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Sanctity of Human Sexuality in Scripture and Christian Ethics

The concept of the sanctity of human sexuality in Christian ethics is rooted in the broader biblical understanding of holiness and sanctification, which applies to all aspects of a believer's life. Holiness, in its highest sense, belongs to God [2]. Christians are called to be holy, consecrated to God's service, and conformed to His will [2, 4]. This call to holiness extends to human sexuality, emphasizing its proper use and the avoidance of sexual immorality [5, 9].

The New Testament explicitly states that God's will for believers includes their sanctification, which involves abstaining from sexual immorality [5, 9, 15]. The Greek term porneia in 1 Thessalonians 4:3 refers to "any sexual union outside marriage" [9]. This prohibition is not merely a moral guideline but a fundamental aspect of Christian living, as sexual immorality and all uncleanness should not even be mentioned among believers, "as becomes saints" [3, 13]. Matthew Henry notes that these prohibitions are not new but are consonant with the "light and law of nature" and were often disallowed even among Gentiles [14].

The body of a Christian is considered a "temple of the Holy Spirit" [10, 8]. This understanding elevates the significance of how one treats their body, particularly in matters of sexuality. Sexual sin is seen as violating this sacred sanctuary and the divine presence within it [10]. As Christians "do not belong to [themselves]," their bodies have been "bought... with a high price, the blood of Christ," meaning every part of their lives, including their sexuality, is claimed by Christ for God's glory [10].

Sanctification is described as a work of the Holy Spirit that brings the entire human nature increasingly under the influence of the new gracious principles implanted during regeneration [6]. It is a process of "carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration" and extends to the "whole man" [6]. This process involves a gradual development of personal holiness, which requires watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance [2]. The gospel itself is considered "the way of" holiness [4].

The call to holiness in sexuality is part of a larger ethical framework where Christ's example serves as the standard [7]. Just as Christ is perfect, believers are called to conform to His example in holiness, righteousness, purity, and love [7]. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is crucial for this process, as the Spirit guides believers and enables them to bear fruit, including holiness [8]. Those who lack the Spirit are described as sensual and "without Christ" [8].

The concept of sanctification also appears in discussions of mixed marriages in the early church. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 7:14, the "unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife" (or vice versa) [11]. John Gill clarifies that this does not refer to internal sanctification, which is solely by the Spirit of God, but rather an external sanctification, allowing the believing spouse to remain in the marriage [11]. This external sanctification implies a certain consecration or setting apart of the unbelieving partner through their relationship with the believer, making the marriage permissible and the children considered "holy" [11].

The broader biblical understanding of holiness encompasses not only sexual purity but also a general consecration to God. For example, in 1 Peter 3:15, believers are exhorted to "sanctify Christ as Lord" in their hearts, meaning to honor Him as holy and enshrine Him as the dwelling place of His Spirit [12]. This inward sanctification then manifests outwardly in a readiness to defend one's faith [12].

The sanctification of human sexuality, therefore, is not an isolated command but is integrated into the comprehensive Christian call to holiness. It is a reflection of God's will, a recognition of the body as the Spirit's temple, and a part of the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in transforming believers into Christ's likeness [5, 10, 6, 7]. The process is supported by God's Word and prayer [1].

