1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV
[9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. …
This passage of scripture that Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson spoke of has stirred up a heated debate about the subject of homosexuality. In this portion of his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul goes from discouraging lawsuits to pointing out that those who refuse to turn from their sins and turn to Christ will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Paul goes on to point out that some those in the church of Corinth had been guilty of the previously mentioned transgressions, but something had happened to them and that something being the saving grace of Jesus. After pointing out their current position in Christ he then speaks of his liberty in Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:12-14 KJV
[12] All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. [13] Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. [14] And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. …
Paul uses the illustration of food as things that he was free to partake of without regard to the source of the meat or the type of meat. He pointed out that the both the stomach and the meat would be destroyed one day so it really didn't make much difference what you put in your gut. However, Paul makes a key statement next, while it may not matter what kind of food you put in your body, it does matter what you do with your body.
Paul stated that the body is not for fornication(sexual sin) but for The Lord. I believe it would be safe to concur that any sex outside of a marriage between a man and woman is a sexual sin.
1 Corinthians 6:14-20 KJV
[14] … own power. [15] Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. [16] What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. [17] But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. [18] Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. [19] What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [20] For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. …
Paul in the passages above explains the logic behind the admonition for believers not to engage in sexual sin. I have listed 5 points that I got from Paul's admonition not to engage in sexual sins.
1) Believers are part of the body of Christ. When a believer engages in sexual sin they are taking Christ into that sin. Verse 15
2) In the sex act two people become one flesh, believers are joined to Christ and one with Him, if they engage in sexual sin they are as stated earlier taking Christ into that sin and joining Him to immoral person. Verse 16
3) Sexual sin is a sin against a persons body. I believe it is because they are taking a very personal, valuable part of their person and cheapening by illicit sex. Verse 18
4) Believers belong to Christ and their body is actually a temple for the presence of God. Verse 19
5) God has paid a high price to redeem believers, therefore they are to glorify God with their body and spirit that belongs to God. Verse 20
It is clear in this passage that is God's will for believers to abstain from sexual sin of any kind. While many Christians are all up in arms about A&E firing Phil Robertson for his remarks about the sin of homosexuality, it is equally important that we tell heterosexuals within the church to abstain from sexual sin.
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