1. Ephesians 5:31-33 NIV 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery— but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Efesios 5:31-33 NVI 31 «Por eso dejará el hombre a su padre y a su madre, y se unirá a su esposa, y los dos llegarán a ser un solo cuerpo.» 32 Esto es un misterio profundo; yo me refiero a Cristo y a la iglesia. 33 En todo caso, cada uno de ustedes ame también a su esposa como a sí mismo, y que la esposa respete a su esposo. + ~MEDITATION~

2. 1 Corinthians 7:1-4 (ESV) 1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." 2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

3. 1 Corinthians 7:5-9 (ESV) 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. 7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. 8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

4. “Why Get Married?” 1 Corinthians 7:1-9 I. The Proper Place For Sexual Relations (7:1-6) A. Marital Sex Not A Necessary Evil B. Marital Sex Not Just For Procreation C. Marital Sexual Abstinence Brings Temptation II. Celibacy Is A Gift (7:7) A. Celibacy Better, But Few Can B. Marriage the Norm III. It Controls Strong Passions (7:8-9) A. For The Unmarried and Widows B. Not Meaning Spiritual Weakness

5. 1 Timothy 4:1-3 (NIV) 1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 1 Timoteo 4:1-3 (NVI) 1 El Espíritu dice claramente que, en los últimos tiempos, algunos abandonarán la fe para seguir a inspiraciones engañosas y doctrinas diabólicas. 2 Tales enseñanzas provienen de embusteros hipócritas, que tienen la conciencia encallecida. 3 Prohíben el matrimonio y no permiten comer ciertos alimentos que Dios ha creado para que los creyentes, conocedores de la verdad, los coman con acción de gracias.

6. “Why Get Married?” I Corinthians 7:1-9 I. The Proper Place For Sexual Relations (7:1-6) A. Marital Sex Not A Necessary Evil B. Marital Sex Not Just For Procreation C. Marital Sexual Abstinence Brings Temptation II. Celibacy Is A Gift (7:7) A. Celibacy Better, But Few Can B. Marriage the Norm III. It Controls Strong Passions (7:8-9) A. For The Unmarried and Widows B. Not Meaning Spiritual Weakness

7. Some Church Fathers Views on Marriage and Sex John Chrysostom claims; “Virginity stands far above marriage as the heavens stand above the earth.” Jerome asserts, “All those who have not remained virgins, following the pattern of the pure chastity of angels and that of our Lord Jesus Christ himself, are polluted.” Augustine maintains marriage is not good, but it is good in comparison to fornication. Continence, he says is an “angelic exercise”

8. “Why Get Married?” I Corinthians 7:1-9 I. The Proper Place For Sexual Relations (7:1-6) A. Marital Sex Not A Necessary Evil B. Marital Sex Not Just For Procreation C. Marital Sexual Abstinence Brings Temptation II. Celibacy Is A Gift (7:7) A. Celibacy Better, But Few Can B. Marriage the Norm III. It Controls Strong Passions (7:8-9) A. For The Unmarried and Widows B. Not Meaning Spiritual Weakness

9. Marriage and Sex Martin Luther I find there is nothing but godliness in marriage. To be sure, when I consider marriage, only the flesh seems to be there. Yet my father must have slept with my mother, made love to her, and they were nevertheless godly people. All the patriarchs and prophets did likewise. The longing of a man for a woman is God's creation.

10. “Why Get Married?” I Corinthians 7:1-9 I. The Proper Place For Sexual Relations (7:1-6) A. Marital Sex Not A Necessary Evil B. Marital Sex Not Just For Procreation C. Marital Sexual Abstinence Brings Temptation II. Celibacy Is A Gift (7:7) A. Celibacy Better, But Few Can B. Marriage the Norm III. It Controls Strong Passions (7:8-9) A. For The Unmarried and Widows B. Not Meaning Spiritual Weakness