The Christian and Sexuality
- John Beeson
- Sep 23, 2022
- 5 min read
Substitute Identities: Sexuality/Saint
1 Cor 6
J: U of A Mall: “what is your identity?” Sexual orientation.
Contemporary American culture: gender + sexual preferences =
identity (bi, cis, trans). Substitute Identities sermon series and
today’s substitute identity: sexuality and true identity: saint.
Feels like an unfair fight: who wouldn’t want to have their sexual
desires fulfilled? And who wants to be a saint? The first sounds like
fun and freeing. The second sounds like getting turned into a
ceramic statue that will sit on someone’s mantle.
God’s purposes for us are to have our identity rooted in his calling
for us to be saints and to trust our sexual lives to him.
A: In the Bible, saint appears 82 times. We might think a ceramic
statue. A super Christian. But that isn’t what a saint is. When you
hear the word saint, I want you to hear someone who is living
without any guilt, any shame. A saint is free. Pure. Nothing to hide.
A saint has trusted their desires to Christ.
In 1 Cor 1:1-2, Paul begins his letter inviting the church into their
sainthood.
J: Introduce Angel, Whole Hope, walked with many who struggle.
Saints are pure. But
We’ve been told that what we desire is good and that unfulfilled
desires are bad. We’ve been told we are what we desire. The truth:
1) In Christ, we are not our desires.
2) In Christ, our desires will be changed.
3) In Christ, our desires can be used as a powerful force for his
kingdom.
4) Our sainthood displays the kingdom of God on this earth
This isn’t so different than the culture Jesus stepped into. When
Jesus enters the Roman empire, it is a place where massive sexual
issues are present. Husbands can divorce their wives at the drop of
a hat and women are left uncared for. Roman culture was very
accepting of sex outside of marriage, of prostitution, and
homosexual practice.
The ultimate problem isn’t a culture problem “out there.” It is a
struggle in our hearts with trusting God’s narrow way.
A: In the Garden of Eden is crystal clear about his purposes for sex.
God’s first words to Adam and Eve relates to sexuality: “Be fruitful
and multiply.” First commandment: have sex. Gen 2:24-25. Man and
woman. Sex and one flesh. Naked and not ashamed.
J: Sex and purity are not at odds. Being a saint does not mean
shutting down sexual desire.
God made us as desiring beings. And he made us as sexual beings.
It’s his gift to us. And it’s a gift to fulfil his purpose to procreate and
it’s his gift for the purpose of marriage.
Superglue. It’s great for very specific purposes. It’s not rubber
cement. Don’t play with it.
A: The line in Christian sexual ethics is not that Christians believe
that heterosexuality is good and homosexuality or bisexuality or
transgenderism is bad. It’s much more specific than that: God has
given us our sexual desires for one context: in marriage.
So many ways to misuse our sexuality: lust, pornography, sex
outside of marriage, etc.
J: God approaches sexuality with such a radically different
perspective, that we need to slowly consider what God has to say.
6/27/2021
Substitute Identities: Sexuality/Saint
1 Cor 6
As we turn to 1 Cor 6, I want us to hear this passage not in terms of
culture wars, but rather out of God’s pure desire for our purity.
Conversation with someone disgusted with others’ sexual sin,
minimizes his own. Hear this passage for yourself. God wants us to
live life in his perfect intentions. The gospel changes everything.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10: we are all here: three types of sexual sin,
idolatry, greedy. Without Christ, this is all of us: living out our own
desires. This is a double death. They control us and take us to the
grave. Our desires need to be molded. Mac and cheese, brownie
sundaes for kids vs. veggies. Problem: our desires. False identity:
living out desires. True identity: having desires changed in Christ.
A: 1 Cor 6:11: the work of Christ is to wash, sanctify, and justify.
Wash: by Christ’s blood so that you might be pure, white as snow.
Sanctified: made like Jesus. Justified: Jesus is your defense attorney.
He took the penalty of your sin. Not just wash and justify. Sanctify!
How? The Spirit of God? Do you want this? Do you trust God?
God makes us saints. Joey: “Angel got her wings cut off!” Angel has
a halo!” A saint: guiltless, shameless, a light! We have the light of
God in us. We are transformed. We are not merely worthless
sinners. Saints must trust Christ with their desires.
1) In Christ, we are not our desires.
2) In Christ, our desires will be changed.
3) In Christ, our desires can be used as a powerful force for his
kingdom.
4) Our sainthood displays the kingdom of God on this earth.
J: The church at Corinth: sex is no big deal. It’s like eating.
Christianity is for the spiritual stuff. 1 Cor 6:12-17: an embodied
theology of our lives. Not just our spirits. Resurrected bodies await
us. Two become one. Superglue.
A: Substitute identity v. true identity. 1 Cor 6:18-20: God gives us
bodies to glorify him. He gives us an embodied Savior! Do you trust
him with your body? He has paid a price for you. I’ve seen far more
lose their faith because of their desires, than not believing in God
for intellectual reasons.
J: Mt 16:24-25: Following means denying yourself. Don’t be
deceived: following Christ means denying our desires. We are not
defined by our desires.
J: Our desires can change. The promise of the heart of flesh: Ez
36:26-27. Do you trust Jesus with your desires? Saints trust Christ
with their desires. Born again! Temple of the Holy Spirit.
A: Story of hard heartedness, sexual sin, and transformed desires.
Walked in the lies of sexual desires and their fulfillment. My desires
were fulfilled so much better when I trusted God with them.
J: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matt 5:8.
Saints trust Christ with their desires: 1) not our desires; 2) our
desires will be changed; 3) desires a powerful force; 4) sainthood
displays kingdom. Story of Princeton friend who saw his sexual
desires change. Fulfilled life with Christ.
A: What next? Live as a saint. Our fulfillment awaits.
Single: trust sexual desires with Christ and remain abstinent. SSA:
trust sexual desires with Christ and remain abstinent. Porn: deny
your desires and trust Christ. Confused about gender: trust Christ
with your identity. You are a saint. Let Jesus speak identity: you are
a saint. You are pure.
J: Heaven is a place where our desires will be perfectly aligned with
Christ. In the meanwhile, he is using you for his glory and your good.
6/27/2021
Week Four of “Substitute Identities.” God’s purposes for us are to have our identity rooted in his calling for us to be saints and to trust our sexual lives to him. Preached with Angel Beeson, John’s wife.