38.400
 an end

00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.860
 before

00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:41.020
 death

00:26:41.020 --> 00:26:41.500
 do us

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.000
 part.

00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:43.440
 So look

00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:43.760
 at verse

00:26:43.760 --> 00:26:44.280
 15.

00:26:46.280 --> 00:26:47.460
 But if the

00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.040
 unbeliever

00:26:48.040 --> 00:26:48.640
 leaves

00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:51.540
 let him

00:26:51.540 --> 00:26:52.180
 do so.

00:26:52.180 --> 00:26:53.759
 a believing

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.360
 man or

00:26:54.360 --> 00:26:54.880
 woman is

00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:55.759
 not bound

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.460
 in such

00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.420
 circumstances.

00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:59.039
 God has

00:26:59.039 --> 00:26:59.560
 called us

00:26:59.560 --> 00:26:59.940
 to live

00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.519
 in peace.

00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.580
 Now while

00:27:02.580 --> 00:27:02.960
 we should

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.799
 always seek

00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:04.380
 to do all

00:27:04.380 --> 00:27:05.140
 we can to

00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:06.240
 keep the

00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:06.660
 marriage

00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.440
 together we

00:27:07.440 --> 00:27:08.560
 cannot make

00:27:08.560 --> 00:27:09.940
 an unbeliever

00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:11.259
 stay in the

00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:11.759
 marriage.

00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:13.580
 It's sad

00:27:13.580 --> 00:27:14.519
 and sometimes

00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:15.279
 the believer

00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.200
 who is left

00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:16.700
 is the one

00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.200
 who is there

00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:18.140
 also with

00:27:18.140 --> 00:27:18.740
 the children

00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:19.779
 and in

00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:20.920
 that situation

00:27:20.920 --> 00:27:21.980
 it requires

00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.839
 the church

00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:23.539
 to gather

00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.160
 round in

00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.000
 loving support

00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:26.059
 to care

00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:26.519
 for that

00:27:26.519 --> 00:27:26.980
 family.

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.140
 To watch

00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:28.579
 out for

00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.319
 their practical

00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:29.940
 physical

00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.799
 emotional

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:31.460
 all the

00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:31.940
 needs that

00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.359
 they may

00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:32.700
 have.

00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.240
 It's the

00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:33.859
 responsibility

00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:34.400
 of the

00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:35.019
 church to

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.440
 care for

00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:35.640
 them.

00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:38.700
 So the

00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:39.559
 clear teaching

00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.319
 is that it

00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:40.980
 seems to be

00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:41.559
 through this

00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.259
 is that

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:43.180
 marriage is

00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:43.720
 lifelong.

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.400
 It is for

00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:45.019
 life until

00:27:45.019 --> 00:27:45.720
 death do us

00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:46.140
 part.

00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.120
 And we

00:27:47.120 --> 00:27:47.700
 should not

00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.720
 separate or

00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:50.480
 divorce because

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:53.380
 marriage can

00:27:53.380 --> 00:27:54.100
 lead to the

00:27:54.100 --> 00:27:54.960
 salvation of

00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:55.799
 your unbelieving

00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:57.600
 spouse and

00:27:57.600 --> 00:27:58.100
 children.

00:28:01.360 --> 00:28:02.140
 But there's

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:02.819
 still the issue

00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:03.620
 of verse 11

00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:04.160
 isn't there?

00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:05.960
 I wonder if

00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:06.420
 you noticed

00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:06.799
 it.

00:28:07.860 --> 00:28:08.660
 Let's read

00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.319
 verse 10

00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:10.480
 again.

00:28:10.620 --> 00:28:10.900
 To the

00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.460
 married I

00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:11.880
 give this

00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:12.259
 command.

00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:12.960
 A wife

00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:14.620
 must not

00:28:14.620 --> 00:28:15.900
 separate from

00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:16.620
 her husband.

00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:19.739
 but if

00:28:19.739 --> 00:28:20.699
 she does.

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.279
 So it

00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:24.919
 seems at

00:28:24.919 --> 00:28:25.459
 this point

00:28:25.459 --> 00:28:26.099
 there are

00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:27.079
 circumstances

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:29.519
 when separation

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.459
 or divorce

00:28:30.459 --> 00:28:32.159
 may be

00:28:32.159 --> 00:28:32.759
 necessary.

00:28:34.379 --> 00:28:35.039
 In

00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:35.500
 Matthew's

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.239
 gospel Jesus

00:28:36.239 --> 00:28:36.919
 dealt with

00:28:36.919 --> 00:28:37.599
 this question

00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:38.659
 with people.

00:28:39.379 --> 00:28:39.959
 And in that

00:28:39.959 --> 00:28:40.699
 context in

00:28:40.699 --> 00:28:41.079
 Matthew

00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:42.539
 chapter 19

00:28:42.539 --> 00:28:43.339
 Jesus spoke

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:43.700
 about

00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:45.279
 unfaithfulness

00:28:45.279 --> 00:28:47.180
 in marriage

00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:48.119
 as the

00:28:48.119 --> 00:28:49.119
 only reason.

