The Holiness of God and Marriage
The Holiness of God as the Basis for Sexual purity
Lev. 18:1-30
"Thus, you are to keep My charge, that you do not practice any of the abominable customs which have been practiced before you, so as not to defile yourself with them; I am the Lord your God." (vs. 30).
One of the hotly debated issues today is the issue of sexuality. It stands at the center of the moral and political debate dividing our nation. At the core of the discussion is the question of the nature of sexuality. Is sexuality an issue of morality or identity? Does our physical body determine our sexuality, or is it determined by our psychological view of ourselves and others? What is the ultimate purpose of sex? Is it physical pleasure, or does it have spiritual importance? Listen to the pundits on TV or engage in conversations with people, and one quickly realizes that there is no consensus as our society becomes split over conflicting moral ideologies. So, as Christians, how do we approach these issues, and how do we determine the answer?
In the book of Leviticus, the focus is on God's holiness. In Leviticus, we find that his holiness and purity are the starting point in forming our moral and ethical foundation. Holiness is more than just an attribute of God; it is a way of life for us and encompasses the totality of our life. It governs who we are, how we live, and how society functions. Holiness becomes the foundation for all decisions in life, even the mundane. Everything in life is ultimately an expression of and determined by our quest to reflect God's holiness. This includes our sexuality.
In chapter 18, we find that the Law of Holiness (i.e., that we are to be set apart by and for God to reflect his holiness) governs all sexual behavior and relationships. In rapid-fire succession, God condemns all incestuous and illicit sexual relationships. This prohibition included sex with any relative (vs. 6), including our immediate family member (vs. 7-11), half sibling (vs. 11), aunt or uncle (vs. 13-14), and any in-laws (vs.15-17). It also includes any sexual relationship outside the bonds of marriage (vs. 20), as well as homosexuality (vs. 22) and bestiality (vs. 23).
To understand these prohibitions, we need to go back to Genesis 2:24. Today, many people view marriage and sexuality as human institutions that can be altered and redefined based on popular culture. But on the other hand, Scripture sees marriage and sexuality as divine institutions established by God to reflect his image and to be the cornerstone upon which all society is built.
We are created in God's image and reflect his image in all we are and do. This is true of marriage. The marriage relationship serves to manifest the unity between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The same word to describe the unity of the marriage bond found in Geneses 2:24 is used in Deut. 6:4 to describe the nature of God. When a husband and wife become one in holy matrimony, their become a visible reflection of the Trinity. Consequently, when people engage in sexual activity outside of marriage, it distorts this reflection and violates his holiness. Thus, it is an abomination to God (18:27, see also 1 Corinthians 6:16-20). When a society engages or approves of these activities, they will face the threat of God's judgment (vs. 27-28).
Sexuality is not just a social or physical matter; it is ultimately a spiritual and moral question. Instead of turning to the world, which is corrupted in its moral thinking (see Romans 12:1), to understand and define sexuality and sexual identity, we must turn to Scripture and place it in the context of God's holiness. In Scripture, sex and how we express our sexuality are moral and spiritual issues. Morally, sex represents the oneness that characterizes the unity between the husband and wife (1 Corinthians 6:16-17). Spiritually, it provides a model of God's faithfulness and intrinsic unity within the Godhead. Any improper sexual relationship (whether in thought or action) outside the bonds of marriage (including adultery, bestiality, and homosexuality) violates God's holy standard, who calls us to manifest his holiness in all aspects of our life, including our sexuality. If you married, ask God to use you marriage to reflect his love and unity in order to be a testimony to a confused world.
Lev. 18:1-30
"Thus, you are to keep My charge, that you do not practice any of the abominable customs which have been practiced before you, so as not to defile yourself with them; I am the Lord your God." (vs. 30).
One of the hotly debated issues today is the issue of sexuality. It stands at the center of the moral and political debate dividing our nation. At the core of the discussion is the question of the nature of sexuality. Is sexuality an issue of morality or identity? Does our physical body determine our sexuality, or is it determined by our psychological view of ourselves and others? What is the ultimate purpose of sex? Is it physical pleasure, or does it have spiritual importance? Listen to the pundits on TV or engage in conversations with people, and one quickly realizes that there is no consensus as our society becomes split over conflicting moral ideologies. So, as Christians, how do we approach these issues, and how do we determine the answer?
In the book of Leviticus, the focus is on God's holiness. In Leviticus, we find that his holiness and purity are the starting point in forming our moral and ethical foundation. Holiness is more than just an attribute of God; it is a way of life for us and encompasses the totality of our life. It governs who we are, how we live, and how society functions. Holiness becomes the foundation for all decisions in life, even the mundane. Everything in life is ultimately an expression of and determined by our quest to reflect God's holiness. This includes our sexuality.
In chapter 18, we find that the Law of Holiness (i.e., that we are to be set apart by and for God to reflect his holiness) governs all sexual behavior and relationships. In rapid-fire succession, God condemns all incestuous and illicit sexual relationships. This prohibition included sex with any relative (vs. 6), including our immediate family member (vs. 7-11), half sibling (vs. 11), aunt or uncle (vs. 13-14), and any in-laws (vs.15-17). It also includes any sexual relationship outside the bonds of marriage (vs. 20), as well as homosexuality (vs. 22) and bestiality (vs. 23).
To understand these prohibitions, we need to go back to Genesis 2:24. Today, many people view marriage and sexuality as human institutions that can be altered and redefined based on popular culture. But on the other hand, Scripture sees marriage and sexuality as divine institutions established by God to reflect his image and to be the cornerstone upon which all society is built.
We are created in God's image and reflect his image in all we are and do. This is true of marriage. The marriage relationship serves to manifest the unity between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The same word to describe the unity of the marriage bond found in Geneses 2:24 is used in Deut. 6:4 to describe the nature of God. When a husband and wife become one in holy matrimony, their become a visible reflection of the Trinity. Consequently, when people engage in sexual activity outside of marriage, it distorts this reflection and violates his holiness. Thus, it is an abomination to God (18:27, see also 1 Corinthians 6:16-20). When a society engages or approves of these activities, they will face the threat of God's judgment (vs. 27-28).
Sexuality is not just a social or physical matter; it is ultimately a spiritual and moral question. Instead of turning to the world, which is corrupted in its moral thinking (see Romans 12:1), to understand and define sexuality and sexual identity, we must turn to Scripture and place it in the context of God's holiness. In Scripture, sex and how we express our sexuality are moral and spiritual issues. Morally, sex represents the oneness that characterizes the unity between the husband and wife (1 Corinthians 6:16-17). Spiritually, it provides a model of God's faithfulness and intrinsic unity within the Godhead. Any improper sexual relationship (whether in thought or action) outside the bonds of marriage (including adultery, bestiality, and homosexuality) violates God's holy standard, who calls us to manifest his holiness in all aspects of our life, including our sexuality. If you married, ask God to use you marriage to reflect his love and unity in order to be a testimony to a confused world.
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