| April 13th, 2001 � Sex, Marriage, Divorce, Remarriage So what else does the Bible say about sex? The Apostle Paul says that it's really better if a man not get too touchy feely with a woman at all, but in order to keep from committing the sin of fornication let each man have his own wife and each woman have her own husband (I Corinthians 7: 1, 2). Paul had amazing insight into the inter-personal dynamics of men and women. What he's literally saying here is that in the long run it's better if men and women stay single but since it's nearly impossible for you all to keep your hands off each other you better just go ahead and get married. Later on in this same passage he says If you can't control yourself it's better to marry than to be on fire with desire (vs. 9). And Paul mentions that he wishes everyone was as he is (content to stay single) but that he understands each person has their special gifts or empowerments from God (vs. 7), Jesus was talking to his disciples one day about how wrong divorce is and went so far as to say that whoever divorces their mate, unless it's because of cheating, commits adultery and causes them to commit adultery as well. And even the one who marries a divorcee commits adultery. To this they responded, "If this is the case... then it's better not to get married." But Jesus said to them, "Not all men can receive this saying, except to those who have the gift (of singleness)." And later, "...He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." (Matthew 19: 8-12) The intricacies of different divorce scenarios can be confusing. Physical abuse and unfaithfulness are certainly justifiable reasons for divorce. Obviously not all situations fit into the same categories. Concerning the innocent divorcee (referred to as un-married) as well as the widow, the Bible is clear that they are free to remarry if they feel they must (I Corinthians 7: 8, 9). In Bible-speak every case demands that sex be with a marriage partner only (and for the sake of clarity that means with the opposite sex!). Why is this? Is God just being the fun police? Imposing His rules and regulations on us with the threat of eternal damnation should we disobey? No. God cares for us. God's rules are for our protection. To break those rules is to do damage to ourselves. Picture your body like an automobile, God as the manufacturer, and the Bible as the Operators Handbook; if you operate your life in accordance with the book, you will have long life and God's continued blessing. If not, you're on your own. Ofcourse all analogies break down at some point and this one is no exception. God's rules are not just prescribed methods. They are called the Ten Commandments, not the Ten Suggestions. It is not the breaking of rules that sends a soul into eternal damnation but rather it is the heart condition behind that rebellion which eternally separates a man from his Creator. This is the tragedy of broken relationship taken to it's extreme worst-case scenario. Unfaithfulness toward and it's consequent divorcement from God. Question: What would keep you from receiving Christ, God's only provision for the remittance of your sins? The answer is the only thing that could eternally separate you from God. |