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.839
 Now that

00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:52.539
 unfaithfulness

00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:53.440
 is either the

00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:54.019
 husband or

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.659
 wife not

00:28:54.659 --> 00:28:55.779
 being faithful

00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:57.639
 to the

00:28:57.639 --> 00:28:57.960
 marriage

00:28:57.960 --> 00:28:58.899
 relationship that

00:28:58.899 --> 00:28:59.500
 they've committed

00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.299
 to each other.

00:29:01.159 --> 00:29:02.019
 An unfaithfulness

00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:02.920
 in terms of

00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:03.839
 well maybe

00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:04.559
 they've gone off

00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:05.000
 and had an

00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:05.519
 affair and

00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:05.920
 they're now

00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.420
 living with

00:29:06.420 --> 00:29:07.220
 somebody else.

00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:09.460
 or maybe

00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.299
 because of

00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:10.980
 abuse

00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:12.539
 whether that's

00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:13.660
 physical abuse

00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:15.140
 or verbal

00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:16.079
 or psychological

00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:16.779
 abuse.

00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:19.220
 So living

00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.799
 with an

00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.779
 unfaithful

00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.299
 spouse

00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:22.200
 in that

00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:22.740
 particular

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.480
 circumstance

00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:24.319
 well they may

00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:24.839
 need to

00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:25.240
 separate

00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:27.539
 for their

00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:28.120
 physical

00:29:28.120 --> 00:29:28.839
 protection

00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:30.579
 for their

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.259
 mental

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:31.920
 well being

00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:32.380
 for the

00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:33.480
 care

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:34.299
 of their

00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:34.839
 children

00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:36.019
 that might

00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:37.019
 be necessary.

00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:40.940
 And again

00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:41.400
 how the

00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:41.680
 church

00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:42.220
 responds

00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:43.380
 is crucial.

00:29:45.120 --> 00:29:46.160
 If a

00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:46.500
 marriage

00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:46.839
 does

00:29:46.839 --> 00:29:47.339
 separate

00:29:47.339 --> 00:29:49.339
 we need

00:29:49.339 --> 00:29:49.740
 to gather

00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.620
 round not

00:29:50.620 --> 00:29:51.920
 in condemnation

00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:53.039
 not in

00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:53.500
 pointing

00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:54.200
 fingers

00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:56.279
 but in

00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:56.799
 grace.

00:29:58.400 --> 00:29:58.860
 Any

00:29:58.860 --> 00:29:59.620
 separation

00:29:59.620 --> 00:30:00.299
 or any

00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:00.740
 divorce

00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.640
 is painful

00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:02.720
 for anybody

00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.640
 and it

00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:04.120
 can leave

00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:05.079
 people with

00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:05.620
 an enormous

00:30:05.620 --> 00:30:06.299
 amount of

00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:06.860
 guilt and

00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:07.299
 shame

00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:08.259
 whether they've

00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:08.859
 played no

00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:09.599
 part in it

00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:10.059
 at all.

00:30:11.219 --> 00:30:11.819
 And there's a

00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:12.759
 certain stigma

00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:13.619
 that's attached

00:30:13.619 --> 00:30:14.119
 to it

00:30:14.119 --> 00:30:14.899
 that it is

00:30:14.899 --> 00:30:15.559
 hard for

00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:15.939
 people.

00:30:17.319 --> 00:30:17.959
 And in that

00:30:17.959 --> 00:30:18.919
 context we need

00:30:18.919 --> 00:30:19.519
 to be holding

00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.299
 out the hope

00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:21.039
 of the gospel

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:22.419
 to point them

00:30:22.419 --> 00:30:23.139
 to our

00:30:23.139 --> 00:30:23.819
 saviour

00:30:23.819 --> 00:30:24.979
 Jesus Christ

00:30:24.979 --> 00:30:26.119
 who not only

00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:27.059
 forgives all

00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:27.579
 of our sins

00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:28.439
 but he's the

00:30:28.439 --> 00:30:29.519
 one who heals

00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.479
 our hurts.

00:30:31.479 --> 00:30:32.799
 Who gathers us

00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:33.599
 in love and

00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:34.179
 compassion

00:30:34.180 --> 00:30:35.320
 and cares

00:30:35.320 --> 00:30:35.799
 for us

00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.320
 immensely.

00:30:37.640 --> 00:30:38.539
 So we need

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:39.299
 to be careful

00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:40.320
 how we think

00:30:40.320 --> 00:30:41.000
 about people

00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:41.860
 rather than

00:30:41.860 --> 00:30:42.560
 push them

00:30:42.560 --> 00:30:43.160
 away in

00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:43.960
 condemnation

00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:44.560
 and judgment

00:30:44.560 --> 00:30:45.779
 we need to

00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.680
 encourage

00:30:46.680 --> 00:30:47.860
 and love

00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:48.920
 and support.

