varrussword wrote:
Pickled,
Enligthen me as to which passages they are
Varus
Very well...
A straightforward scripture related to sex outside of marriage is -
Quote:
Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
1 Corinthians 7:2 - NKJV
You then get a pretty good idea of the view presented in the New Testament about sex outside of marriage by putting that verse alongside this scripture portion -
Quote:
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 - NKJV
Quote:
"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people." (Ephesians 5:3)
So we are commanded to flee from sexual immorality and not allow even a hint of sexual immorality in our lives. These are strong words, so it is important that we make the right decision about whether or not premarital sex is included in "sexual immorality." In Genesis 2:24 God said that when a husband and wife are united, they become "one flesh." This is proper within marriage, but in 1 Corinthians 6:16 (above) the apostle Paul said that if a man unites himself with a prostitute then "The two will become one flesh." In that context, this is clearly a sin. Paul used prostitutes as an example, but we can see from 1 Corinthians 6:15-17 (above) and Genesis 2:24 that when we unite ourselves sexually with someone else then we become "one flesh" with that person. In the Bible, the only time that it is acceptable to be "one flesh" with someone is when you are married to that person. The implication from all of this is that premarital sex is a sin.
Now notice how strongly God condemns sexual immorality:
Quote:
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
Quote:
"We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did--and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died." (1 Corinthians 10:8)
Quote:
"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." (Hebrews 13:4)
Quote:
"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)
These passages say that the "sexually immoral" will not inherit the kingdom of God, but instead they will be judged and will be sent to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Christians will not be sent to the fiery lake of burning sulfur, but the above passages give us a very clear idea of the heart of God concerning sexual immorality. God has a strong view of any kind of immorality, so if we are going to err then we should try to err on the side of purity.For example, the apostle Paul said that the Church is going to be presented as a pure virgin bride to Christ:
"I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him." (2 Corinthians 11:2) This indicates that purity and virginity are highly valued before marriage in Scripture. Premarital sex takes away that purity and virginity. For those who have already lost that purity before marriage, however, God is willing to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). As Christian recording artist Rebecca St. James says, if we have made the mistake of having sex before marriage then we can repent and give our sexuality back to God and become "recycled virgins." As I see it, the idea of being a "recycled virgin" means that we have received forgiveness from God, and we are now keeping ourselves pure for marriage without having premarital sex anymore (just like a virgin).
Notice that the apostle Paul said that if single people cannot control their sexual desires then they should get married:
"Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion." (1 Corinthians 7:8-9) This passage says that if unmarried people are not able to be celibate (as Paul was) and they find themselves burning with sexual desire, then they should get married so that they don't commit sexual sins. The implication is that sex is only valid within marriage, as the following passage also indicates:
"Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman [or, "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman," according to the NIV footnote]. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband." (1 Corinthians 7:1-2, KJV) Notice that immediately after mentioning sexual relations, Paul said that people should get married in order to avoid fornication. The context indicates that people should get married in order to avoid the sin of having sex outside of marriage. Then in the very next passage, Paul called sex a "marital duty":
"The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife." (1 Corinthians 7:3-4) Again, Paul's message is that sex belongs within marriage. The above passage says that it is a marital duty (and privilege), and Paul has already said that being married helps people avoid "fornication" (which in the context implies premarital sex).
Finally, notice that Paul said that a man should treat older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity:
"Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity." (1 Timothy 5:1-2) Since single men are told to treat single women as their mothers or sisters, that pretty much rules out premarital sex! Notice that marriage is allowed in the New Testament, which means that at the appropriate time a man can stop treating a girl as his sister and begin treating her as his wife. Until that point, however, he is told to treat her as his sister with absolute purity, which would imply that he cannot have premarital sex with her.
Conclusion
For all of the above reasons, I don't see how we can escape the conclusion that premarital sex is a sin. Sexual immorality of any kind is harshly condemned in the New Testament, so I would recommend following the path of purity before marriage. If you have made the mistake of having sex before marriage, forgiveness and restoration are only a prayer away. You can become a "recycled virgin" (as Rebecca St. James says) and then begin saving yourself for your future spouse.
Happy now, sinner!?!?
Edited, Thu Oct 7 11:36:03 2004 by pickleprince
Happy now, sinner!?!? 