Sources

  1. I Timothy “I Timothy 4:5 (LITV) — for through God's Word and prayerful intercourse, it is sanctified.”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
  3. Ephesians “But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints; -- Ephesians 5:3”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
  5. I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 4:3 (BSB) — For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality;”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Sanctification — Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom. 6:13; 2 Cor. 4:6; Col. 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Cor. 6:1”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Example of Christ, The — Is perfect -- Heb 7:26. Conformity to, required in Holiness. -- 1Pe 1:15,16; Ro 1:6. Righteousness. -- 1Jo 2:6. Purity. -- 1Jo 3:3. Love. -- Joh 13:34; Eph 5:2; 1Jo 3:16. Humility. -- Lu 22:27; Php 2:5,7. Meekness. -- Mt 11:29. Obedience. -- Joh 15:10. Self-denial. -- Mt 16:24; Ro 15:3. Ministering to others. -- Mt 20:28; Joh 13:14,15. Benevolence. -- Ac 20:35; 2Co 8:7,9. Forgiving injuries. -- Col 3:13. Overcoming the world. -- Joh 16:33; 1Jo 5:4. Being not of the world. -- Joh 17:16. Being guileless. -- 1Pe 2:21-22. Suffering wrongfully. --”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, The — In his Church, as his temple -- 1Co 3:16. In the body of saints, as his temple -- 1Co 6:19; 2Co 6:16. Promised to saints -- Eze 36:27. Saints enjoy -- Isa 63:11; 2Ti 1:14. Saints full of -- Ac 6:5; Eph 5:18. Is the means of Quickening. -- Ro 8:11. Guiding. -- Joh 16:13; Ga 5:18. Fruit bearing. -- Ga 5:22. A proof of being Christ's -- Ro 8:9; 1Jo 4:13. A proof of adoption -- Ro 8:15; Ga 4:5. Is abiding -- 1Jo 2:27. Those who have not Are sensual. -- Jude 1:19. Are without Christ. -- Ro 8:9. Opposed by the carnal nature -- Ga 5:17.”
  9. 1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 4:3: 4:3 God’s will is for you to be holy: The foundation of Christian ethics is not philosophical speculation about virtue but doing God’s will (Rom 12:1-2; Eph 6:6; Heb 10:36; 13:20-21). Holiness (1 Thes 4:4, 7) embraces all of a person’s life (5:23); here it involves staying away from sexual sin (Greek porneia, any sexual union outside marriage).”
  10. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:18: 6:18-20 For Christians, the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (see study note on 3:16-17; cp. 2 Cor 6:16). Sexual sin violates this sacred sanctuary and the divine presence. • You do not belong to yourself: Christians can no longer claim their bodies as their own, as they have been bought . . . with a high price, the blood of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 7:23; Rev 5:9), and every part of their lives has been claimed by Christ for God’s glory (see Rom 14:7-9; 2 Cor 5:14-15).”
  11. 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 7:14: For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife,.... That is, "by the believing wife"; as the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions read, and so it is read in some copies; and likewise in the next clause the same is read, by the believing husband; this is a reason given by the apostle why they should live together. This cannot be understood of internal sanctification, which is never the case; an unbeliever cannot be sanctified by a believer in this sense, for such a sanctification is only by the Spirit of God; nor external sanctification, or an outward refo”
  12. 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 3:15: sanctify--hallow; honor as holy, enshrining Him in your hearts. So in the Lord's Prayer, Mat 6:9. God's holiness is thus glorified in our hearts as the dwelling-place of His Spirit. the Lord God--The oldest manuscripts read "Christ." Translate, "Sanctify Christ as Lord." and--Greek, "but," or "moreover." Besides this inward sanctification of God in the heart, be also ready always to give, &c. answer--an apologetic answer defending your faith. to every man that asketh you--The last words limit the universality of the "always"; not to a roller, ”
  13. Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 5:3: These verses contain a caution against all manner of uncleanness, with proper remedies and arguments proposed: some further cautions are added, and other duties recommended. Filthy lusts must be suppressed, in order to the supporting of holy love. Walk in love, and shun fornication and all uncleanness. Fornication is folly committed between unmarried persons. All uncleanness includes all other sorts of filthy lusts, which were too common among the Gentiles. Or covetousness, which being thus connected, and mentioned as a thing which should not be once named, some”
  14. Leviticus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Leviticus 18:6: These laws relate to the seventh commandment, and, no doubt, are obligatory on us under the gospel, for they are consonant to the very light and law of nature: one of the articles, that of a man's having his father's wife, the apostle speaks of as a sin not so much as named among the Gentiles, Co1 5:1. Though some of the incests here forbidden were practised by some particular persons among the heathen, yet they were disallowed and detested, unless among those nations who had become barbarous, and were quite given up to vile affections. Observe, I. That which i”
  15. 1 Thessalonians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Thessalonians 4:3: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification,.... Which is another reason to enforce the above exhortation. "Sanctification" is internal or external. Internal sanctification is the work of the Spirit of God, and is a principle of spiritual life in the soul, a divine and spiritual light in the understanding, a flexion of the will to the will of God, and a settlement of the affections on divine things, and is an implantation of every grace in the heart. External sanctification arises from this, and lies in holiness of life and conversation; and is what ”
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