00:30:51.620 --> 00:30:52.580
 But as we

00:30:52.580 --> 00:30:53.200
 said none of

00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:53.680
 these things

00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.160
 are easy

00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:56.420
 and it isn't

00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:56.980
 something we

00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:57.480
 should rush

00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:57.840
 into.

00:30:59.019 --> 00:30:59.840
 Every effort

00:30:59.840 --> 00:31:00.539
 should be made

00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:01.399
 to restore

00:31:01.399 --> 00:31:01.839
 and where

00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:02.460
 possible

00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:03.519
 reconcile

00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:04.759
 that relationship.

00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:06.740
 But let's

00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:07.299
 not lose

00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.079
 the big

00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:09.960
 picture here

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.539
 of what he's

00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:10.839
 saying.

00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.019
 Marriage

00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:13.420
 is for life

00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:15.839
 and it's

00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.180
 for the

00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:17.220
 saving purpose

00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:18.599
 of our

00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:19.259
 unbelieving

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:19.740
 family.

00:31:21.819 --> 00:31:22.460
 So

00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:24.039
 marriage and

00:31:24.039 --> 00:31:24.359
 sex

00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.339
 why abstinence

00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:25.799
 is wrong

00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.460
 marriage and

00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:27.000
 unbelievers

00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:27.920
 why separation

00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:28.519
 is wrong

00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:29.819
 and then

00:31:29.819 --> 00:31:30.500
 third marriage

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.579
 and contentment

00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:33.160
 our need

00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:33.819
 of grace

00:31:33.819 --> 00:31:35.259
 and how

00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.139
 if we are

00:31:36.139 --> 00:31:36.799
 married we

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.660
 all need

00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:39.139
 God's grace.

00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:40.460
 So look at

00:31:40.460 --> 00:31:41.240
 verse 17.

00:31:42.639 --> 00:31:43.319
 This is really

00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:44.180
 a kind of

00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:45.200
 a conclusion

00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:46.200
 he brings

00:31:46.200 --> 00:31:46.779
 these two

00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.539
 big ideas

00:31:47.539 --> 00:31:48.119
 together.

00:31:48.619 --> 00:31:49.139
 Verse 17

00:31:49.139 --> 00:31:49.599
 nevertheless

00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:50.680
 so whatever

00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:51.759
 your married

00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.400
 relationship

00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:53.160
 is like

00:31:53.160 --> 00:31:55.279
 look at what

00:31:55.279 --> 00:31:55.759
 he says

00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:57.160
 each one

00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.319
 should retain

00:31:58.319 --> 00:31:59.000
 the place

00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.679
 in life

00:31:59.679 --> 00:32:01.419
 that the

00:32:01.419 --> 00:32:01.859
 Lord has

00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:02.539
 assigned to

00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:02.879
 him

00:32:02.879 --> 00:32:04.359
 and to

00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:04.839
 which God

00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:05.359
 has called

00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:05.579
 him.

00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:06.299
 This is the

00:32:06.299 --> 00:32:06.879
 rule I lay

00:32:06.879 --> 00:32:07.339
 down in

00:32:07.339 --> 00:32:08.019
 all the

00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:08.559
 churches.

00:32:10.139 --> 00:32:11.200
 Verse 20

00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.919
 each one

00:32:12.919 --> 00:32:14.079
 should remain

00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:14.919
 in the

00:32:14.919 --> 00:32:15.519
 situation

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.059
 which he

00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:16.439
 was in

00:32:16.439 --> 00:32:17.000
 when God

00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:18.240
 called him.

00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:21.000
 Verse 24

00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:22.159
 brothers

00:32:22.159 --> 00:32:22.919
 each man

00:32:22.919 --> 00:32:23.599
 as responsible

00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:24.179
 to God

00:32:24.179 --> 00:32:25.299
 should remain

00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.419
 in the

00:32:26.419 --> 00:32:26.899
 situation

00:32:26.900 --> 00:32:27.700
 God called

00:32:27.700 --> 00:32:28.100
 him to.

00:32:29.920 --> 00:32:30.580
 So I

00:32:30.580 --> 00:32:31.100
 think it's

00:32:31.100 --> 00:32:31.620
 quite clear

00:32:31.620 --> 00:32:31.900
 isn't it

00:32:31.900 --> 00:32:32.400
 if you

00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:32.740
 are a

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.160
 Christian

00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:34.880
 and you

00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:35.519
 are married

00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:38.000
 remain

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:39.440
 in that

00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:39.759
 married

00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.380
 relationship.

00:32:42.320 --> 00:32:42.940
 Now it's

00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:43.560
 so easy to

00:32:43.560 --> 00:32:44.040
 say those

00:32:44.040 --> 00:32:44.640
 words isn't

00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:44.940
 it?

00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:46.860
 Because you

00:32:46.860 --> 00:32:47.240
 may be

00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:47.920
 married to

00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:48.880
 an unbeliever

00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:50.660
 and that

00:32:50.660 --> 00:32:51.040
 can be

00:32:51.040 --> 00:32:51.800
 very very

00:32:51.800 --> 00:32:52.300
 hard.

