You Are Joined to the Lord Insofar as this sermon is a true proclamation of the Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, it belongs to Him and His Church. Therefore its use is free to all who deem it worthy and beneficial.
Rev. Kurt Hering Layton, UT For the MP3 audio, go to: http://www.lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=1175 Here is the preaching manuscript: Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." 17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 Don't go there! That is the warning when we are treading on ground that someone just will not tolerate. In other words, if you insist on pursuing that subject, you'll do it alone. Have you ever gotten stuck in a situation where a friend took you where you did not want to go? My wild ride with J. R. [Continue with Confirmation Discussion on Lord's Prayer and where we should pray.] "Is there anywhere we can't or shouldn't pray? If there is why would you be there? This is, in effect, the question and issue Paul addresses in the text. There are earthly reasons for the 6th Commandment as well: "You shall not commit adultery. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other." There are earthly consequences of sexual activity outside the bonds of marriage: disease, disrespect, distrust, unwanted & unsupported children. And here let me say, since many across our nation today are observing Sanctity of Life Sunday, the rallying cry of those who support abortion as a viable means of birth control, "Every child a wanted child." is, in fact, true. Not "Every child a wanted child." from the standpoint of ripping a little human being created in the image of God from his/her life support system if it is unwanted by the parents. But "Every child a wanted child." because they are precious to and loved by God, their Father in heaven, who sent His One and Only Son to die for them as well. Make no mistake about it, these consequences are part of the curse of sin. They are, in part, what Jesus died to save us from and will be overthrown and cast away at the resurrection. But, as awful and destructive as these consequences are for human relationships, Paul doesn't even address those issues here. He cuts right to the issue of our relationship with God. "The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.... Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?... Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price." You are joined to the Lord-and He to you. I.e. Baptism & Lord's Supper Jesus died to release us from bondage to such immorality. He shed His Holy, precious blood to wash the filth of such sin away from us. We have been baptized to take away the name of adulterer, sinner, wicked one and given the name of the One True God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. And you are joined to the Lord! Having been made clean at such cost, having been united with Christ, why jump back into the filth? Why put yourself back into jeopardy? Why separate yourself from God again? Imagine yourself flailing away in the middle of the ocean. Drowning, gasping for breath with sharks ready to rip you to shreds as you go under for the last time - you are suddenly pulled from the water and resuscitated. You find yourself on a luxury liner being waited on hand and foot, banquets beyond anything you have ever tasted, clothed in the most luxurious fabric and adorned with gold and diamond jewelry. Would you get up, dash away and jump overboard back into the depths of the sea? "Do not test the Lord your God." Deuteronomy 6:16 and quoted by Jesus in response to Satan's temptation. Rather Flee from sexual immorality. Do we not pray, "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"" LSB, p. 324. God is Holy. Christ was, is and will remain sinless. Thus He will not participate in sinful activity. Do you really want to go where Christ will not? Do you really want to separate yourself from God and test His patience and forgiveness? Don't go there! Rather rejoice in the faithfulness of God. For "you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." There is no better place to be than in the presence of God. There is no more precious or pleasant relationship to experience, than to be the bride of Christ. And that, my dear brothers and sisters, is who we are by the grace of God the Father; the suffering, death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; and the gifts the Holy Spirit delivers through Christ's bride, the Church. Forgiven all your sins, you are indeed joined to the Lord-in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen! ____________________________________________________________ Turn your passion into a profession. 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