Doing an overview of 1 Corinthians 5-7 is a challenge due to the vast amount of information that is covered.  When I went back and reviewed for this sermon, I was struck that I had preached 10 sermons in these 3 chapters.  So…taking that information and reducing it into 1 sermon was a fun challenge.  My prayer is that things were concise, helpful, and encouraging.  

Overriding It All

The idea that is found in being “bought with a price” simply cannot be restated enough.  This is really our “identity” in Christ and it really does affect the way we “do” life.  When Jesus is our King, this changes how we view and do everything.  No longer am I left to my own devices or wisdom, I belong to Him.  And belonging to Him means that His ways matter to me more than my own.  So…in my marriage, Jesus is King; in my parenting, Jesus is King; in my hobbies, Jesus is king…you get the point.  Certainly when it comes to my morality, God’s laws about sexuality, God’s gift of gender, you name the issue in chapters 5-7, this matters immensely.  

True Pleasure

One of the comments that I’ve received about Sunday’s sermon was about the point I made regarding Eve and the Garden of Eden.  The idea that God gave Adam and Eve the entire Garden to explore and enjoy, is really encouraging.  But listen, it’s only encouraging, when you understand that God is benevolent and kind.  If you see God as some wild-eyed monster or some sinister being who’s withholding from you, then this concept won’t make sense.  But the reality of that scene is true.  

Let’s just take some modern examples:

• God said that sex outside the bounds of marriage is sinful and deadly.  Look at the devastation that has caused and some of us know that devastation way too personally.  God gave sex as a gift to be enjoyed inside the bounds of marriage.  And when it is enjoyed to its full, it is self-less and concerned for the care for the other spouse.  But, any this gift is experienced outside of God’s boundaries or selfishly pursued, it brings heartache and pain.  
• God said that He gave us our genders and our genders are a gift to be enjoyed and utilized for His glory and the good others.  But, when we take our genders and we take matters into our own hands by becoming something that God did not design, we create heartache, pain, regret.
• God said that food and drink were great gifts and to be enjoyed, with thanksgiving to God.  But when we eat too much or we drink too much, we bring physical pain and potentially relational and emotional pain, as well.  

See, here’s what we see:  God’s design in the Garden was to give us all things to enjoy, but one tree, which if eaten would destroy us.  We chose what would destroy us.  God is a good, benevolent God, who loves us so much that He sent His Son to die the death that we deserved.  He did this, to restore us to Him, so we could enjoy Him…and so we could enjoy all that He has provided.  

Finally on this…if you find yourself fixated on what God has restricted, please know that it’s restricted for a reason…it’s restricted because it will bring death.  What God has provided, will bring life.  Only the gospel of Christ can open your eyes to this.  

Upcoming

This week, we’re going to step out of 1 Corinthians this week and be in the book of Job.  Should be a great Sunday.       

From the Cheap Seats:

• Yes, All Blacks…that’s more like it…43-5 over Australia! Love it.  When everyone thought the world was caving in after a draw in game 1, the last 2 combined scores are 70-12.  
• If it wasn’t true, it would be hilarious.  Cowboys lose 40% of their salary cap for the year with their QB1 and 40% of this offensive line out.  Then they lose QB2 to a concussion for last week’s game at Philly.  Then…today, lose QB2 again to COVID quarantine…amazing year, this 2020.  
• On Election Day…Jesus still reigns and always will!  I’m very thankful for this truth.    

To watch or listen to the sermon described in this post, please click here.

In Christ, 

Dave York