00:32:52.299 --> 00:32:54.440
 you may

00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:54.879
 be married

00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:55.240
 to a

00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:55.559
 husband

00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:56.899
 who has

00:32:56.899 --> 00:32:57.240
 been

00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:58.059
 unfaithful

00:32:58.059 --> 00:33:01.680
 and that

00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:02.319
 is painful.

00:33:03.899 --> 00:33:04.639
 You may

00:33:04.639 --> 00:33:05.059
 be married

00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:05.440
 to a

00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:06.079
 wife who's

00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:06.980
 really

00:33:06.980 --> 00:33:07.539
 difficult

00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:08.759
 and controlling

00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:11.339
 and that

00:33:11.339 --> 00:33:11.980
 is hard.

00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.159
 So what

00:33:14.159 --> 00:33:14.440
 are you

00:33:14.440 --> 00:33:15.019
 telling me

00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:15.500
 Johnny to

00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:16.419
 say remain

00:33:16.419 --> 00:33:17.180
 in that

00:33:17.180 --> 00:33:17.519
 married

00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:18.099
 relationship?

00:33:18.379 --> 00:33:18.720
 Well it's

00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.399
 easy for you

00:33:19.399 --> 00:33:19.839
 you're not

00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.240
 in my

00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:20.960
 situation.

00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:23.360
 how are

00:33:23.360 --> 00:33:23.759
 we meant

00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:24.279
 to remain?

00:33:26.380 --> 00:33:27.319
 Well rather

00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:27.960
 than be

00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.840
 looking for

00:33:28.840 --> 00:33:29.319
 a way

00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:29.779
 out

00:33:29.779 --> 00:33:31.079
 so rather

00:33:31.079 --> 00:33:31.579
 than running

00:33:31.579 --> 00:33:32.180
 in that

00:33:32.180 --> 00:33:32.819
 direction

00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:34.279
 we need

00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.319
 to focus

00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:35.860
 our eyes

00:33:35.860 --> 00:33:37.200
 up to

00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:37.840
 God's

00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:38.420
 grace

00:33:38.420 --> 00:33:39.980
 and his

00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:40.759
 grace to

00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:41.920
 us in

00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:43.000
 our lives.

00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:45.279
 First

00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:46.860
 he gives

00:33:46.860 --> 00:33:47.579
 us grace

00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:49.579
 for

00:33:49.579 --> 00:33:50.180
 obedience.

00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:52.340
 again pay

00:33:52.340 --> 00:33:52.779
 attention

00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:53.100
 here

00:33:53.100 --> 00:33:53.480
 follow

00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:53.900
 along

00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:54.579
 carefully

00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:54.799
 they're

00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:55.000
 not

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.360
 easy

00:33:55.360 --> 00:33:55.759
 verses

00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.299
 but we'll

00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:56.720
 make our

00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:56.920
 way

00:33:56.920 --> 00:33:57.200
 through.

00:33:57.319 --> 00:33:57.700
 So verse

00:33:57.700 --> 00:33:58.160
 18

00:33:58.160 --> 00:34:00.220
 was a

00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:00.579
 man

00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:01.120
 already

00:34:01.120 --> 00:34:02.120
 circumcised

00:34:02.120 --> 00:34:02.519
 when he

00:34:02.519 --> 00:34:03.140
 was called?

00:34:04.819 --> 00:34:05.440
 Well he

00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:05.840
 should not

00:34:05.840 --> 00:34:06.160
 become

00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:07.240
 uncircumcised.

00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:08.599
 Was a

00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:08.800
 man

00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:09.880
 uncircumcised

00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:10.260
 when he

00:34:10.260 --> 00:34:10.740
 was called?

00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:11.840
 Well he

00:34:11.840 --> 00:34:12.340
 should not

00:34:12.340 --> 00:34:12.579
 be

00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.500
 circumcised.

00:34:14.260 --> 00:34:15.300
 Well I

00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:15.980
 scratched my

00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:16.420
 head many

00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:17.099
 times over

00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:17.599
 this like

00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:18.179
 what's

00:34:18.179 --> 00:34:18.760
 circumcision

00:34:18.760 --> 00:34:19.340
 got to do

00:34:19.340 --> 00:34:19.760
 marriage.

00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:20.079
 What's

00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:20.380
 all that

00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:20.700
 about?

00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:23.079
 Well those

00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:23.360
 who were

00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:24.120
 circumcised

00:34:24.120 --> 00:34:25.620
 were Jews.

00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:26.260
 Those who

00:34:26.260 --> 00:34:27.460
 were uncircumcised

00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:28.620
 were Gentiles.

00:34:29.660 --> 00:34:30.039
 So he's

00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:30.480
 saying well

00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:31.440
 just as a

00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.940
 Jew doesn't

00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:33.320
 have to

00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:34.320
 change his

00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:35.440
 identity to

00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:35.920
 become a

00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:37.100
 Christian and

00:34:37.100 --> 00:34:37.800
 just as a

00:34:37.800 --> 00:34:38.760
 Gentile doesn't

00:34:38.760 --> 00:34:39.059
 need to

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:39.720
 change his

00:34:39.720 --> 00:34:40.559
 identity to

00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:41.019
 become a

00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:41.400
 Christian.

