As a Christian, we understand that sex is a gift from God, designed to be enjoyed within the covenant of marriage. The Bible speaks clearly about sex, offering both instruction and encouragement, as well as warnings against its misuse. Below are key themes that explore what the Bible says about sex, each with selected verses to guide and inspire us.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Sexual Temptation
Sex as a Gift Within Marriage
Sex is a beautiful and sacred part of marriage, created by God to bond husband and wife in love, intimacy, and unity. Far from being taboo, the Bible celebrates sexual intimacy in its rightful place—between a man and a woman joined in holy matrimony. These verses highlight how sex is designed to be a blessing within the marriage covenant.
Genesis 2:24
“This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”
Proverbs 5:18-19
“Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love.”
1 Corinthians 7:3-4
“The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.”
Hebrews 13:4
“Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.”
Song of Songs 7:6-7
“Oh, how beautiful you are! How pleasing, my love, how full of delights! You are slender like a palm tree, and your breasts are like its clusters of fruit.”
Sexual Purity and Holiness
God calls His people to live lives of holiness and purity. Sexual purity is an essential part of our walk with Christ, reflecting our commitment to honor God with our bodies. These verses remind us that our sexuality is not only physical but deeply spiritual, and we are called to guard it diligently.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
“God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.”
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
“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?”
Ephesians 5:3
“Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.”
Colossians 3:5
“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires.”
Job 31:1
“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman.”
Adultery and Faithfulness
Faithfulness in marriage reflects God’s covenant love with His people. Adultery, on the other hand, brings pain, brokenness, and dishonor. The Bible strongly warns against infidelity and calls believers to be faithful in all areas of life, especially in marriage.
Exodus 20:14
“You must not commit adultery.”
Proverbs 6:32
“But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys himself.”
Matthew 5:27-28
“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Malachi 2:15-16
“Guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. ‘For I hate divorce!’ says the Lord, the God of Israel.”
Hebrews 13:4
“Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.”
Sexual Temptation and Avoidance
Temptation is a reality in every believer’s life, but God provides the strength and wisdom to resist it. Sexual temptation is powerful, but through the Holy Spirit and God’s Word, we can choose righteousness and walk in freedom. These verses equip us to flee temptation and stand firm in purity.
James 1:14-15
“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”
1 Corinthians 10:13
“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.”
Proverbs 7:25-27
“Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path. For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims.”
Matthew 26:41
“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
Galatians 5:16
“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Oral Sex
Sexual Sin and Forgiveness
No matter our past, God’s grace is greater than our sin. The Bible assures us that when we confess and turn from our sexual sins, God forgives and restores us. These verses show the depth of God’s mercy and the freedom we can have through repentance and faith.
1 John 1:9
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
Psalm 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.”
Isaiah 1:18
“Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.”
Romans 8:1
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
God’s Design for Our Bodies
Our bodies are not our own—they are temples of the Holy Spirit. What we do with them should reflect God’s holiness and purpose. Understanding our bodies as sacred helps us treat sex with reverence and responsibility. These verses underscore God’s perspective on our physical selves.
Romans 12:1
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you.”
1 Corinthians 6:13
“You say, ‘Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.’ But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies.”
Philippians 1:20
“For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ… and I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.”
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple.”
2 Timothy 2:21
“If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.”
Love, Respect, and Consent
God’s intention for sex is not only physical but deeply relational. Love, respect, and mutual consent are at the heart of a Christ-centered relationship. These verses emphasize how we are to honor each other in our relationships, promoting a love that is patient, kind, and selfless.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.”
Ephesians 5:25
“For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.”
1 Peter 3:7
“In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together.”
Song of Songs 4:7
“You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way.”
Romans 12:10
“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”