I. INTRODUCTION
Sexual attraction stimulates all five senses; what we touch, smell, hear, and see. Sex is a wonderful when it is preformed the correct way. God designed it to be enjoyed by a man and a woman. As it relates to other industry platforms, the sex industry is big business, $57 billion worldwide, and $12+ billion in the United States. It is larger than all the sport franchises put together. It’s bigger than all top technology companies combined. Apple made 65 billion in sales in 2010. Microsoft made 62 billion, and Google profit 29 billion dollars. Bigger than top television broadcasting channels combined Comcast (NBC) had revenues of almost 38 billion Disney (ABC) and revenues of 38 billion. These numbers are staggering; first, it suggests that sex is for sale; secondly, we are having lots of it outside of God’s intended purpose.
Therefore God has a set of standards we must follow to control the beast inside of us. It involves principles that we must live and apply to our lives to enjoy full sexual pleasure that pleases our Father. Perhaps, this paper could explain what the Bible teaches about sex. Using the book of Proverbs and Song of Solomon we would include topics such as, courtship, adultery, homosexuality, pornography, where to draw the line on physical affection in pre-marital, dating, and masturbation. Once we have assessed the Bible’s view of sexual purity. I will provide a plan on how I intend to maintain sexual purity in my current state.
II. SEX OUTSIDE MARRIAGE
A. COURTSHIP
There are different terms in the Bible that describe pre-marital sex . Fornication is sexual intercourse between a man and women who are not married to each other.” Another way that pre-marital is described in the Bible is the word “adultery” or “lewdness.” Generally people who participate in pre-marital sex are referred to as, “whoremongers” or “whores. Courtship in the Song of Solomon express that sexual desire must be handled with great restraint when exercised by the lovers until after the wedding processional (Songs of Solomon 3:6-11) . Tommy Nelson shares, “young Jewish boys’ were not permitted to read the Songs of Solomon because the book was believed to sir strong sexual passion. The book is erotic and intoxicating in its reference . You must possess restraint to keep you within the boundaries. ” Sex after vows is the plan of God.
Those that are dating must draw the line. Choose to live inside the relationship according to God’s plan rather than your hormones (Songs of Solomon 1:4). When the beloved spoke of his love she was referring to the physical expressions of love. The Hebrew word for love is “dodim”, the statement “your love is more delightful more than wine, “means that his physical features was attractive. Her pleasing aroma of his perfumes made him even more attracted to her. Comparing perfume meant that his character was pleasing and attractive to the beloved. The Bible views it is to God’s desire to feel intimacy with our mates. However, one must draw the line because; our greatest desires should be to please God. Show restrain until you’re married.
Masturbation is fornication in the biblical sense. The word “fornication” in scripture means “immorality.” The “works of the flesh,” listed in Galatians 5:19-21, include fornication. Also, listed is “uncleanness” which means “impurity,” and “lasciviousness,” which is “unrestrained lust.” All three include the act of masturbation. “They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Of course, this means, “Unless they repent.” When a person asks for forgiveness and forsakes any sin, he is at once accepted of God (1 John 1:9).
B. HOMOSEXUALITY
In the Old Testament, homosexual activity was strongly associated with the idolatrous practices of the pagan nations surrounding Israel. In fact, the word "abomination," used in both mentions of homosexual acts in Leviticus, is a translation of the Hebrew word tow' ebah which means something morally disgusting, but it also has a strong implication of idolatry. The first mention in the Bible is in (Genesis 19:1-13). The wicked men of Sodom attempted a homosexual rape of two messengers from God who had come to visit Lot. As a result of this and other widespread wickedness, God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in a storm of fire and brimstone.
According to the Old Testament particularly Leviticus 20: 13, “if there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act: they shall surely be put to death. Their blood guiltiness is upon them. Jesus never mentioned homosexuality, but He did condemn all forms of sexual immorality: "What comes out of a man is what makes him unclean for from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean” (Mark 7-20-23).
C. PORNOGRAPHY
Pornography is a big problem in the Christian Church, because it results in Christians who are double-minded wanting to have one foot in heaven and the other in hell . Pornography is so insidious because it destroys our purity of mind and makes our consciences corrupt, being unable to discern the true will of God. For one who is married, pornography is tantamount to adultery, since Jesus said one who "looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
The Bible says that we the temple of the Holy Spirit and that we are to be transformed by the experience to renew our minds to know the perfect will of God for our lives. "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.” But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell (Matthew 5:27-29). The fact is our bodies don’t belong to us it belongs to God.
D. ADULTERY
Proverbs 6: 30-32 says, Men do not despise a thief if he steals. To satisfy himself when he is hungry; but when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; He must give all the substance of his house. The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself does it. The Old Testament teaches, if a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away the evil from Israel. If there be a damsel that is a virgin betrothed unto a husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them to death with stones; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor's wife: so thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee (Deuteronomy 22:22-24).
The New Testament has strong language against adultery as well, "It was said, whoever send his wife away, let him give her a certificate of ';but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastely, makes her commit adultery ; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery” (Matthew 5:31-32).
IV. CONCLUSION
Sex is a wonderful when exercise properly. God designed sex to be enjoyed by a man and a woman in marriage. Other sexual appetites that are outside of God’s plan are perverted and unclean. When we do it God’s way it brings glory to Himself, therefore we can share these wonderful gifts with our mates according to God’s plans.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer & D. J. Wiseman, Ed.,. New Bible Dictionary (3rd ed.). Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1985.
Nelson, Tommy. The Book of Romance. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1998.
States, United. "Does pornography bring in more money than all US sport franchises combined?" Skeptics Stack Exchange, http://skeptics.stackexchange.com: Intro Page.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Version. n.d.
Walvoord John F. Zuck Roy B. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Colorado : Zondervan Publishing Houst , 1985.