00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:42.660
 Well he's

00:34:42.660 --> 00:34:42.980
 saying to

00:34:42.980 --> 00:34:43.380
 those who

00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:43.800
 are married

00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:44.840
 you don't

00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:45.280
 need to

00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:45.880
 change your

00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:46.519
 marriage

00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:47.320
 relationship

00:34:47.320 --> 00:34:49.480
 to change

00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:49.759
 your

00:34:49.759 --> 00:34:50.259
 relationship

00:34:50.259 --> 00:34:50.820
 with God.

00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:51.900
 You're in

00:34:51.900 --> 00:34:52.780
 that relationship

00:34:52.780 --> 00:34:54.019
 with God.

00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:55.179
 So you don't

00:34:55.179 --> 00:34:55.639
 need to go

00:34:55.639 --> 00:34:56.579
 changing your

00:34:56.579 --> 00:34:57.360
 relationship at

00:34:57.360 --> 00:34:57.719
 all.

00:34:58.179 --> 00:34:58.980
 Verse 19

00:34:58.980 --> 00:35:00.980
 circumcision is

00:35:00.980 --> 00:35:01.440
 nothing and

00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:02.599
 uncircumcision is

00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:02.980
 nothing.

00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:05.059
 Keeping God's

00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:05.880
 commands is

00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:06.699
 what counts.

00:35:07.579 --> 00:35:08.019
 So the

00:35:08.019 --> 00:35:08.940
 important thing

00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:09.739
 about our

00:35:09.739 --> 00:35:10.059
 marriage

00:35:10.059 --> 00:35:10.800
 relationship is

00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:11.519
 not trying to

00:35:11.519 --> 00:35:12.519
 change it

00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:14.840
 it's actually

00:35:14.840 --> 00:35:15.759
 about obeying

00:35:15.759 --> 00:35:16.699
 God's commands

00:35:16.699 --> 00:35:17.659
 in the

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:18.300
 relationship

00:35:18.300 --> 00:35:20.940
 because God's

00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:21.500
 commands are

00:35:21.500 --> 00:35:22.099
 actually a

00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:22.579
 gift of

00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:23.059
 grace.

00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:23.880
 They're not

00:35:23.880 --> 00:35:24.320
 here to

00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:25.059
 harm us

00:35:25.059 --> 00:35:25.679
 or to

00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:25.960
 cause

00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.539
 difficulty

00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:27.059
 for us.

00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:28.119
 God has

00:35:28.119 --> 00:35:28.659
 given us

00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:29.039
 the gift

00:35:29.039 --> 00:35:29.579
 of marriage

00:35:29.579 --> 00:35:30.139
 and he

00:35:30.139 --> 00:35:30.940
 knows what's

00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:31.480
 right and

00:35:31.480 --> 00:35:32.000
 best for

00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:32.400
 each one

00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:32.659
 of us

00:35:32.659 --> 00:35:33.400
 and so he

00:35:33.400 --> 00:35:34.019
 gives us

00:35:34.019 --> 00:35:34.699
 his commands

00:35:34.699 --> 00:35:35.019
 and he

00:35:35.019 --> 00:35:35.659
 says walk

00:35:35.659 --> 00:35:36.179
 in them

00:35:36.179 --> 00:35:37.780
 because they

00:35:37.780 --> 00:35:38.380
 will help

00:35:38.380 --> 00:35:39.739
 you to

00:35:39.739 --> 00:35:40.400
 remain

00:35:40.400 --> 00:35:41.480
 whatever

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.179
 circumstance

00:35:42.179 --> 00:35:42.919
 your marriage

00:35:42.919 --> 00:35:43.359
 is.

00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:45.000
 You see

00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:45.519
 God's

00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:46.019
 grace

00:35:46.019 --> 00:35:47.839
 gives me

00:35:47.839 --> 00:35:48.879
 the patience

00:35:48.879 --> 00:35:50.579
 to live

00:35:50.579 --> 00:35:51.079
 with my

00:35:51.079 --> 00:35:51.819
 unbelieving

00:35:51.819 --> 00:35:52.440
 spouse.

00:35:53.559 --> 00:35:54.219
 God's

00:35:54.219 --> 00:35:54.579
 grace

00:35:54.579 --> 00:35:55.339
 gives me

00:35:55.339 --> 00:35:57.619
 the ability

00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:58.500
 to forgive

00:35:58.500 --> 00:36:01.059
 my unfaithful

00:36:01.059 --> 00:36:01.559
 husband.

00:36:03.079 --> 00:36:03.759
 God's

00:36:03.759 --> 00:36:04.059
 grace

00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:04.699
 motivates

00:36:04.699 --> 00:36:05.299
 me to

00:36:05.299 --> 00:36:06.019
 serve

00:36:06.019 --> 00:36:08.000
 my wife

00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:08.619
 who may

00:36:08.619 --> 00:36:09.219
 be difficult.

