The Riddle of Sin and Conception
God told men to multiply and fill the earth.
Gen_1:22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters of the seas and let the fowl multiply in the earth.
Gen_1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it. And have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the heavens, and all animals that move upon the earth.
But, Conception is done in sin. Perhaps, this helps explain our sin nature.
Psa_51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Does this mean that God told men and women to sin by having sexual relations? No. The vows of marriage are ordained by God and He blesses the union of the two and they become as one Because their union is blessed, so are their intimate relations given a covering by God and they do not sin.
Heb_13:4 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled, but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
However, sexual relations out of marriage are not blessed and are as sin to God during judgement.
Sexual lust is one of Satan’s biggest temptations and more than anything else represents the carnal nature of the world used to wreck the lives of God’s people. Sampson and David are two prime examples. It causes us to dwell on the creation more than the creator. It leads to lust that can lead to infidelity beyond the marriage vows. It focuses on self-awareness, the cause of pride, which God hates. It leads away from God and thus violates the first commandment to love God more than anything else. This is why God considers sex as sinful. However, sex within marriage is condoned and necessary to comply with the command to multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. Used properly, it can have some very positive effects within marriage as part of what real love is about. God intended it to be channeled for good in the Christian life:
- To provide a means of creating new life
- To create a bond of intimate affection strong enough to overcome normal marriage stresses.
- To provide a means of cancelling external temptations threatening a separation of the marriage union.
- To provide a means of stress relief to the body by giving a sense of euphoric wellness.
Dwell on these thoughts that God gives us:
Rom_9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
1Th 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
1Th 4:2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
1Th_4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti_2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.