Why did God give mankind (men and women) sexuality? What is the point?
Scripture gives direction.
Scripture gives direction.
1) Christ’s Glory – The ‘glory of God’ is a phrase we hear a lot; 1 Cor 10:31 says “Whether therefore you eat or drink….do all to the glory of God…” But what does this mean? To help myself understand, I replace this phrase with a simple equivalent. A layman’s definition: to make God obvious & beautiful.Sex in marriage was given so God could be made obvious & beautiful….Indeed, in everything I do, I am to make God obvious…and beautiful.
How can my sex life make God obvious & beautiful?
Scripture spells this out.
How can my sex life make God obvious & beautiful?
Scripture spells this out.
Consider:
?Marriage pictures God’s love; the lesser (picture of) human love points to the greater (reality of) God’s love for us, His bride (the church). The expression of the physical aspect of this human relationship alludes to and figuratively displays the intimacy and wonder of His spiritual relationship to us.
?Sexuality also offers display of the sacrificial nature of love: when “His joy is hers, & her joy is his” The point of our sexual union is not my pleasure, but the interest in providing for the other’s. This parallels and exhibits the selfless, other-focused nature of God’s sacrificial love for us.
?Spectacular delights of marriage point (in a figurative sense) to the ultimate delights we’ll enjoy when Christ returns for his bride, this human relationship is a foretaste of the eventual consummation in the return of our Bridegroom – the joy of living w/Christ forever…joy in his presence, “inconceivable ecstasies” (not of the physical kind, but greater!)
?Marriage pictures God’s love; the lesser (picture of) human love points to the greater (reality of) God’s love for us, His bride (the church). The expression of the physical aspect of this human relationship alludes to and figuratively displays the intimacy and wonder of His spiritual relationship to us.
?Sexuality also offers display of the sacrificial nature of love: when “His joy is hers, & her joy is his” The point of our sexual union is not my pleasure, but the interest in providing for the other’s. This parallels and exhibits the selfless, other-focused nature of God’s sacrificial love for us.
?Spectacular delights of marriage point (in a figurative sense) to the ultimate delights we’ll enjoy when Christ returns for his bride, this human relationship is a foretaste of the eventual consummation in the return of our Bridegroom – the joy of living w/Christ forever…joy in his presence, “inconceivable ecstasies” (not of the physical kind, but greater!)
Okay…but how can my (very private) sex life make God obvious & beautiful?
And to whom, exactly?
(So glad you asked….)
Yto my husband. As I love Him selflessly & abundantly, as I provide for him the design in this God intended, This points to the Creator & giver of this gift!,
Y to myself. As I experience the growth of true intimacy, or see the grace of God change my heart to love another selflessly, or as I experience God’s power to persevere even in a ‘broken’ intimacy, or frustrating situation, I see the power of God because I know in myself I could not.
Yto my husband. As I love Him selflessly & abundantly, as I provide for him the design in this God intended, This points to the Creator & giver of this gift!,
Y to myself. As I experience the growth of true intimacy, or see the grace of God change my heart to love another selflessly, or as I experience God’s power to persevere even in a ‘broken’ intimacy, or frustrating situation, I see the power of God because I know in myself I could not.
Y God also gave sex so we could make him obvious & beautiful to the outside world. Not that they view our intimacy (NO!) but as they see a strong marriage (ours) that has been fortified in part by the robust sexuality lived out in in His design. Sex following the pattern of God’s design forges deep bonds of fidelity, affection, commitment, and joy. This shows.
But secondly, our sexual relationship in marriage is given for...
2) Satan’s Defeat; two specific ways this occurs.
:As a tool of Sanctification - Like all of marriage, this area is a tool of spiritual growth as the friction of our differences reveal our hearts. The journey of sexual intimacy is a refiner's fire that exposes our hidden attitudes, foremost desires, hightest affections, and even our ruling idols. Bringing these to light provides opportunity to change, to reject self and sin, and to love more like Christ. This results in active and definite sanctification.
