Sexuality, Purity and Glory

Sex in marriage is necessary for purity and glory. In this statement I do not intend to separate purity from glory or glory from purity. The word “and” does not function in this sentence to separate these two ideas but to make them dependent upon one another.

We often focus on the necessity of sex in marriage as a protectorate against sexual immorality or impurity. We read in 1 Corinthians 7:2, “But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.” To “have” one’s own wife or husband is to be participating in the good gift of sex in the context of marriage. Therefore Paul seems to be saying that God has provided this gift to protect the church from sexual immorality. In other words if the wife and husband are satisfying one another in the joy of giving (1Cor.7:3-4) then the wife and husband will not be going outside of the marriage to satisfy their sexual desires. Paul also says, “ …but then come together again so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self control.” (1Cor.7:5). Here again it seems that sex in the context of marriage, “come together again”, is necessary for purity, to protect one another from temptation toward sexual immorality. Therefore based on what Paul is saying here we instruct couples in the church to have sex in their marriage for the purpose of pursuing marital fidelity or purity. As the writer of Hebrews commands, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Heb.13:4) Sexual purity is necessary to see God and not suffer his wrath. Therefore the Scriptures teach us that sex in marriage is necessary for purity.

However, I do not think that the Scriptures are teaching us that sex in marriage is necessary for purity alone. Purity is not the end glory is. When purity is the end it drives sex in marriage out of the realm of heavenly glory into the realm of earthly duty. This thinking on purity without glory lends us toward asking questions like, “How many times a week should we be involved in sexual intimacy?” or “Should I give in every time he / she asks?” I am not against such questions but they tend to focus on sex in marriage as a duty we must fulfill for the husband or wife in order to keep them from impurity. We tend to separate sex in marriage from the glorious when we see purity and protection from impurity as the end. Therefore sex in marriage is necessary for purity and glory.

Glory is the end of purity and purity leads to glory. Why is Paul interested in sexual purity in the church in Corinth? Is he worried about unwanted pregnancies? Is he concerned about sexually transmitted diseases? Is he upset over the breakdown of the traditional family and the effect it will have on coming generations? Is he concerned about the prostitution in Corinth and the degradation that brings to the city and its people? Is he concerned about their reputation? What is Paul’s concern?

Paul is jealous for the glory of God and that the church would know and live in that glory. When Paul speaks against sexual immorality in chapter 6:12-20 he does so around the glory of the gospel. He tells them to flee sexual immorality in the glory of the resurrection (6:12-14), in the certainty of their union with Christ (6:15-17) and in the glory of redemption (6:18-20). Sexual purity is next to the glory of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sexual purity in marriage is a metaphor for the purity and glory of God’s covenantal love to his own people (Ezek.16:1-14, 59-63; Hosea 2:14-20; 3; Song of Solomon; Eph.5:23-33). When a man who is united to Christ is brought together by God (Gen.2:22, 24; Mt.19:8) to a woman who is united to Christ there is a picture of God’s glory in Christ in the gospel. That man and that woman are not only participating in the purity of God but also the glory of God. The husband whose heart is satisfied in all that God is for him through the gospel of Jesus Christ can live in love toward his wife in the joy of giving to her in the purity of their marriage bed and the wife in Christ can give in the same joy and participate in the same purity and glory. It is this purity and glory that protects the husband and wife from all the self seeking glory that leads to impurity and brokenness.

Paul knows that everything, including sex, is from God, and through God and to God for his own glory (Rom.11:36). Paul knows that sex is a gift from God that is for his glory (1Tim.4:3-4). Paul knows that everything we do is to be done for the glory of God (1Cor.10:31). Therefore Paul knows that God’s creatures are created to know and enjoy his glory in everything. And when those creatures exchange the glory of God for a lie and worship and serve the creature and the creation they suffer under God’s wrath and participate in impurity (Rom.1:18ff). Sexual immorality and impurity leads God’s creatures away from the glory they are designed for into a world of lies and shallow dead end pleasures. Sex in marriage is necessary for purity that leads God’s people to glory. The sexually immoral will not inherit the kingdom of God (1Cor.6:9-10), They will not taste and see that God is good (Ps.34:8). They will not know that God is their best portion forever (Ps.73:26). They will not know that in God’s presence is the fullness of joy forevermore (Ps.16:11). They will not know glory and they will not lead their wives and husbands into that same glory through purity in the joy of giving in sex in marriage.

Sex in marriage is necessary for purity and glory. Many in the church are broken by sexual self seeking and sexual impurity. The restoration of sex in marriage for purity and glory is discovered and lived in the knowledge and enjoyment of the glory of God in Christ. The joy of giving in the purity of the marriage bed is a participation in glory.