1. NANC Biblical Counseling Class Lesson 12: Sexual Sin, Trials & Suffering

2. XVI. Sexual Sin

3. A. The Bible and Sexual Sin 1.Verses a.1 Corinthians 6:18 b.Galatians 5:19-21 c.Ephesians 5:3-5 d.Colossians 3:5-6 e.1 Thessalonians 4:3 2.Examples a.Tamar – Genesis 38:1-24 b.David – 2 Samuel 11 c.Solomon – 1 Kings 11:3

4. B. Types of Sexual Sin 1.Adultery (Lev. 20:10, Heb. 13:4, Prov. 6:30-35) 2.Immorality or Fornication (1 Cor. 6:15, Deut. 22:21, 23:17) 3.Homosexuality (Gen. 19:1-29, Rom. 1:24-32) 4.Incest (Lev. 18:6-17, 20:14, 5.Bestiality (Ex. 22:19, Lev. 18:23) 6.Mental Immorality (Voyeurism, Pornography, Masturbation) – (1 Cor. 6:9, Phil. 2:3) 7.Exhibitionism (Gen. 9:22) 8.Sexual Child Abuse (Deut. 22:24) 9.Rape (Deut. 22:24, Judges 19:24, 20:3-4, 12) 10.Prostitution (Lev. 19:29, 20:5-6, 1 Cor. 6:9) 11.Transvestitism and Transsexualism (Deut. 22:5)

5. C. Definition of Sexual Sin A selfish, idolatrous desire to gratify self by engaging in thoughts, words, or actions of a sexual nature that God has forbidden

6. D. Biblical View of Sex 1.Sex was created by God and is therefore pure and holy within marriage (Gen. 1:27, 31, 2:18, 21-23, Heb. 13:4) 2.Sex is not the basis for marriage, but it is a key element of marriage (1 Cor. 7:3-5) 3.The primary goal of the sexual relationship is giving – providing satisfaction for the spouse (1 Cor 7:3-5, Prov. 5:18)

7. D. Biblical View of Sex 4.Each husband and wife has a God-given ability and duty to satisfy his or her spouse (1 Cor. 7:3-4) 5.God encourages the pleasure of sex in marriage, not just the procreative aspect (Prov. 5:18-19, Song. 4 & 7, 1 Cor. 7:3-4) 6.Sexual relations are to be regular and reciprocal (1 Cor. 7:5)

8. E. Principles for Dealing with Sexual Sin 1.Recognize that sexual sin does not satisfy (Prov. 5:3-6, 6:24-29, 7:18, 21) 2.Confess the sin to God and seek His forgiveness (1 John 1:9) 3.Confess the sin to anyone sinned against and seek their forgiveness (Luke 17:3-4) 4.Repent (Rom. 12:1-2, Eph. 4:22-24) 5.Apply the principle of radical amputation (Matt. 5:29-30, Rom. 13:14)

9. E. Principles for Dealing with Sexual Sin 6.Deal with the lusts, lies, and idols of the heart (James 1:14-15, Rom. 1:18ff) 7.Replace sinful lust with a biblical view of love and sex 8.Study the character of God – especially His omnipresence and omniscience (Prov. 5:21) 9.Establish accountability relationships (Heb. 3:12- 13, Prov. 27:17, Ecc. 4:9-10, James 5:16) 10.Be active in serving and ministering to others (Eph. 4:12-13) 11.Establish a specific plan for dealing with temptation

10. F. Specific Areas for Biblical Study 1.The goal in life (1 Thes. 4:3, 2 Cor. 5:9, 1 Cor. 10:31) 2.Self-control (1 Tim. 4:7-8, Rom. 6:12, 1 Thes. 4:4) 3.Relationships (1 Thes. 4:6, Rom. 16:17-18, Phil. 2:3-4) 4.Thought life (Prov. 4:23, Rom. 12:1-2, Phil. 4:8) 5.Eye control (Job 31:1, Prov. 4:25, Ps. 101:3, Matt. 6:22-23)

11. F. Specific Areas for Biblical Study 6.Influence of friends (Prov. 5:9-11, 13:20-21, 22:24-25, 27:17, 1 Cor. 15:33) 7.Circumstance control (Rom. 13:14, 1 Thes. 5:22, 2 Tim. 2:22)

