WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE
Sexual relationships outside of marriage affect our heart and our relationship with God.
As Christians our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God calls us to keep this temple pure but what happens when we are caught up in sexual relationships outside of marriage.
During the past 40 years there has been a tremendous breakdown of morals in our Western societies. Much of it has been caused by the onset of television, the internet, availability of pornography as well as music conceived in hell.
The forces of evil have turned upside down the understanding of our younger generations on these issues.
However the Word of God never changes. The world may change; governments may pass laws which are contrary to Scripture. However God says, “I am the Lord, I do not change.” (Malachi 3:6.)
The Ten Commandments make it very clear that we are not to commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14.)
Before Jesus Christ went to the cross to die and rise again from the dead He said, “If anyone loves Me, He will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:23.)
Jesus Christ has sent the Holy Spirit to come and live within us when we are believers and followers of Him.
The Bible says that our bodies are to be the temple of the Holy Spirit when we are believers. Then God lives in us by His Holy Spirit.
It also says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17.)
The Scripture also says, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20.)
When we commit sexual immorality by having sex outside of marriage we not only destroy our relationship with God but we will also lose our inheritance in the kingdom of God. In other words we go to hell when we die. (1 Corinthians 6:9.)
When we have sex outside of marriage we are defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit. God is a holy God and wishes to live in us. Therefore we face severe punishment if we defile that temple.
The only sin that defiles that temple is sexual immorality.
“Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18.)
This means that if we persist in a sexual relationship outside of marriage and we leave this earth we will go into hell; that is eternal punishment and fire.
There are no exceptions to this rule. We cannot argue that we are in love with the other person and therefore entitled to have sex outside of marriage.
If you are in such a relationship you should immediately withdraw from it until such time as you are married. Then you should cry out to God for His forgiveness and never go into such a relationship again.
If you truly show that you have turned from this way of life and are following Jesus Christ with all your heart then He will forgive you by His grace. (This grace is our unmerited favour before God.)
Don’t put off the day of turning away from such relationships. None of us know how long we have to live. Our breath is but a vapour. (James 4:14.)
At any moment we may be called into the presence of God to receive His judgement either for reward or condemnation depending upon our obedience to Him. (2 Corinthians 5:10-11.)
God does really love us but He has paid a tremendous price through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who died to pay the penalty for our sins and give us eternal life.
We need to be born again of the Spirit of God and receive His love and forgiveness. In order to be born-again we must become as a little child and submit our lives fully to Him and ask Him to be our Lord and Saviour. As we do so the Spirit of God will come and dwell within us and we will be changed forever.
He wants us to dwell with Him forever. This life on earth is but a trial period to see whether we are prepared to obey, trust and cling to Him thereby proving we are true followers of Him.
You may want to say this prayer to God,
“Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. I confess my sins.
I believe you sent Jesus Christ into this world, born of a virgin, that he lived on this earth, preached the coming kingdom of God and died on the cross to forgive me of my sins. Thank you Jesus.
I believe You rose from the dead on the third day and You are seated at the right hand of God. I believe you hear me now.
I turn away from all sin especially sexual immorality and I now confess You as my Lord and Saviour.”
If you have said the above prayer and believe it, find a good Bible e.g. a New King James or NIV (do not use “The Message Bible” which is totally wrong and is not a Bible.)
Join a Bible believing church and learn to live with Christians who can help you in your walk with God.
Remember God loves you and has paid a tremendous price through the death of His Son to buy you back from the hand of the devil.
Begin to tell others about Him and lead a life that is pleasing to God.
Then you will find the reality of God living within you, helping you, blessing you and giving you a peace that passes all understanding.