Biblical Law & Ethics (Class 06)

Class Notes:

Introduction to Biblical Law and Ethics

Class 06 Contemporary Ethical Issues: Marriage and Sexuality

Biblical Foundations of Marriage and Sexuality

• Marriage is instituted by God (Gen. 2) and upheld throughout Scripture.
• The 7th Commandment forbids adultery; Jesus expands this to lust (Matt. 5:28).
• Sexuality is a gift, but its misuse has distorted God’s design.

Part 1: Marriage and Divorce

• Marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman, meant for life (Matt. 19:4–6).
  • Plan: Leave parents, cleave to spouse, become one flesh.
  • Purpose: Unity and family formation.
  • Priority: Let no one separate what God has joined.
• Divorce is a breaking of that covenant.
  • Three major views:
    1. Permanence – No divorce or remarriage allowed.
    2. Semi-Permanence – Divorce allowed, remarriage not.
    3. Permissive – Divorce and remarriage allowed in certain cases.
  • Grounds for divorce: Adultery (Matt. 5:32) and Abandonment (1 Cor. 7:15).
  • Abuse may fall under abandonment (WCF Ch. 24).
  • Remarriage should be approached with caution and biblical grounds.

Part 2: Fornication, Adultery, and Polyamory

• Fornication = sex between unmarried people.
• Adultery = sex involving at least one married person.
• Polyamory = consensual multiple partners (not marriage).
• Sexual sin is normalized in culture but condemned in Scripture:
  • 1 Cor. 6:18–20 – Sin against the body.
  • Matt. 5:28 – Lust is also sin.
  • “Pornea” appears 31 times in NT, always negatively.
• God’s design: sex is for marriage only.
• Church must teach purity and resist cultural compromise.

Part 3: Gender and Sexual Orientation

• Cultural shift has led to affirmation of LGBT identities.
• Church responses vary:
  • Affirming churches endorse LGBT practices.
  • Condemning groups (e.g., Westboro Baptist) are unbiblical in their hate.
  • Biblical churches uphold truth with love.

Common Defenses vs. Biblical Responses:

• “It’s not a sin” → Rom. 1:26–27; 1 Cor. 6:9–11; 1 Tim. 1:10.
• “Everyone sins, so it’s acceptable” → Sin requires repentance (1 Cor. 6:11).
• “Jesus never mentioned it” → Jesus affirmed all Scripture (Matt. 5:17–19).
• “Christians shouldn’t judge” → Church judges insiders (1 Cor. 5:12).

Conclusion

• The Bible is clear: all sexual activity outside biblical marriage is sin.
• The church must speak truth in love (Eph. 4:15).
• Biblical love calls for repentance and transformation.