What Does The Bible Say About Sex
Sex is one of the most intimate and powerful experiences God has given to humanity. It is a gift designed to bring unity, joy, and fulfillment within the covenant of marriage. Yet, in a world that often distorts God's design, it is crucial to understand what Scripture teaches about the purpose and boundaries of sex. The Bible provides clear guidance, portraying sex as a good and holy gift when used as God intended but issuing stern warnings against its misuse.
Let’s explore the biblical view of sex, examining God’s design for it, the joy and fulfillment it brings when used rightly, and the consequences of disregarding His boundaries. With Scripture as our foundation, we will seek to honor God in how we view and practice this sacred gift.
God’s Good Design for Sex
From the very beginning of creation, God made it clear that sex is not an accident or a mistake but a purposeful and good part of His design for humanity. Sex was created by God as a means to deepen intimacy, bring joy, and fulfill His command to “be fruitful and multiply.” Understanding and embracing God’s design is key to fully appreciating this gift.
Sex as Part of Creation
In Genesis 1:27-28 (ESV), Scripture states, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.’” Here, we see that sexual intimacy is woven into God’s plan for humanity, serving as the means for procreation and the continuation of life.
Further clarity is provided in Genesis 2:24-25 (ESV): “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” The phrase “one flesh” emphasizes the physical, emotional, and spiritual unity that sexual intimacy creates within the covenant of marriage. This unity is not only a reflection of God’s design but also a reflection of His covenantal relationship with His people.
Sex as a Source of Joy and Delight
God intended sex to bring joy and delight to married couples. The Bible often celebrates this aspect of intimacy. In Proverbs 5:18-19 (ESV), we read, “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.” These verses highlight the beauty and passion of marital intimacy, portraying it as a source of deep satisfaction and pleasure.
The Song of Solomon provides an extended celebration of the joy and intimacy found in marital love. For example, Song of Solomon 7:6-10 (ESV) says, “How beautiful and pleasant you are, O loved one, with all your delights! Your stature is like a palm tree, and your breasts are like its clusters. I say I will climb the palm tree and lay hold of its fruit.” This poetic language underscores the delight and passion that God intended for married couples to experience.
Sex as a Reflection of God’s Relationship with His People
Sex within marriage is not only about physical intimacy but also serves as a reflection of God’s covenantal love. Just as a husband and wife are joined together in a faithful, exclusive, and loving relationship, so God calls His people into a covenant with Himself. Ephesians 5:31-32 (ESV) explains, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”
This parallel between marriage and Christ’s relationship with the church shows that sexual intimacy, when experienced within God’s design, points to a greater spiritual reality. It is a profound gift that, when used rightly, glorifies God and brings joy to His people.
The Boundaries God Has Set
God’s Word clearly defines the boundaries within which sexual intimacy is to be enjoyed. These boundaries are not meant to restrict joy but to protect us from harm and align our lives with His holy purposes. Any sexual activity outside of the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman falls outside of God’s design and is considered sin.
Adultery and Fornication
Adultery—sexual relations with someone other than one’s spouse—is explicitly condemned in Scripture. Exodus 20:14 (ESV) states, “You shall not commit adultery.” Jesus expands on this in Matthew 5:27-28 (ESV): “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Similarly, fornication—sexual relations outside of marriage—is forbidden. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (ESV) warns, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or 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.”
Homosexual Behavior
The Bible also prohibits homosexual behavior. Leviticus 18:22 (ESV) states, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” This teaching is reaffirmed in the New Testament. Romans 1:26-27 (ESV) describes such actions as “dishonorable” and contrary to nature.
Consequences of Sexual Sin
Sexual sin has both temporal and eternal consequences. Proverbs 6:32 (ESV) warns, “He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.” Additionally, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (ESV) cautions, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
The Consequences of Ignoring God’s Design
Ignoring God’s design for sex leads to devastating consequences on spiritual, emotional, and physical levels. When individuals step outside of His boundaries, they often experience guilt, broken relationships, and long-term harm that goes beyond the physical act.
Spiritual Consequences
Disobedience to God’s commands damages our relationship with Him. Isaiah 59:2 (ESV) says, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” Engaging in sexual sin grieves the Holy Spirit and creates a barrier to intimacy with God.
Paul writes in Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV), “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Sexual sin leads to corruption, separating us from the life God desires for us.
Emotional and Relational Harm
Sexual sin often leaves deep emotional scars, including feelings of shame, regret, and unworthiness. Broken trust in relationships, particularly in marriage, can be incredibly difficult to repair. Proverbs 6:27-29 (ESV) illustrates this reality: “Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.”
The emotional toll of sexual sin often extends to children and families. The breakdown of marriages and homes leaves lasting scars on all involved. Malachi 2:15-16 (ESV) warns against betrayal within marriage, stating, “So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth.”
Physical Consequences
Sexual sin can lead to physical consequences such as sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies, and other health issues. These outcomes serve as reminders that God’s commands are meant to protect us. Romans 1:24-27 (ESV) describes how rejecting God’s design leads to physical dishonor and suffering.
Despite these consequences, God’s grace offers hope and healing to all who turn to Him in repentance. The next chapters will explore the blessings of obedience and the restoration available through Christ.
Loving God by Honoring His Design
To honor God with our lives, we must align our actions with His Word. This includes how we approach sex and relationships. Living within God’s boundaries for sex is not about restricting joy but about protecting and enhancing it. When we submit to His design, we demonstrate our love and trust in Him.
Obedience as an Act of Love
Jesus makes it clear that obedience to God’s commands is an expression of love. In John 14:15 (ESV), He says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Choosing to honor God’s design for sex—by reserving it for marriage and rejecting sexual immorality—is a tangible way to show our love for Him.
Paul echoes this sentiment in Romans 12:1-2 (ESV): “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Offering our bodies to God includes honoring His design for sexuality.
God’s Commands Bring Life and Joy
The boundaries God places around sex are not arbitrary; they are meant to protect us and lead to life and joy. Psalm 119:9-11 (ESV) asks and answers, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” When we follow God’s commands, we experience the fullness of His blessings.
In Psalm 16:11 (ESV), David declares, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” True joy and fulfillment come not from pursuing our desires outside of God’s will but from walking in His ways.
Trusting God’s Wisdom
Living within God’s design for sex requires trust in His wisdom and goodness. The world often promotes messages that contradict Scripture, suggesting that personal happiness and fulfillment come from following our desires. Yet, Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
When we trust God’s plan, even when it goes against cultural norms or personal inclinations, we find stability, peace, and blessings. Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) reassures us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
The Blessings of Purity
Choosing to live according to God’s design for sex brings profound blessings. It fosters trust and intimacy in marriage, protects against the physical and emotional consequences of sexual sin, and strengthens our relationship with God. Matthew 5:8 (ESV) promises, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Purity in thought and action opens the door to deeper communion with our Creator.
Repentance and Restoration
God’s design for sex is not meant to condemn but to guide and bless us. Yet, none of us is without sin. Whether through actions, thoughts, or attitudes, we have all fallen short of God’s glory. The good news is that God offers forgiveness, healing, and restoration to those who turn to Him in repentance.
The Call to Repentance
Repentance begins with acknowledging our sin and turning away from it. 1 John 1:9 (ESV) assures us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” God’s forgiveness is complete and transformative.
In Acts 3:19 (ESV), Peter urges, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” Repentance is not merely feeling sorry for our actions but actively seeking to change through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Restoration Through Christ
Through Christ, we are not only forgiven but also restored to a right relationship with God. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) declares, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” This new identity includes the power to live in obedience to God’s design.