The apostle Paul writes in I Corinthians 6:13, 18-20, that “…The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body…Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
In the Bible, sexual immorality includes adultery, homosexuality, pre-marital sexual intercourse, incest, bestiality (sexual intercourse with an animal), (see Deuteronomy 22:20-21; see also Leviticus 18:1-30; 20:10-20). Jesus went even further by including our very thoughts: Looking at a woman with lustful intent is considered adultery from God’s perspective (Matthew 5:27-28). Much like our current culture, the Corinthian believers were surrounded with such sexual perversion and temptation that Paul urged them to marry instead of imitating their peers and living promiscuously:
“Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry [literally not to touch/cohabit with a woman]. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.” I Corinthians 7:1-2
As believers in Christ, Paul says to “…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
For those who choose to conform their lives to the pattern of Scripture, the promise is that
“The LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless [i.e. integrity and sincerity of purpose].” Psalm 84:11
Therefore, as God’s dearly loved children, “Let us purify ourselves…let us be blameless, pure, and set apart from sinners.” II Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 7:26
God’s gift of sex is to be enjoyed — and the only way to have that happen in the fullest measure is to follow God’s guidelines as presented in Scripture. They are actually quite clear when taken at face value!
So much can be said; so much has been written and spoken on this subject! From my perspective, here’s the bottom line:
• Be Spirit-led, not hormone-driven!
• God hard-wired us for sexual pleasure — but we must remain self-controlled; we must, simply, say “No!” when tempted to compromise, to venture beyond what might be called “parametered liberty.”
• With each victory comes more strength