Is Sex Before Marriage a Sin?

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The world has progressed. Today, it’s all normal to talk about sex and to have a sexual relationship before even getting married. In many places, this is considered okay, and people have no objection, whatsoever. However, for those who follow Christianity religiously, premarital sex is regarded as a sin.

Bible has some strict interpretations of premarital sex and defines that what is acceptable and what not, quite clearly. Let’s understand in detail a connection between Bible verses about premarital sex.

What is premarital sex?

As per the dictionary meaning, premarital sex is when two adults, who are not married to each other, are involved in consensual sex. In many countries, premarital sex is against societal norms and beliefs, but the younger generation is quite okay to explore the physical relationship before getting married to anyone.

Premarital sex statistics from a recent study show that 75% of Americans below the age of 20 have had premarital sex. The number increases to 95% by age 44. It is quite shocking to see how people are quite okay to establish a relationship with someone even before getting married.

Premarital sex can be attributed to liberal thinking and new-age media, which portrays this as perfectly fine. However, most people forget that premarital sex exposes people to a lot of diseases and future complications.

Bible has laid down specific rules when it comes to establishing a physical relationship before marriage. Let’s have a look at these verses and analyze them accordingly.

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Is sex before marriage a sin- What does the Bible say about sex before marriage?

When it comes to sex before marriage in the bible or what the bible says about premarital sex or, it is essential to note that there is no mention of premarital sex in the Bible. It doesn’t mention anything about sex between two unmarried individuals. 

Nonetheless, when it comes to having sex before marriage according to the Bible, it does speak of ‘sexual morality’ in the New Testament. It says:

“It is what comes out of a person that defiles. For it is from within, from the human heart, those evil intentions come: fornication (sexual immorality), theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (NRVS, Mark 7:20-23)

So, is premarital sex a sin? Many would disagree with this, while others might contradict. Let’s see some relationship between premarital sex Bible verses that would explain why it’s a sin.

I Corinthians 7:2

“But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.”

In the verse above, the apostle Paul says that anyone who is involved in an activity outside of marriage is  ‘sexually immoral.’ Here, ‘sexual immorality’ means having any sexual relationship with anyone before marriage is considered a sin.

I Corinthians 5:1

“It is actually reported that there is a sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife.”

This verse was said when a man was found sleeping with his stepmother or mother-in-law. Paul says that this is a grievous sin, one that even the non-Christians would not even think of doing.

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I Corinthians 7:8-9

“To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”

In this, Paul states that unmarried people should restrict themselves from getting involved in sexual activities. If they find it hard to control their desires, then they should get married. It is accepted that sex without marriage is a sinful act.

I Corinthians 6:18-20

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you now know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

This verse says that the body is the house of God. This explains that one must not consider having sexual intercourse through one-night stands as this violates the belief that God resides in us. It tells why one must show respect to the thought of having sex after marriage with the one you’re married to than to have premarital sex.

Those who follow Christianity must consider these Bible verses mentioned above and should respect it. They’re not to have premarital sex just because a lot of people have it.

Christians consider the body house to God. They believe that Almighty resides in us, and we must respect and care for our body. So, if you’re thinking of having premarital sex just because it’s normal these days, keep one thing in mind, it’s not allowed in Christianity, and you must not do it.

Check out this video that explains a viewpoint of why it is okay to not have sex before marriage:

Is sex before marriage a sin?

In today’s time, it is believed that sex before marriage is acceptable and should be based on the choice of both the individuals in the relationship. 

The scriptures contemplating ‘is sex before marriage a sin’ were written in the old times when the idea of marriage was way different from what it is today. Also, sex is a form of intimacy that couples need to have in order to have a healthy and long-lasting relationship.

Considering intimacy is one of the important pillars of any relationship which includes both physical and emotional intimacy, sex is considered an important aspect by couples once they reach a threshold of trust and understanding with each other.

Also, there are many benefits of sex before marriage. Let’s find out:

• It helps assess sexual compatibility
• It helps identify the sexual wellness of both the partners
• It reduces tension and stress in the relationship
• It promotes better health
• It helps increase intimacy between partners

Also Try: Signs Your Marriage Is Over Quiz

Takeaway

So, when it comes to the question, ‘Is sex before marriage a sin’ there is a lot of debate but in the end, it all depends of the personal choices and the compatibility of the partners. 

While some people will choose to adhere to the Bible verses about sex before marriage and try to understand why is sex before marriage a sin, others will feel the need to make changes in their personal relationships according to their own understanding.

Grady Shumway, LMHC, adds

Engaging in intimacy before marriage is a personal choice that should be made with careful consideration of individual values, beliefs, and boundaries. It’s important for individuals to communicate openly with their partner, establish mutual consent, and prioritize emotional connection and respect in their relationship dynamics.

So, in the end, it’s all about the choice.