A common summary of biblical teaching on sex is that it is should only occur within the context of "One man and one woman in a covenant relationship for one lifetime." If that is true, it rules out not only adultery, but remarriage after divorce (with some exceptions, see The Bible and Marriage), AND...any sex before marriage, everything in the lesbian, gay, and bisexual category, and of course, polygamy.
To most people today, this view is obviously wrong. It is also an intensely personal and highly prioritized part of life. A common response is, "What difference does it make to God if I am having sex with my girlfriend?" Or, "But I'm in love with this person, certainly God wants me to be happy." This issue like no other today brings into focus the enormous implications of choosing to trust the Bible. "My way seems right." Or, "Just about everyone agrees with my view." Runs right into, "God says..." Which are you going to choose?
Before I go any further I should point out that according to the Bible God's primary goal for you is not your immediate happiness. Jesus says, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" (Mat. 6:33). God wants you to obey his commands more than he wants you to be happy. Of course, obeying God's commands will lead to what's best for you in the long run.
God loves you so much he sent Jesus to die for your sin - no one else will ever love you like that. So, clearly, what he commands is motivated by his love for you, not some sort of strange desire to place unnecessary limits on your fun. In addition, God is infinitely more capable and qualified to know what is best for us. He knows way more about us individually than we know about ourselves! He knows the future and everything about human history. He designed and created us. We should expect to run into areas where we disagree with him about what is best for us, because in comparison we are largely ignorant when it comes to the topic.
But trusting the Bible is choosing to trust Jesus (He taught us to trust everything in the Bible). It is choosing to believe God loves us. It is choosing to believe his commandments are right and good.
Others question that the Bible really teaches a conservative view on sex. In answering a question about divorce, Jesus answered, "Haven't you read that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate" (Mat. 19:4-6)
Jesus does way more than address divorce. He explains the whole biblical view of sex, based on passages from Genesis one and two. He shows God's intention in creating sex, that it is for one man and one woman in a life-long covenant relationship. This, Jesus says, is the starting point for understanding everything else the Bible teaches about sex.
The Bible says that sex is for producing children (It is commanded in Genesis 1), but this is not the only or even the primary purpose. Proverbs 5:18-20 speaks of enjoying each other sexually with no reference to procreation. 1 Corinthians 7 likewise talks about couples needing to be with each other sexually on a regular basis in order to maintain a healthy relationship. Sex is a physical act that communicates and solidifies a spiritual union between two people.
Therefore, any sexual activity outside of a marriage between a man and a woman is to use sex in a way that God did not intend for it. If you are not married and believe you are ready for sex with another person, then you must also believe you are ready to enter into a life-long covenant relationship with that person. Sometimes STDs and pregnancy are used to scare people away from pre-marital sex or adultery. While there is truth to these arguments, Christians should focus instead on desiring to live a life that is honoring to God. Jesus taught that it is the only kind of life worth living.
Trust the Bible's purpose is to grow your confidence that the Bible is true and the ultimate resource for life." You can join the Facebook group by clicking here.Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. You can listen to previous programs online here: http://www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html
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