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Exodus 22:16-20 ESV
16 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride-price for virgins. 18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live. 19 “Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death. 20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction.
I. THE WHY BEHIND THE LAW
A. To tell us who God is.
B. To tell us who & what we are not, and what we need God to do.
C. To tell us what we are to do in response to God’s saving grace.
II. PRE-MARITAL PERVERSION
A. Sex is an act of worship reserved for marriage.
B. Sex itself does not constitute a reason for marriage.
C. Sex before marriage changes the nature of marriage.
III. PRETENDING PERVERSION IS NOT WHAT IT APPEARS TO BE
A. Any perversion of worship is dangerous & demonic.
B. Our habit is to remove the stigma from perversions and normalize them as a natural part of life.
IV. PUNISHING PERVERSION, PURSUING PURITY
A. The punishment for perversion in Israel was death. In the church, it’s discipline.
B. The pursuit in Israel was corporate holiness. In the church, it’s the same.
NEXT STEP
1. The goal is not perfection, but progress in purity.
2. Despite our lack of purity, Jesus has pursued us and purchased us in order to make us pure and purely His.