The Greater Marriage Truth, Part Three

Adultery (the breaking of the marriage covenant through sexual betrayal) is a great sin because its destructive tentacles extend far beyond the damage done to the marriage itself. Marriage is the foundation of community in the building of society. There can be no strong community without strong families built on strong marriages. There can be no strong churches without strong families. This is primary since marriage is a picture and pattern of God’s covenant with His people.

Paul exhorted husbands to love their wives, patterning the love Christ has for His church (Ephesians 5:25). The purpose and aim of Christ’s love for his church is evidenced in selfless sacrifice, sanctifying and cleansing the church so that she might be without spot or wrinkle (v. 26). This is exactly what a husband is to do for his wife. The result is a strong marriage and a strong church. It is in this objective that Adam failed in the garden as he passively stood by as Eve sinned. Even though Adam sought to blame Eve (Genesis 3:12), God held him responsible. The NT clearly bears this out (Romans 5:12, 13; 1 Timothy 2:14; 2 Corinthians 11:3).

Adultery is a selfish act, fulfilling personal lust for momentary satisfaction. Like Adam, the adulterer wants to assume no responsibility for the sin. No wonder Jesus used very strong and radical language to warn His followers (Matthew 5:29, 30). Paul argued that believers must “flee from sexual immorality” because, unlike other sins, this one is “against his own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18). Body here refers to the covenantal unity of two as one.

Two things must be understood. First, the sexual act consummates the “one-body” unity that is the heart of covenant marriage (1 Corinthian 6:16; Matthew 19:5, 6). “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (v. 6b). One might argue, “A sexual tryst of a couple outside marriage certainly would not fall under God’s covenant unity designation. God would not join them in this case.” Sorry, but that is not what Paul said: “Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, ‘The two will become one flesh’” (1 Corinthians 6:17).

Second, the covenantal consummation is symbolic of the spiritual union that makes a believer one with the Lord: “But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him” (1 Corinthians 6:18). Therefore, Paul adamantly warned the saints, “Flee from sexual immorality.” As sexual sin is against the marriage covenant, it is also sinning against spiritual union with the Lord. Immorality is linked to idolatry as well, being a sin against the Lord’s covenant union.

In adultery one sins against both one’s spouse and the Lord. That is why Paul continued, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20).