It can feel like we’re missing out when friends and people from school are exploring their sexuality and seem to be enjoying themselves. But God has a different standard of sex and sexuality than the world. He has set boundaries for us to protect our bodies and our minds, but it can be especially hard to remain pure when our culture is constantly telling us to go out and have sex and the people around us don’t seem to be reaping any consequences for their actions.
We All Desire Intimacy
Intimacy is “a close, familiar and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person.” Only Jesus can give us the kind of intimacy we all long for, but many people try to find that intimacy through sex.
God Created Sex for One Man and One Woman in Marriage
Marriage is a picture of the kind of relationship God wants with us – loving, committed, and exclusive. Jesus is the groom and the church is the bride.
Ephesian 5:31-32 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.
Sex Is Two Becoming One
Sex is about two becoming one. That’s why the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth:
1 Corinthians 6:15-17 Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.” But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.
If we are united with Jesus Christ, then we should not unite ourselves in sinful sexual relationships that disrespect God, the other person, and ourselves.
True Satisfaction Comes from Living God’s Way
As Christians, we’re waiting for Jesus to return and be united to his “bride,” the church. And that’s what we can also do in our sex lives as we wait for the one person we will marry. You won’t miss out if you wait to become one with the person you will marry.
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Read 1 Corinthians 6:16-20. What does it mean that sex is “sacred”? Give some examples of how the world today teaches the opposite message.
- Why do you think the world teaches such a different message about sex? What do you think it is doing to marriages and families?
- Read Revelation 21:2. Do you ever think about when you will see Jesus face-to-face? What do you think it will be like? Do you ever think about your wedding day? What do you think it will be like?
- What would you say to someone who has already crossed that line of sex – but they want to start over? What do you think Jesus would say?
- Are you willing to make a commitment to sexual purity? What are some boundaries you can set up in your life to make it happen?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
