Two People, One Flesh

Sex is one of the most intimate and beautiful things in all of creation.  Sex, like anything created, was created by the Lord for a purpose.  And, like anything created, sex used outside of its intended purpose is sin.  Therefore, a proper understanding of the place and the gravity of sex is absolutely necessary.  Our world is so inundated and saturated with every form of sex that a concise definition of the biblical and godly understanding would be helpful.

Sex, as the Bible presents it, is the physical, emotional, and spiritual union of intercourse between husband and wife.  Simply put, every form of sex that lies outside of this precise definition is sexual immorality and sin.  There is no place in the biblical understanding of sex for pornography, adultery, homosexuality, or promiscuity.  Clearly, this is far from politically correct; however, it is biblical.  Again, any form of sex outside of the union of husband and wife is sin.  Why?

Sex was ordained by God as the fundamental communion between men and women in marriage.  The act of intercourse weaves two independent people into one unified being.  Sexual relation ties husband and wife together physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Because of the reality and gravity of the union that intercourse is, it is reserved only for marriage.

Additionally, in the Bible, sexual intimacy and marriage is one of the most used metaphors in explaining how believers are tied to God.  Both the Old and New Testaments are full of language that define the relationship between God and His Church in terms of marriage.  In this regard, intercourse is reserved solely in the context of a monogamous marriage just as spiritual union is reserved solely for the Lord.  There is a distinct an intentional parallel between the union of marriage and the union between Christ and His believers.  Any worship that is not directed towards the Lord is sin just like any sex that is not directed towards our specific spouse is sin.

Married believers should not shy away from the topic of sex.  Instead, believers should be outspoken about the seriousness of sex and that it is reserved only for marriage.  Again, this is not politically correct, but it is right.  When thinking and talking about sex, who are we more afraid of offending, man or God?  If we are more fearful of offending societal sensibilities and whims of political correctness, then we are not serving God and thus are sinning.  Again, sex is of the most beautiful and intimate things in all creation.  If we truly want to serve our Lord, then a proper biblical understanding of sex is essential.  We should never let society determine what we think about the Word.  Instead, the Word should always determine how we deal with society.  This is especially true in regards to sex.