12. G. Resources Josh Harris, Sex is Not the Problem, Lust Is (formerly titled, Not Even a Hint) Steve Gallagher, At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry Steve Gallagher, A Biblical Guide to Counseling the Sexual Addict Steve Gallagher, The Walk of Repentance Mike Cleveland, Pure Freedom: Breaking the Addiction to Pornography Robert Daniels, The War Within: Gaining Victory in the Battle for Sexual Purity Ed Wheat, Intended for Pleasure CCEF booklets

13. XVII. Trials and Suffering 1 1 Adapted from material by NANC and Randy Patten

14. A. The Big Picture 1.The key to dealing with trials and suffering is to see God and His purposes in the midst of it. 2.Biblical examples: a.Joseph – Gen. 50:20 b.Job – Job. 23:10 c.James – James 1:2-4 d.Paul – Rom. 5:3-5, 2 Cor. 12:9-10

15. B. Unbiblical Views of the Origin of Trials and Suffering 1.Trials and suffering are always the result of my sin 2.Trials and suffering are always someone else’s fault (victim mentality) 3.Trials and suffering just happen (fatalism) 4.God is punishing me. God is out to get me. 5.God is unwilling or unable to help me. 6.Trials and suffering always come from Satan.

16. C. The Bible on Trials and Suffering 1.Trials and suffering are a result of sin (Gen. 1-3, Rom. 8:20-23) 2.God is always sovereign and in control of all things, even trials and suffering a.God causes both calamity and blessing (Jer. 32:42, Lam. 3:37-38) b.Yet God is never morally responsible for sin and wickedness (James 1:12-18) c.God sovereignty is such that He works His good and holy will even through the sin and wickedness of others (Gen. 50:20, Rom. 8:28, Is. 46:9-11, Job 1-2)

17. D. How Does God Call Believers to Respond? 1.Seek to please and glorify God in all things. We must be responsible regardless of how we feel (2 Cor. 5:9-10) 2.Pray for God to grow and change us, not just get us through the difficulty (Rom.8:28-29, James 1:2-4) 3.Reasons God brings trials and suffering: a.Unconfessed sin (1 Cor. 11:30, 2 Kings 5:15-27) b.To discipline His children (Heb. 12:5-11) c.To increase our usefulness (John 15:2, 2 Cor. 1:3-9, 2 Pet. 1:5-8)

18. D. How Does God Call Believers to Respond? d.To show us that we live in a fallen world (Gen. 3:8-19, Rom. 8:22-24) e.To show us that the sins of others can have an effect on us (Eph. 6:4, Josh 7, Jonah 1) f.To allow us to reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7-8, Prov. 5:22) g.To teach us about our own weakness and cause us to depend on God (2 Cor. 1:3-9, 12:7-10) h.To help us realize we have put our hope in something or someone else other than God (1 Pet. 1:13, Heb. 6:19)

19. D. How Does God Call Believers to Respond? i.To enlarge our appreciation of His sufficiency (2 Cor. 4:7, 12:7-10) j.To test and strengthen our faith (1 Pet. 1:6-7, 4:12) k.To create opportunities to witness for Christ (Phil. 1:12ff) l.To develop Christ-like character (James 1:2-5) m.To cause us to recognize our need of one another in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:25, Rom. 12:15, Gal. 6:2) n.To always bring glory to Himself (John 9:1-3)

20. E. Biblical Encouragement 1.The Father is carrying out His will which is good, acceptable, and perfect (Rom. 12:2) 2.Christ prays on our behalf (John 17:20-21, Heb. 4:14-16) 3.The Holy Spirit indwells believers (1 Cor. 6:19-20) 4.God’s grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:1ff) 5.No temptation is too powerful. God promises victory, not necessarily deliverance (1 Cor. 10:13)

21. E. Biblical Encouragement 6.Our earthly life is short compared to eternity with the Lord (2 Cor. 4:16-18) 7.The church body is there to help (Heb. 10:24-25)

22. F. Resources D.A. Carson, How Long O Lord? (Baker, 1990) Jay Adams, How to Handle Trouble (P&R, 1982) R.C. Sproul, Surprised by Suffering (Tyndale, 1989) John MacArthur, The Power of Suffering (Victor, 1995) Jerry Bridges, Trusting God (Navpress, 1988) Martin Lloyd-Jones, Why Does God Allow Suffering? (Crossway, 1994).