In this sermon, Pastor Chris Meads addresses the question "Why does sexual purity matter?" through an examination of 1 Corinthians 6. He notes that while many Christians know God's commands about sexual purity, fewer understand the theological reasoning behind them.
He begins by discussing the "purity culture" movement of the 1990s and early 2000s, acknowledging that while it promoted good values, it often focused too heavily on sex itself rather than on God's holiness. The movement frequently motivated sexual purity through fear of regret rather than through understanding God's design.
The pastor explains that the Corinthian church was misusing the concept of Christian freedom, thinking "all things are lawful" meant they could engage in sexual immorality. They viewed sexual desires like hunger - something natural that should simply be satisfied. However, Pastor Meads points out that while hunger reveals the stomach's purpose (eating for survival), sexual desires don't necessarily reveal the body's true purpose.
The sermon's central argument comes from 1 Corinthians 6:13-14: "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body." He breaks this down into two key ideas:
1. Our bodies are meant for the Lord - created to glorify God and show His greatness.
2. The Lord is meant for our bodies - through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Meads uses an analogy of his own body's members working in sync with his head, comparing it to how believers should function as members of Christ's body. When believers engage in sexual immorality, it's like body parts acting out of sync with the head (Christ), creating chaos instead of order.
He emphasizes that sexual immorality is unique among sins because it works against one's own body, which is meant to be a temple of the Holy Spirit. It specifically impacts a believer's ability to experience and enjoy their union with Christ. The pastor shares a personal story about fleeing from a room with venomous snakes to illustrate Paul's command to "flee from sexual immorality" - treating it as a serious danger rather than something normal or acceptable.
The sermon concludes by focusing on the truth that Christians are "not their own" but were "bought with a price" through Christ's death on the cross. Therefore, they should glorify God with their bodies rather than submit them to unrighteousness. Pastor Meads calls his congregation to remember the danger of sexual immorality while supporting fellow believers who struggle in this area, always keeping in mind the glorious purposes God has for their bodies.
The message challenges the modern cultural narrative of "my body, my choice" by presenting a theological framework where our bodies are created for God's purposes and designed to be in union with Him through the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for watching this sermon from GracePoint Church. To learn more, visit gracepointcoppell.org.
Sermon Title: Glorify God in Your Body (1 Corinthians 6:12-20)
Sermon Series: 1 Corinthians | Part II: A Sanctified Church
Speaker: Chris Meads
Date: November 3, 2024
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