Sex & the Bible, part 3

this is written for the same reason that a great preacher of old wrote on the subject, J.C. Ryle, "I fear there is often a want of plain speaking on this part of God's law." And when I see so many bowing at the idol of sex "I for one cannot, with a good conscience, hold my peace." and, "I doubt whether the world is any better for the excessive silence" so prevalent here on the part of the church.

Due in part to the silence of the church and of parents generations have been raised to learn solely from the school of experience, friends and whatever other voice sounds good. "Should not a people consult their God?” the LORD has asked. “To the law and to the testimony!" follows the rebuke. Any who do not speak according to His word do so "because they have no dawn." Isaiah 8:19-20

To learn from God is our priority. And where do we turn to learn of God's view of sex?

How can we look further than 1Corinthians 13? "Agape" love, the self-sacrificing, others exalting, that does not seek after its own, that kind of love, is the greatest determining factor in understanding a Biblical perspective on sex. The kind of love that is always looking out for the other person, always seeking to serve and honor - this is ideal to which we aspire. If you have two people committed to this end who is going to be let down by the experience? Who is going to reject that kind of love?

Beyond this we look of course to Song of Solomon, 1Corinthians 7, and 1Thessalonians 4. And while these passages are most helpful and needed, understand that if you get the agape love part down, the rest will fall into place.

You see real love is not about personal self gratification. it's not about just getting what you want out of the other person. it's really about the other person, your spouse. This is why sex outside of marriage is never really love because it is never really about the other person. You don't care if you smear the other person with sin, you want what you want and you want it now! The loving thing is to care more about the other person and their life before God than you do about your own personal pleasure. How about that for a governing principle for dating?

There are several good sources worth mentioning that will help you to have a Biblical
perspective on sex and that will encourage you to walk in purity. I have listed a few down below. But above all else, get in the Scriptures!

Here are two sermons from the beloved preacher John MacArthur, that will help you to gain a Biblical perspective on the subject of sex and sexual sin.
http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermon+Series/289

Tommy Nelson and the Song of Solomon series

Joshua Harris, Not Even a Hint

John Piper, Sex and the Supremacy of Christ

J.C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men