Subject: Marriage Relations - 1 Corinthians 7-8

1 Corinthians 7:1-6 (ESV Strong's)

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.

Subject:  Marriage Relations

Why has the church abrogated the subject of sexual relations in marriage to the world?   We have given away our authoritative voice about sexual relations in marriage because the world has made sex so dirty and racy.   Paul lived in a time of Greek culture where orgies were a normal activity.  Prostitution was even connected to some religious beliefs.   Sex was part of many worship services in the Ancient World.   Paul, however, does not diminish his voice on this subject because the world's voice is louder and dissonant.   Paul tells the church that the act of marriage is a mutual responsibility to both marriage partners.  He tells us that if we set the marriage act aside, it needs to be mutual and it needs to be for a limited time frame.   He also states that his views on this are not a "command" but by "concession."  Paul is referring to his last statement concerning setting aside the marriage act for prayer.  He is not telling them to do this (that would be an act of asceticism ... Something he spoke against in Colossians 2).   Paul wants the church to know that sexual relations between a husband and wife should not hinder their relationship or hinder their relationship with Christ.   This is a mutual respectful treatment of giving yourself to each other.   We let the world preach their sermons on this subject and it amounts to a "taking" of what you need.   In Paul's teachings, servant-hood of Christ comes through, even in this part of our lives.