: As a weapon against sexual temptation – A man's struggle with godliness in his sexuality is an extremely significant issue that we need, as wives, to be aware of, respond to, and help with rightly.
We, as wives, are the single most powerful human weapon that God gives our husbands to fight the battle. We can help him, and must! Does he know we’re on his side, acknowledging his struggle, coming alongside to help, often by being available sexually, to enable and equip him to choose righteousness? We are not responsible for his choices; we are called as helpers to enable him, outfitting him with every resource to faithfully remain pure. Do we make it easy for him to follow the design of God?
2) Satan’s Defeat; two specific ways this occurs.
:As a tool of Sanctification - Like all of marriage, this area is a tool of spiritual growth as the friction of our differences reveal our hearts. The journey of sexual intimacy is a refiner's fire that exposes our hidden attitudes, foremost desires, hightest affections, and even our ruling idols. Bringing these to light provides opportunity to change, to reject self and sin, and to love more like Christ. This results in active and definite sanctification.
: As a weapon against sexual temptation – A man's struggle with godliness in his sexuality is an extremely significant issue that we need, as wives, to be aware of, respond to, and help with rightly.
We, as wives, are the single most powerful human weapon that God gives our husbands to fight the battle. We can help him, and must! Does he know we’re on his side, acknowledging his struggle, coming alongside to help, often by being available sexually, to enable and equip him to choose righteousness? We are not responsible for his choices; we are called as helpers to enable him, outfitting him with every resource to faithfully remain pure. Do we make it easy for him to follow the design of God?
And the final (and most obvious) purpose for sex....
3) Our Joy
^Procreation – for those whom God gives children this is an obvious gift of his goodness to bring us joy – the blessing of children, of family.
^Physical Pleasure & Intimate Relationship- These are gifts from our Creator to enjoy – the book of Song of Solomon is not a hidden metaphor, not morse code for Israel’s offensive attack against Philistines; it’s a graphic description of God’s blessing on the physical expression of an intimacy that is more than mere physical; it is the exploration and investigation of all things physical in intimacy but it is also the safety, acceptance and security found in the other's arms: “they were both naked and they were not ashamed...” the Genesis account tells us. Not just free of physical insecurity, but all other areas as well! (And this is not how it automatically is, but this is God’s intention that we embrace and work toward…!!)
^Procreation – for those whom God gives children this is an obvious gift of his goodness to bring us joy – the blessing of children, of family.
^Physical Pleasure & Intimate Relationship- These are gifts from our Creator to enjoy – the book of Song of Solomon is not a hidden metaphor, not morse code for Israel’s offensive attack against Philistines; it’s a graphic description of God’s blessing on the physical expression of an intimacy that is more than mere physical; it is the exploration and investigation of all things physical in intimacy but it is also the safety, acceptance and security found in the other's arms: “they were both naked and they were not ashamed...” the Genesis account tells us. Not just free of physical insecurity, but all other areas as well! (And this is not how it automatically is, but this is God’s intention that we embrace and work toward…!!)
Think again of the dynamic: "His joy is hers, and her joy is his" The focus on the other results in our joy.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
There is much that has not been addressed. For anyone with deep heartaches or past hurts, perhaps even silent hidden struggles of unimagined proportion related to this aspect of marriage, may I offer you hope?
God is the purifier of the impure, the restorer of the broken, the beautifier of what is sordid and evil.
Please be assured of the love, grace, kindness and forgiveness that He longs to pour out in your heart and in your situation, however dark it may be (or has been).
No past experience or present horror is outside of God’s power.
If there are further issues in this area, please seek another out to look at the Bible’s response to your specific needs.
God is the purifier of the impure, the restorer of the broken, the beautifier of what is sordid and evil.
Please be assured of the love, grace, kindness and forgiveness that He longs to pour out in your heart and in your situation, however dark it may be (or has been).
No past experience or present horror is outside of God’s power.
If there are further issues in this area, please seek another out to look at the Bible’s response to your specific needs.
God is the ultimate Savior in all situations.
YDo I love God enough to view and live out my sexuality from the wisdom and direction of His design?
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