A Biblical Catechism on Sex and Marriage: Sexual Sins: Sexual Desire and Marriage

[This post continues a series of posts entitled 'A Biblical Catechism on Sex and Marriage'.  The intention is to provide basic material for further instruction by a trusted teacher of God's Word in a church that is committed to Biblical authority.  The Church’s mission is to invite all people to live under God’s righteous rule.]

Question 3. What sexual sins are mentioned in the Bible?

Answer: Any sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is sin.

[Comment 1 (in earlier posts) identified sexual sins in the Bible]

Comment 2: The male and female couple with intentions to marry who are tempted sexually will avoid the sin of fornication by proceeding to get married.  A married couple will avoid temptation through sexual intimacy.  Celibacy is good, but not if one struggles with sexual desires--in which case the single or widowed person should marry.  (Appropriate marriage will be discussed later.)

1 Corinthians 7:36-38 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry- it is no sin.  ³⁷ But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well.  ³⁸ So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

1 Corinthians 7:2-5 But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.  ³ The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.  ⁴ For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.  ⁵ Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

1 Corinthians 7:8-9 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain unmarried as I am.  ⁹ But if they are not practicing self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.

1 Timothy 5:11-15 But refuse to put younger widows on the list; for when their sensual desires alienate them from Christ, they want to marry,  ¹² and so they incur condemnation for having violated their first pledge.  ¹³ Besides that, they learn to be idle, gadding about from house to house; and they are not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not say.  ¹⁴ So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, and manage their households, so as to give the adversary no occasion to revile us.  ¹⁵ For some have already turned away to follow Satan.