Sexual Ethics (Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 41; I Corinthians 6:9-7:13) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. The World's Ethics
II. The Christian's Ethics
Prof. David J. Engelsma: "In all this sexual revolution, we observe a strange, contradictory thing. On the one hand, rebellious society makes a god of sex ... The fundamental idoltary in the twenty-first century is the worship of Man, and always idolatry is attended and promoted by sexual immorality. Baal and Asherah were obscene gods, allowing and encouraging sexual licence. On the other hand, rebellious society makes of sex an ordinary thing, no different from eating and drinking. That was the notion in Corinth when the gospel arrived. Paul denied the notion: ‘Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats ... Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord’ (I Cor. 6:13). Sex is not God, but neither is it an ordinary bodily function, like eating and drinking. It is special, belonging to the mystery of marriage. This is its meaning, and this meaning determines its use and enjoyment. So, the true church is called to teach, and, so, believers and their children are to live, in the midst of, and in opposition to, the sexual revolution” (The Reformed Worldview, pp. 97-98).
Prof. David J. Engelsma: “According to our Lord’s teaching that unclean thoughts and desire are adultery, all of us are guilty of violating the seventh commandment. All of us have the shamefully depraved nature that consists, in part, of unchastity, or sexual filthiness. ‘I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart’ (Matt. 5:28). It is grace that saves us from the guilt and shame of sexual sin—our guilt and our shame of sexual sin. But this grace works repentance for sexual transgression and sexual corruption of nature. This grace bestows forgiveness. And this grace cleanses, so that the Reformed Christian acknowledges the seventh commandment of the law of God as good and right, resists temptation, and certainly does not go on practising sexual immorality ... Because God has made sex an aspect of marriage, every teaching, every law, every advertisement, every song, and every picture that permit or promote sex outside of marriage is, not only a lie about sex, but also an assault on marriage” (The Reformed Worldview, pp. 81-82, 87).
David J. Engelsma & Herman Hanko, The Reformed Worldview (152 pp. Softback) www.cprf.co.uk/bookstore/reformedworldview.html