Did God Really Say? (3): SSSSex

BOTTOM LINE: Sex is a gift from God that we manage for him.

INTRO

Statistics on teens and sex…

  • Between 1991-2015, the proportion of students who ever had sexual intercourse decreased from 54% to 41%.
  • Teen pregnancy is down 58% over the past 10 years.
  • Abortions among teens is down 76% over the past 20 years.
  • Many experts attribute these declines to the exponential growth of porn use among teens.
    • Leading research organizations, such as the Barna group, have documented the rise of “Porn 2.0.” (Person to person); Monetization over COVID.
  • 9/10 boys and 6/10 girls have been exposed to porn before the age of 18.
  • The average age of first exposure to porn is 12.

TENSION

Why talk about it at church? The struggle…

  • We run the risk of not talking about it at all, and letting the culture define sex.
  • We talk about it like it’s a bad, dirty thing.

The truth:

Sex is a gift from God that we manage for him.

How you may be responding…

  • “It’s not an issue for me…”
  • “It’s my body. I’ll do what I want.”
  • “I messed up. I wonder if God still loves me?”

TRUTH

Scripture: John 7:53-8:11

Background

  • This passage is known as the pericope adulerae
  • One of the longest textual variants in the New Testament – is it really in the Bible?
    • Quoted by the early church fathers
      • External references to this event as a historical reality
      • The passage fits in the narrative of Jesus coming and going from the temple.
  • Jesus’ response to someone caught in sexual sin.

1. God created sex (Genesis 2:21-25).

  • Sequence: Leave father and mother, commit to spouse, become one flesh.
  • This process was confirmed by Jesus in Mark 10:8
  • Sex was part of God’s first commission to humans: “Be fruitful, multiply.”
    • Naked & unashamed
    • Then, sin enters the world.

2. There’s no safe sex outside God’s plan (v.1-6).

Jesus expanded the definition of adultery (Matthew 5:27-32).

  • “You’ve heard it said…”
  • Adultery happens in the heart
  • Pornography = adultery
  • Sexting = adultery

Outside of God’s plan, we see…

  1. Shame
    1. “Caught in the act” (v.4)
    1. “Placed in the midst” of them
    1. Her big failure was cheap entertainment to the religious leaders “To test…”
  • Impersonal, disposable relationships
    • “A woman…” (v.3)
    • “This woman…” (v.4)
  • Unfair
    • Where’s the guy? How did he escape judgment?
    • Even today, sex outside of God’s plan creates some very unfair and harmful power plays in relationships.
    • Manipulation
  • Hurting others
    • Her husband
    • His wife
    • All kids involved
    • Even today, families are destroyed, teens are trafficked.
  • Hurting yourself
    • “Sinning against his own body” (1 Cor. 6:18)
    • Sexual abuse
    • Even protection from the physical aspects of sex outside of God’s plan does not guard your heart, mind, and soul.

3. Jesus offers new life (v.7-11).

  1. “Drop the rocks” (v.7).
  2. Often the first reaction of those who were listening to Jesus was to pick up rocks to condemn/kill (cf. 8:59, 10:31).
  3. Direct reference to Deut. 13:9/Lev. 17:7 – Witnesses of the crime must be the first to throw the stones and must not be participants in the crime itself.
  4. Be careful not to condemn someone who was caught publicly doing what you do privately.
  5. Sins cannot be removed by good deeds.
  • “You’re still important to me” (v.10).
  • Jesus was the only person who talked TO the woman.
  • “Woman” – term of respect. Jesus gave her dignity, whether she deserved it or not.
  • “My grace is greater than your sin” (v.11).
  • The only one who was just in condemning her was the very one who would die for your sin.
  • There’s not a sin ever committed that Jesus didn’t die for, and that includes sexual sin.
  • Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again.
  • “New life begins now” (v.11)
  • “God and sin no more.” How?
    • How did the lame man walk?
    • How did the blind man see?
    • How did the dead man walk out of the grave?
    • Jesus is calling you to a life totally dependent on him.
  • Through Jesus, there is victory over sexual sin, but you must embrace the new life he offers.

Salvation Segue

“Maybe your struggle isn’t sex. Maybe it’s anger, hate, lying, or cheating. The point of this message is to remind us that we all need the new life Jesus offers. Without new life, we’re stuck in the cycle of sin and face death and eternal separation from God. The good news is that Jesus died to deliver us from the penalty of sin…including sexual sin, and he offers eternal life to anyone who believes in him. Tonight, you’ll be given an opportunity to trust in Jesus for new life that starts now and lasts forever.”

APPLICATION – Living in victory over sexual sin…

#1 – Remind yourself that, as a child of God, you’re free from the prison of sin.

#2 – Figure out boundaries now, not later.

#3 – Flee when tempted.

“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.“ – 2 Tim. 2:22 NKJV

Look for the way of escape. It’s there!

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. – 1 Cor. 10:13

#4 – Ferociously remove the sources of temptation.

  • Be smart about where you go and who you’re with.
  • If you’re in a relationship and being pressured to compromise, end it tonight.
  • Protect your eyes. THIS INCLUDES NETFLIX

#5 – Embrace God’s forgiveness.