00:36:10.359 --> 00:36:10.639
 You see

00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:11.079
 God's

00:36:11.079 --> 00:36:11.359
 grace

00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:11.900
 works

00:36:11.900 --> 00:36:12.320
 in us

00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:12.820
 this

00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:13.559
 enabling

00:36:13.559 --> 00:36:14.400
 to

00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:15.059
 obey

00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:15.480
 and to

00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:15.980
 live out

00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:16.440
 what God

00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:16.940
 has called

00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:17.300
 us to

00:36:17.300 --> 00:36:17.480
 be

00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:18.220
 so we

00:36:18.220 --> 00:36:18.620
 can be

00:36:18.620 --> 00:36:19.079
 committed

00:36:19.079 --> 00:36:20.440
 and be

00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:21.220
 content.

00:36:22.620 --> 00:36:23.140
 Verse 20

00:36:23.140 --> 00:36:23.840
 So each

00:36:23.840 --> 00:36:24.280
 one should

00:36:24.280 --> 00:36:25.099
 remain in

00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:25.840
 the situation

00:36:25.840 --> 00:36:26.640
 he was in

00:36:26.640 --> 00:36:28.140
 when God

00:36:28.140 --> 00:36:28.940
 called him.

00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:32.360
 But there's

00:36:32.360 --> 00:36:32.820
 also the

00:36:32.820 --> 00:36:33.320
 grace of

00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:33.780
 belonging.

00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:35.320
 Verse 21

00:36:35.320 --> 00:36:37.240
 Again he

00:36:37.240 --> 00:36:38.280
 brings another

00:36:38.280 --> 00:36:38.880
 illustration.

00:36:39.019 --> 00:36:39.280
 He says

00:36:39.280 --> 00:36:40.180
 were you a

00:36:40.180 --> 00:36:40.840
 slave when

00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:41.100
 you were

00:36:41.100 --> 00:36:41.540
 called?

00:36:42.720 --> 00:36:43.160
 Well don't

00:36:43.160 --> 00:36:43.460
 let it

00:36:43.460 --> 00:36:43.940
 trouble you

00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.820
 although if

00:36:44.820 --> 00:36:45.180
 you can

00:36:45.180 --> 00:36:45.660
 gain your

00:36:45.660 --> 00:36:46.180
 freedom do

00:36:46.180 --> 00:36:46.560
 so.

00:36:47.660 --> 00:36:47.980
 And you're

00:36:47.980 --> 00:36:48.400
 thinking well

00:36:48.400 --> 00:36:49.280
 again what's

00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:49.840
 that got to

00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.180
 do with

00:36:50.180 --> 00:36:50.700
 marriage?

00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:52.620
 Well again

00:36:52.620 --> 00:36:53.060
 he's saying

00:36:53.060 --> 00:36:53.940
 something similar

00:36:53.940 --> 00:36:54.280
 he says

00:36:54.280 --> 00:36:54.720
 whether you

00:36:54.720 --> 00:36:55.120
 were a

00:36:55.120 --> 00:36:55.700
 slave

00:36:55.700 --> 00:36:57.640
 or whether

00:36:57.640 --> 00:36:58.240
 you were a

00:36:58.240 --> 00:36:59.140
 freed person

00:36:59.140 --> 00:37:00.580
 that's not

00:37:00.580 --> 00:37:01.080
 the issue

00:37:01.080 --> 00:37:01.600
 guys.

00:37:02.040 --> 00:37:02.720
 That's not

00:37:02.720 --> 00:37:03.480
 what matters.

00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:04.920
 what really

00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:05.639
 matters for

00:37:05.639 --> 00:37:05.980
 you in

00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:06.639
 your marriage

00:37:06.639 --> 00:37:07.280
 relationship

00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:08.500
 at the end

00:37:08.500 --> 00:37:09.300
 of verse 22

00:37:09.300 --> 00:37:10.559
 he says

00:37:10.559 --> 00:37:11.019
 is that you

00:37:11.019 --> 00:37:12.340
 are Christ's

00:37:12.340 --> 00:37:12.920
 slave.

00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:14.719
 That you

00:37:14.719 --> 00:37:15.460
 belong to

00:37:15.460 --> 00:37:16.039
 Christ.

00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:17.519
 That you're

00:37:17.519 --> 00:37:18.240
 in relationship

00:37:18.240 --> 00:37:19.000
 with him

00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:19.940
 and that you

00:37:19.940 --> 00:37:20.579
 belong to

00:37:20.579 --> 00:37:21.079
 him.

00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:22.599
 So our

00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:23.039
 marriage

00:37:23.039 --> 00:37:23.719
 relationship

00:37:23.719 --> 00:37:24.619
 whatever it

00:37:24.619 --> 00:37:25.079
 is like

00:37:25.079 --> 00:37:26.079
 and no matter

00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:27.000
 how difficult

00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:27.539
 it is

00:37:27.539 --> 00:37:28.340
 our marriage

00:37:28.340 --> 00:37:28.860
 relationship

00:37:28.860 --> 00:37:29.519
 is not

00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:30.460
 the most

00:37:30.460 --> 00:37:31.000
 important

00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:31.559
 thing.

