A Biblical View of Sex

We are now well into our series, Sex, Singleness, & Marriage. Before we move to teaching on singleness, divorce, and the marriage roles, I think its important to outline some of what we have already covered.We have already seen God moving powerfully through this as He transforms us by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).  We have seen sexual abuse come to light, sexual sin confessed, and marriages have difficult conversations that we pray bring much fruit.Here is a great summary of what we have covered the last two weeks. Daniel Akin, seminary professor and theologian, outlines the biblical view of sex, I believe it is very helpful (you can listen to the first two sermons, including Q&A here):God's Purposes for Giving Us the Good Gift of Sex• Knowledge (Gn 4:1)• Intimate oneness (Gn 2:24)• Comfort (Gn 24:67)• The creation of life (Gn 1:28)• Play and pleasure (Sg 2:8-17; 4:1-16)• Avoiding temptation outside marriage (1Co 7:2-5)God's Commands to the Husband• He is to find satisfaction in his wife (Pr 5:19)• He is to find joy in his wife (Ec 9:9)• He is to concern himself with meeting her unique needs (Dt 24:5; 1Pt 3:7)God's Commands to the Wife• She is to be sexually available to her husband (1Co 7:3-5)• She is to prepare and plan to capture her husband's heart (Sg 4:9-15)• She is to show sexual interest in her husband (Sg 4:16; 5:2)• She is to be sensitive to his unique masculine needs (Gn 24:67)Biblical Principles to Govern Sex• Sexual relations within marriage are holy and good. God encourages intimate relations and warns against their cessation (1Co 7:5).• Pleasure in sexual relations is both healthy and expected. The bodies of both parties belong to the other (Pr 5:15-19; 1Co 7:4).• Sexual pleasure is to be guided by the principle that one's sexuality is to be other-oriented. "Rights" over one's body are given in marriage to our mate (Php 2:3-4).• Sexual relations are to be regular and normal. No exact number of times per week is prescribed, but the biblical principle is that both parties are to provide adequate sexual satisfaction so that both "burning" (sexual desire) and temptation to find satisfaction outside marriage are avoided (1Co 7:9).• The principle of satisfaction means that each party is to provide sexual enjoyment (which is "due" him or her in marriage) as frequently as the other party requires. Other biblical principles (moderation, seeking to please another rather than oneself, etc.) also come into play. Consideration of one's mate is to guide one's requests for sexual relations.• In accordance with the principle of "rights," there is to be no sexual bargaining between married persons ("I'll not have relations unless you . . ."). Neither party has the right to make such bargains. This is a form of "marital prostitution" and must be avoided.• Sexual relations are equal and reciprocal. The Bible does not give the man superior rights to the woman or the woman superior rights to the man. Mutual service is the goal.• Whatever is safe, pleasing, enjoyable, and satisfying to both is acceptable. The body of each belongs to the other (1Co 7:4). Neither should demand from the other what is painful, harmful, degrading, or distasteful to him or her.