John,
Interesting thread. I will have to both agree with some things and disagree with others. First I agree that sex is a big issue for mankind in general and Christians specifically. It is one of the most difficult things to get right that we face as humans. It is shrouded in mystery because, just as Cecil alluded to, people are embarrassed to speak about it openly. Even this thread will likely get locked because this is a family web site and families do not like to discuss sex. Having said that, I will have to somewhat disagree with the statement of sex being the issue when it came to the fall of Eve and Adam. It is not clear that they had even had sex yet. The first mention that Adam KNEW his wife is after the fall, (Gen. 4:1). Therefore, sex does have something to do with knowledge, (carnal or fleshly knowledge in many cases). It is the sex which emanates from Godly knowledge that we should seek to have.
The real issue with the first sin is as Dwight said; Eve was enamored with the idea of being like God and she wanted the shortcut, lazy persons path to that state, instead of waiting on God to provide it. The fruit looked good, (lust of the eyes), surely it would taste good, (lust of the flesh) and it would make her like God, (the pride of life - stealing Gods glory as Lucifer did - I John 2:16). These are characteristics of the flesh and the world and come from Satan. Eve was indeed operating in the wisdom of the world which the Word tells us in James 3:13-18 is counter to the wisdom of God and comes from the devil. The wisdom of the world leads people into their own understanding and knowledge instead of the understanding from the Holy Spirit and knowledge of the Father, as the wisdom of people who have the mind of Christ does. Godly wisdom is the foundational characteristic that we need to obtain, (Prov. 4:7) but God only gives it to people who fear and obey Him, (Prov. 9:10). From that foundation, we need understanding that comes from the Holy Spirit and the knowledge that comes from the Father which will illuminate our very being with the glory of God. It is this knowledge, (glory) that we need in order to become perfected in Christ and become one with God through Him, (John 17:22-23). It is this oneness that is symbolized by both intra-marital sex and communion just as you say. It is through communion that we ALL can abide in Jesus, (it should be taken daily with a right heart attitude, Matt. 6:11 and I Cor. 11:23-34)) and through proper intra-marital sex that some of us get a taste of what it will be like to marry Jesus and finally become one with Him on His return, (Eph. 5:31-32).
The real issue with Eve and then Adam eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, (and I believe that it was a real fruit from a real tree just as the Word says) was not really sexual in nature, though in one part it was sensual, just as the wisdom of the world appeals to the human fleshly senses, (James 3:15). It was a more a matter of order. ORDER is arguably the most important thing to God in the earth, which is why the devil wants chaos and anarchy. That is why God wants us to do things in a proper order, which includes leaving sex as intra-marital between people who preferably God has brought together. Anything else goes against God and is just what the devil wants. Because sex symbolizes the return of Christ, our eternal unity with God and the demise of the enemy, Satan works very hard to pervert it by encouraging extramarital sex, pornography, gay sex, etc. Eve and then Adam were out of order when they could not be patient, (i.e., show love for God - love is first patient) and wait on God to give them His knowledge when He knew they were ready. Instead they operated in pride and stole it. Pride may be defined as stealing Gods glory, (which is in some cases the same as His knowledge, (see my teaching - KNOWLEDGE - The Key to Perfection). This opened the door for sickness and death to come into the world. That is why when someone is sick they are out of order somewhere. Even death can be overcome through Christ, (John 3:16, 11:26, Heb. 11:5 and others). Adam and Eve had not yet received the wisdom of God, (through Christ) and the understanding, (through the Holy Spirit) to use the knowledge, (of the Father) properly, so they failed in its operation. It is through wisdom, understanding and knowledge that God created the universe and made things work, (Prov.3:19-20) and it is through the same three Godly characteristics, (not the earthly ones) that we are supposed to build the house of God and fill it with obedient children of God, (Prov. 24:3-4). However, in order receive any of these three characteristics from God, we have to fear Him and through that fear OBEY Him. Then we have to receive them in the proper order - wisdom first, (through the mind of Christ), then understanding, (from the baptism and indwelling of the Holy Spirit) and finally knowledge, (from the Father which is in one sense His glory). Disobedient people, whether or not they call themselves Christian, do not fear Him and will not receive the wisdom of God as a foundation to build their house on the rock. Instead they will have to build their house on the sand, (the wisdom of the world) and will have no foundation to withstand any attack of the enemy. People today are still making the same mistake that Eve did and are trying to get the knowledge of God without going through the path that God has prescribed through Christ, (wisdom of God) and the Holy Spirit, (understanding of God - John 14:6). I could carry on, as this is only an introduction but shows the pattern of error that humans have walked in since the beginning of humankind. If we know these things, then we can choose not to walk into the same trap.
If something has no support from scripture and does not come from inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it is by definition coming from the enemy and we should therefore reject it even if it does make sense to our human understanding. It is hogwash which is a nice name for pooh.
Be blessed,
Ray
