Since the Bible is primarily concerned with God, human beings, and God’s plan of salvation as revealed in the life and death of Jesus Christ, it shouldn’t come as much of a shock that it addresses sexuality at length. God created male and female humans to have sexual relationships, thus it stands to reason that the biblical narrative of creation, fall, and redemption would also involve sexuality.
Some of the things in the Bible may even shock you. Here’s what the Bible says about sex, from reproduction to sexual pleasure.
Contents
Is Sex Important To God?
God designed sex. The first of God’s commands to man is “reign over creation” and “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:26–28). In other words, dominate the globe and engage in copious amounts of sexual activity.
What Does God Say About Sex?
Within the bounds of a committed marriage, it is encouraged to enjoy God-given sexuality and romantic love. Hebrews 13:4 speaks as much: “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure.”
1 Corinthians 7:3–4 says, “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.”
Christians often believe that God only approves of sexual activity between spouses. One of the most blatant and unambiguous taboos in Christianity is committing sex outside of marriage[1].
People usually resort to “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14), one of the Ten Commandments. Contrary to popular belief, “adultery” does not entail that two people who are not married are sleeping together. Similarly, in Matthew 5, Jesus’ condemnation of sexual desire is set against the backdrop of adultery. Therefore, we must guard against attributing our own sexual urges to someone else’s partner.
What Does The Bible Say About Sex?
Sex is a gift God gives to married people for their mutual enjoyment. It’s in the Bible: Proverbs 5:18-19 says, “Let your manhood be a blessing; rejoice in the wife of your youth. Let her charms and tender embrace satisfy you. Let her love alone fill you with delight.”
3 Surprising Things That The Bible Says About Sex
1. It Is The Husbands’ Responsibility To Give It To Their Wives.
According to 1 Corinthian 7:3–4, a husband should allow his own wife to use her marital rights, and the wife should do the same for her own husband. Because the husband, not the wife, has jurisdiction over the woman’s physical being. Similarly, the woman, and not the husband, has control over the husband’s physical being.
The revolutionary notion that husbands owe their wives sex and that wives have the right to demand it from them was born out of this belief. It has never happened before! Something like this has never been spoken of before in the old world.
2. Couples Need To Have It Frequently.
Apostle Paul admonished his congregation not to deprive one another of sex, save maybe by agreement for a little time, so that they may “devote yourselves to prayer;” but then to reunite, so that Satan would not entice them due to their lack of self-control (I Corinthians 7:5).
Couples may devote a maximum of a few days to prayer and spiritual observance if both parties agree, but they must return to one another immediately lest they be tempted to engage in sexual immorality.
3. It’s Not Only About The Children.
The relationship between sexuality and procreation is evident in the Bible without any effort. This is stated in the opening chapter of the first book (Genesis 1:27–28, ESV):
“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, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'”
Human beings are meant to imitate and symbolize God; consequently, the male should have a complimentary and equal spouse. Therefore, God created Eve from one of Adam’s ribs. The Bible then states:
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24, ESV).
When performed correctly and with God’s approval, sex frequently produces children, but this is not its ultimate purpose. It is for God’s glory and humanity’s comfort.
What Does The Bible Say About The Misuse Of Sex?
The Mosaic Law contains the most comprehensive list of forbidden sexual interactions. Leviticus 18 prohibits having sexual relations and sexual desires with close relatives, those of the same sex, and animals (Leviticus 18:6–23). These sexual encounters are referred to in the Bible as “abominations” or “detestable things,” which “defiled” persons and countries.
Death was the consequence when sexual intercourse with someone married, also known as adultery (Leviticus 20:10–12), whereas forced marriage was the sanction for pre-marital sex (Exodus 22:16). The death penalty also applied to rape.
A sexually immoral person sins not only to God but to themselves. Knowing the frailty and depravity of the human heart, however, God incorporated divorce into His rule (Matthew 19:7–8).
What Should Be The Proper Use And Enjoyment Of Sex According To The Bible?
The book of Song of Songs, particularly the 4th and 5th chapters, details sexual love inside marriage. These chapters entail the newlyweds exploring one other’s bodies, shouting words of delight, amazement, and dedication. After setting the love-making metaphor as some garden brimming with delicious fruits, lovers are advised, “Eat, friends, and drink; drink your full of love” (Song of Songs 5:1). The Lord approvingly looks at these people’s sexual union.
God’s holy people must “flee from sexual immorality,” since “all other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body” (1 Corinthians 6:18).
It is also sinful when men and women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. All elements of marriage, which includes sexual encounters, glorify God and show His traits, namely loving, faithful, protective, selfless, and so on (1 John 4:16 and 1 Corinthians 13).
This is why sexual misconduct is unacceptable. God also uses marriage as a metaphor to symbolize His final marriage with those he redeemed as Christ’s future bride (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 21:2, 9; Ephesians 5:32).
Conclusion
To break God’s design in order to lay hold of the pleasures of creation is not only stupid; it is a rejection of the pleasures that God intends for us to enjoy. Sex outside of marriage mocks the Creator’s intent and places human desire above God’s wisdom.
Christians, however, can err and receive God’s forgiveness. God’s scandalous grace covers all of our transgressions, and He lavishes it upon us.
To call sexual sin desirable and wickedness virtuous, however, is quite another matter. Christians, true Christians, must seek to live in accordance with God’s plans and rejoice in the benefits He bestows upon His people.