Jesus’ birth was announced by angels, in dreams, by the Holy Spirit, and by a star. Those who heard the news were filled with joy and excitement. What would it mean for them, then? What does it mean for us, now?
And what does it have to do with sex?
‘The Apostle Paul answers this question in his first letter to the church in Corinth, and he is very specific: Jesus’ coming is good news for those who struggle with sexual temptations and for those who have not followed God’s design for sexual intimacy. Paul warns: Don’t be deceived. God takes sin, disobedience to his commandments, very seriously. And sexual sins are at the top of Paul’s list of sins that will keep us from heaven:
Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
But here is the good news about Jesus’ coming:
And such were some of you. 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. (v. 11)
Jesus, God in human form, came to earth. He lived a sinless life, and then he took the sins of all humanity on himself and died on the Cross to pay the penalty for them. We can be forgiven, if we believe in him, and our relationship with God is restored.
Is this good news for you? That if you struggle with sexual temptation, Jesus is with you through the Holy Spirit — helping you to flee from sexual immorality (v. 18)? That if you have sinned, you can be forgiven, relieved from a sense of guilt, and restored to relationship with God?
Can you talk about this with your teens?
God loves us. That’s why he sent his Son to die for us. And he wants us to love him “with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind” (Matthew 22:37).
And to glorify him with our body, which is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Related link:
Just Say “No” Pastor Dave Adams on saying “No” to sin (from 20:13)