00:37:31.559 --> 00:37:33.920
 the world

00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:35.119
 defines us

00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:35.759
 by our

00:37:35.759 --> 00:37:36.400
 relationships

00:37:36.400 --> 00:37:37.259
 whether I'm

00:37:37.259 --> 00:37:37.860
 single or

00:37:37.860 --> 00:37:38.420
 whether I'm

00:37:38.420 --> 00:37:38.739
 married

00:37:38.739 --> 00:37:39.380
 whether I

00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:40.000
 have children

00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:40.599
 or don't

00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:41.179
 have children

00:37:41.179 --> 00:37:41.960
 whether I'm

00:37:41.960 --> 00:37:42.639
 divorced or

00:37:42.639 --> 00:37:43.079
 whether I'm

00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:43.380
 not.

00:37:43.659 --> 00:37:44.139
 The world

00:37:44.139 --> 00:37:45.179
 defines us

00:37:45.179 --> 00:37:45.599
 in those

00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:46.219
 terms.

00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:47.579
 But he's

00:37:47.579 --> 00:37:47.940
 saying look

00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:48.480
 the most

00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:49.099
 important

00:37:49.099 --> 00:37:49.860
 thing for

00:37:49.860 --> 00:37:51.619
 you is

00:37:51.619 --> 00:37:51.940
 that you

00:37:51.940 --> 00:37:52.699
 belong to

00:37:52.699 --> 00:37:53.239
 Christ.

00:37:53.719 --> 00:37:54.619
 Verse 23

00:37:54.619 --> 00:37:55.480
 you were

00:37:55.480 --> 00:37:56.139
 bought at a

00:37:56.139 --> 00:37:56.719
 price.

00:37:57.759 --> 00:37:58.480
 Do not

00:37:58.480 --> 00:37:59.539
 become slaves

00:37:59.539 --> 00:38:00.179
 of men.

00:38:01.559 --> 00:38:02.079
 Do not

00:38:02.079 --> 00:38:03.980
 become shaped

00:38:03.980 --> 00:38:05.159
 by the

00:38:05.159 --> 00:38:05.739
 world's

00:38:05.739 --> 00:38:06.139
 opinions

00:38:06.139 --> 00:38:06.739
 of you.

00:38:07.380 --> 00:38:07.880
 Christ

00:38:07.880 --> 00:38:08.840
 in his

00:38:08.840 --> 00:38:09.480
 love and

00:38:09.480 --> 00:38:09.880
 in his

00:38:09.880 --> 00:38:10.920
 grace came

00:38:10.920 --> 00:38:11.400
 to you and

00:38:11.400 --> 00:38:12.139
 died for

00:38:12.139 --> 00:38:12.380
 you.

00:38:12.860 --> 00:38:13.639
 He loves

00:38:13.639 --> 00:38:13.900
 you.

00:38:14.019 --> 00:38:14.779
 He treasures

00:38:14.779 --> 00:38:15.079
 you.

00:38:15.340 --> 00:38:15.940
 He cares

00:38:15.940 --> 00:38:16.400
 for you.

00:38:16.840 --> 00:38:17.840
 He pursued

00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:18.619
 you with a

00:38:18.619 --> 00:38:19.039
 faithful

00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:20.139
 loyal love.

00:38:21.759 --> 00:38:22.179
 He says

00:38:22.179 --> 00:38:23.059
 so that

00:38:23.059 --> 00:38:23.759
 relationship

00:38:23.759 --> 00:38:25.099
 is what

00:38:25.099 --> 00:38:25.659
 counts.

00:38:26.739 --> 00:38:27.340
 And it's

00:38:27.340 --> 00:38:28.159
 only as we

00:38:28.159 --> 00:38:29.259
 understand that

00:38:29.259 --> 00:38:29.840
 relationship

00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:30.720
 with God

00:38:30.720 --> 00:38:32.100
 that we

00:38:32.100 --> 00:38:32.760
 can continue

00:38:32.760 --> 00:38:33.340
 on in our

00:38:33.340 --> 00:38:33.900
 relationships

00:38:33.900 --> 00:38:34.579
 with each

00:38:34.579 --> 00:38:34.860
 other.

00:38:36.740 --> 00:38:37.120
 You see

00:38:37.120 --> 00:38:37.500
 in his

00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:38.280
 grace God

00:38:38.280 --> 00:38:39.360
 is eternally

00:38:39.360 --> 00:38:41.340
 faithful and

00:38:41.340 --> 00:38:43.019
 loyal where

00:38:43.019 --> 00:38:43.860
 we have been

00:38:43.860 --> 00:38:45.400
 unfaithful to

00:38:45.400 --> 00:38:45.700
 him.

