Sex, or No S.E.X.? - 1 Corinthians 7.1-8

SEX, OR NO SEX? 1 Corinthians 7.1-8

Good Morning!

Stop. Take a look at where we’ve been with Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth—he commended the Grecians for what was going right in the community of believers who were surrounded by a sea of worldliness. He drew distinctions between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God, and he corrected the young believers’ behavior. He showed them the damage that dissension would cause, and that the world’s behavior must not be their own—neither in sexual immorality or lawsuits.

And now, Paul moves to answer some of the questions they had asked of him, and so he addresses marriage. Note! This is not a comprehensive position on Christian marriage, but addresses several aspects of marriage, starting with the question of whether it was more sought after for God’s children to remain celibate or to marry. There was a strain of ascetics among them who were teaching that celibacy was holier—even within the marriage covenant.

1 Corinthians 7.1-8

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is well for a man not to touch a woman.” But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. This I say by way of concession not of command. I wish that all were as I myself am. [able to be celibate] But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind.

Paul starts out by saying that a man should not touch a woman . . . unless he is married to her. Married? Yes—husband and wife. Though Paul penned these words, they were more than just Paul’s opinion. ‘All Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.’1 This is God’s plan for marriage: Adam and Eve—one man, one woman. (no polygamy and no homosexuality)

And then within that union, sexual love can and should be amazing! It is intended for free expression, mutual love and satisfaction. And by the way, refusing each other opens the door for trouble in the marriage. A husband and wife should have sex often enough so that neither is frustrated or tempted to cheat on the other. I like this quote by a Christian counselor: ”There are no sex problems in marriage, only personality problems with sex as one of the symptoms.” Hmmm . . . something to think about.

One thing that is also noteworthy is that Paul commented that ‘the husband’s body did not belong to him alone, but also to his wife.’ Jesus himself had revolutionized the position of women by addressing them, referring to them, and involving them in his ministry. Here we see Paul, in a highly patriarchal society, giving women marital rights! Most non-Christian husbands would have been horrified at the notion that their bodies belonged to their wives. Simply put, Paul makes the case that husbands and wives have equal privileges and equal responsibilities.2

Marriage can be a rather complicated matter in today’s world, and for various reasons. If you have grown lackluster in your ardor for your mate, perhaps you could read some of the Song of Songs, and remember how you loved—at the beginning. “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—for your love is more delightful than wine.”3 Remember that feeling? Get it back . . . come on, be creative . . . think outside of the box!

Yeah, let’s do what it takes to love with abandon!

Christine

podcast:

1 - 2 Timothy 3.16-17

2 - Craig Blomberg

3 - Song of Songs 1.1