What Does the Bible Say About Sex? - Feature Image
Posted On 03/11/2022

What Does the Bible Say About Sex?


Quite a lot! There is a lot found in the Bible regarding sex and God’s plans for us when he gave this gift to humans. 

When a married couple is sexually intimate, it is a bonding experience that brings them closer and unites them as one. 

God wants us to enjoy the pleasures of sex as long as it is with our spouse. 

“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth. As a loving hind and graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; Be exhilarated always with her love” (Proverbs 5|18-19).

Before marriage, it can be challenging to remain celibate. But, as believers, we can do it by putting complete faith and trust in God. 

What Does God Say About Sex?

One of the reasons God wants married couples to engage in sex is so they can come together as one—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 

God didn’t want man to be alone, so Adam was given Eve for friendship and companionship.

The other, more obvious reason God designed marriage and sex was so that a husband and wife could produce children. This is why God tells Adam and Eve to multiply and populate the world.

God gave Adam only one wife because he intended on us having only one partner, to love, respect, and share a bond with, for a lifetime. This is the only person we are supposed to share sexual pleasures with. 

God Prohibits Immoral Sexual Activity 

While having sexual relations with your spouse is what God designed for a couple’s mutual benefit, there are times when sexual activity is considered immoral. 

Adultery is a sin mentioned many times in the Bible, so we know that it is never okay to be unfaithful to your partner. While often adultery is associated with being unfaithful physically, it also includes sexual fantasies and lust. 

Desiring a person’s body, other than your spouse’s, is an act of adultery and condemned in Matthew 5:28.

It is also made very clear that incest is not acceptable or tolerated. “You must never have sexual relations with a close relative, for I am the Lord” (Leviticus 18|6-18 NLT).

Bestiality is a crime against humans and animals and is condemned in Leviticus.

Forcing another human to have sex is prohibited in Deuteronomy.

“Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6|18-20 NLT).

God Created Sexual Activity for Marriage

As previously mentioned, the basic purposes of sexual intercourse between a married couple were for procreation and union (becoming one flesh). 

Another purpose is for couples to experience physical gratification and pleasure. God made sex to feel great because he wanted us to feel physical love. There is beauty in being able to meet the sexual needs of a spouse. 

God wants us to submit to our spouses, and love them, as Christ loved the church. “For wives, this means to submit to your husbands as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5|22), and “For husbands, this means you love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word” (Ephesians 5|25-26).

When a couple is sexually intimate with each other, it honors their marriage and allows them to remain faithful to one another.

God Has Given Married Couples Sexual Freedom

A married couple can participate in many different types of sexual activity, considering they are both comfortable. 

While adultery and fornication are prohibited because they defile the marriage bed, other sexual activities do not. Married couples have the freedom to try numerous sexual positions and sensual activities as long as they are both in agreement.

Spouses have permission to be open and adventurous with each other if it satisfies their desires and needs. There is nothing selfish or shameful about fulfilling sexual desires when it is done with your spouse and when the couple is in agreement. 

“The man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed” (Genesis 2|25). 

What Does the Bible Say About Making Love Before Marriage?

God wants us to have marital sex, and marital sex only, as it glorifies him, and honors marriage. 

Sex was not intended for casual pleasure to be shared with multiple partners. If we all look inside our hearts, we know that we want real love, not just sex. That is because God placed those feelings inside of us. 

Having sex before marriage betrays the love that we all need, and the love God wants us to experience with our lifetime partner. 

Those who are not married should try their hardest to remain celibate. God knew that celibacy would be difficult for humans, which is why it is mentioned that “people should marry rather than burn with passion” (1 Corinthians 7|8-9). 

If you have been unable to remain celibate, remember that God promises to forgive and cleanse us all (1 John 1|9). 

Worship at the 2|42 Community Church 

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Learn more about our church and beliefs and find a location near you for our weekend services.

Our church loves helping families take next steps with God.  

Our services for Kids and Students help young people learn about God and grow in a relationship with him. They also have lots of fun in a community with other believers. 

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Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

About The Author

Grant Agler

Teaching Pastor/Communications Champion Central

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Grant is our resident farmboy. He grew up in the cornfields of northwest Nebraska. He spent his early days living far from God. As Grant says, "I gave God the middle finger and didn't really care about faith at all." As a young man, he became convinced that God was real. He gave his life to Jesus and experienced God's amazing grace that previously made no sense to him. After experiencing that grace, Grant felt God calling him to teach the message of the gospel. Over the past 20 years, he has been preaching and teaching. Grant, his wife, Bethany, and their four children moved to Michigan in 2011, and he joined the 2|42 team in 2019. Grant is always good for a laugh, but more importantly, he explains biblical concepts in ways anyone can understand.
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