00:38:46.740 --> 00:38:47.360
 In his

00:38:47.360 --> 00:38:48.180
 grace God's

00:38:48.180 --> 00:38:48.600
 love does

00:38:48.600 --> 00:38:49.340
 not change

00:38:49.340 --> 00:38:49.980
 or disappoint

00:38:49.980 --> 00:38:51.220
 when we

00:38:51.220 --> 00:38:52.980
 disappoint him

00:38:52.980 --> 00:38:54.160
 and are not

00:38:54.160 --> 00:38:55.000
 faithful in our

00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:55.760
 love towards

00:38:55.760 --> 00:38:56.100
 him.

00:38:57.059 --> 00:38:57.660
 In his

00:38:57.660 --> 00:38:58.320
 grace God

00:38:58.320 --> 00:38:59.300
 holds nothing

00:38:59.300 --> 00:39:01.080
 back but

00:39:01.080 --> 00:39:02.240
 continually gives

00:39:02.240 --> 00:39:02.980
 to us as we

00:39:02.980 --> 00:39:04.059
 need when we

00:39:04.059 --> 00:39:04.840
 withhold our

00:39:04.840 --> 00:39:05.480
 heart from

00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:05.840
 him.

00:39:08.160 --> 00:39:09.160
 So do not

00:39:09.160 --> 00:39:09.640
 let the

00:39:09.640 --> 00:39:11.240
 world define

00:39:11.240 --> 00:39:11.680
 us or

00:39:11.680 --> 00:39:12.360
 relationships

00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:13.280
 define us.

00:39:13.500 --> 00:39:14.200
 Rather let

00:39:14.200 --> 00:39:15.420
 the relationship

00:39:15.420 --> 00:39:16.160
 we have with

00:39:16.160 --> 00:39:17.200
 God define

00:39:17.200 --> 00:39:17.860
 our marriage

00:39:17.860 --> 00:39:18.559
 relationships.

00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:21.320
 So verse

00:39:21.320 --> 00:39:21.860
 24,

00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:22.660
 brothers and

00:39:22.660 --> 00:39:23.019
 sisters,

00:39:23.160 --> 00:39:24.760
 each one as

00:39:24.760 --> 00:39:25.840
 responsible to

00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:27.700
 God should

00:39:27.700 --> 00:39:28.980
 remain in

00:39:28.980 --> 00:39:29.760
 the situation

00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:31.340
 God called

00:39:31.340 --> 00:39:31.900
 him to.

00:39:35.220 --> 00:39:36.240
 Marriage is

00:39:36.240 --> 00:39:36.620
 holy.

00:39:37.940 --> 00:39:38.820
 It is a

00:39:38.820 --> 00:39:39.480
 gift from

00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:41.160
 God to

00:39:41.160 --> 00:39:41.860
 his people.

00:39:43.240 --> 00:39:43.680
 It should

00:39:43.680 --> 00:39:44.640
 be treasured.

00:39:44.940 --> 00:39:45.519
 It should be

00:39:45.519 --> 00:39:46.200
 nurtured.

00:39:46.740 --> 00:39:47.440
 It should be

00:39:47.440 --> 00:39:48.019
 cared for.

00:39:48.160 --> 00:39:48.400
 Why?

00:39:49.400 --> 00:39:50.200
 Because it

00:39:50.200 --> 00:39:51.039
 reflects the

00:39:51.039 --> 00:39:51.980
 very nature of

00:39:51.980 --> 00:39:52.780
 God to those

00:39:52.780 --> 00:39:53.460
 around us.

00:39:53.460 --> 00:39:54.119
 and as

00:39:54.119 --> 00:39:54.720
 people look

00:39:54.720 --> 00:39:55.539
 in on us

00:39:55.539 --> 00:39:56.599
 they will

00:39:56.599 --> 00:39:57.079
 see a

00:39:57.079 --> 00:39:58.539
 reflection of

00:39:58.539 --> 00:39:59.260
 the beautiful

00:39:59.260 --> 00:40:00.400
 relationship between

00:40:00.400 --> 00:40:01.639
 God and

00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:02.639
 his people.

00:40:03.679 --> 00:40:04.480
 It is

00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:04.880
 hard.

00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:06.800
 And so we

00:40:06.800 --> 00:40:08.300
 pray and

00:40:08.300 --> 00:40:09.079
 together as a

00:40:09.079 --> 00:40:09.579
 church we

00:40:09.579 --> 00:40:10.440
 support each

00:40:10.440 --> 00:40:11.619
 other and we

00:40:11.619 --> 00:40:12.440
 encourage each

00:40:12.440 --> 00:40:13.760
 other that we

00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:14.500
 may go on

00:40:14.500 --> 00:40:15.800
 well as we

00:40:15.800 --> 00:40:17.240
 should in our

00:40:17.240 --> 00:40:18.139
 married lives.

00:40:18.880 --> 00:40:19.619
 Let's just

00:40:19.619 --> 00:40:20.380
 take time to

00:40:20.380 --> 00:40:21.720
 pray together

00:40:21.719 --> 00:40:22.079
 now.