God’s Design for Sexual Fulfillment: Intro
by Bill Blair on 04/09/08 at 5:35 am
Introduction
Popular television shows and movies today portray a world where sexual enjoyment and satisfaction are relegated only to the young, beautiful, and single people of the world. Whether it is an action-adventure, romantic comedy, or sit-com, popular entertainment typically shows a dashing single man engaged in some type of adventure or drama that pairs him with a beautiful single woman who falls madly in love with him, and the two end up in a romance that culminates in an exhilarating passion-filled sexual encounter. It would seem that this type of romantic sexual encounter would have to be the ultimate in sexual satisfaction.
The Bible, on the other hand, clearly teaches that “sex should not be experienced outside of a marriage”(1). Is the Bible out of touch with current modern conceptions about sex? Are the Bible and God mostly concerned about spoiling the enjoyment man has discovered in casual sex?
The truth is that Bible teaches that sex is something to be enjoyed. “Sex as God designed it is good, exciting, intoxicating, powerful, living, and unifying”(2). In fact, sex as God designed it to be within the lifelong commitment of marriage has a greater ability to produce deeper and longer-lasting pleasure than that which is promoted by the modern secular culture.
“Contrary to the world’s notion that truly exciting love must be outside of marriage, Scripture makes it clear that it is the very security provided by an exclusive, lifelong marriage relationship that allows for the sexual satisfaction and fulfillment of both the man and woman”(3). True sexual fulfillment cannot be achieved through illicit sex, but only through cultivating a whole “one-flesh” relationship that develops all aspects of intimacy between a man and woman that can only be achieved within marriage where they can pursue becoming “naked and unashamed” as it was in the beginning (Gen 2:25).
God’s Design for Sexual Intimacy
Before examining the connection between a whole “one-flesh” relationship and sexual fulfillment, the Bible’s teaching on the nature of God’s design for sexual intimacy must be determined. To begin with, it must be understood that God is the author and creator of sex. Colossians 1:16 explains that all things on heaven and earth were created by and for him; therefore, it is clear that God is the originator of sex. Knowing that God is the originator and author of sex should wipe away any notion that God is somehow against sexual pleasure. Joshua Harris puts it this way: “Some people have the mistaken notion that God is anti-sex. In fact, He’s outspokenly pro-sex! He invented it. What an incredible thought! Passionate sex was God’s idea”(4).
In next week’s installment I will begin to lay out the basic principles that the Bible teaches about God’s design for sexual intimacy so be sure to check back next Thursday for more.
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(1)Mark Dever, “Singleness,” in Sex and the Supremacy of Christ (Wheaton: Crossway, 2005), 133.
(2)Daniel L. Akin, “Sermon: The Beauty and Blessings of the Christian Bedroom,” SBJT 6 (2002): 94 [Journal on-line], accessed 12 February 2008; available from http://www.sbts.edu/pdf/sbjt/SBJT_2002Spring7.pdf; Internet.
(3)Andreas Kosetenburger and David W. Jones, God, Marriage, and Family, (Wheaton: Crossway, 2004), 54-5.
(4)Joshua Harris, Sex is Not the Problem (Lust is), (Colorado Springs: Multnomah, 2003) 11.
Brother Hank
Sep 6th, 2008
Part 1 did not disappoint brother.
I hope I’m not jumping the gun, but I want to add something very important to what you said (and most likely what you will say later). You wrote
“Knowing that God is the originator and author of sex should wipe away any notion that God is somehow against sexual pleasure.”
It would do the conversation well to remember that God not only originated and authored sex to be pleasurable; but in the same felled swoop, he made sex procreative as well. This should also wipe away any notion that God is somehow against procreation. If we are going to hold to a New Covenant understanding of sex (which is where I assume you are heading), we can no more say that Christ altered or fulfilled the procreative aspects of sex, any more than we can argue that he altered or fulfilled the pleasurable aspects of sex. Both were good, created, and intended from the beginning. It’s only when we hold up one as primary or ultimate that we do indeed become idolatrous…
‘BH
Be The Fruit » Blog Archive » God’s Design for Sexual Fulfillment: Part 2
Sep 11th, 2008
[...] becoming “naked and unashamed” as it was in the beginning (Gen 2:25).” See the post here. I will the connection between the whole one-flesh relationship and sexual fulfillment later [...]
Be The Fruit » Blog Archive » God’s Design for Sexual Fulfillment: Summary
Oct 3rd, 2008
[...] Intro - Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 – Conclusion This entry was posted on Friday, October 3rd, 2008 at 8:15 am and is filed under Sexual Intimacy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. [...]