I realize that it may be near the end of the fourth quarter but may I jump in?
Stated,
“…we can’t find any evidence in the 39 books of the Old Testament that sex between unmarried folks was sinful. Wrong. Condemned. Immoral…”
The people of God have always been tempted to accept the practices and standards of morality of the society to which they belong. Therefore, God commands His people to make His word the only Standard by which to judge right and wrong. We must never conform to the surrounding society and accept its way of life. God must be the sole source and standard for all human moral and spiritual conduct.
Believers, first and foremost, must be morally and sexually pure (cf. II Cor. 11:2; Titus 2:5; I Pet. 3:2). The word “pure” or “Chaste” (Gk. hagnos) means to be free from all taint of that which is lewd. It suggests refraining from all acts and thoughts that incite desire not in accordance with one’s virginity or one’s marriage vows. It stresses restraint and avoidance of all sexual actions and excitements that would defile, debase, or cheapen one’s purity before God. It includes controlling one’s own body “in sanctification and honor” (I Thes. 4:4), and not in “lust” (4:5). This instruction of Scripture is for both those who are single and those married. With regard to the biblical teaching concerning sexual morality, note the following:
(1) Sexual intimacy is reserved for the marriage relationship and is approved and blessed by God only in that state. Song Of Solomon 2:7 is spoken by the maiden and refers to physical intimacy between her and her lover. She does not want any intimacy to occur until the situation is appropriate, i.e., until she and Solomon are married. The Bible allows for sexual relations only between a husband and a wife. In Song Of Solomon 4:12, the three figures of speech emphasize the fact the Shulamite had retained her virginity and was sexually pure on her wedding night. Virginity until marriage is God’s sexual standard of purity for all young people, male and female. To violate God’s holy standard defiles one’s spirit and conscience and cheapens the moment of marriage consummation.
(2) Adultery (unfaithfulness to one’s spouse), fornication (all sexual relations, to include homosexuality, sensuality, impure desires, and degrating passions) are considered grave sins in the sight of God since they are a transgression of His law and a defiling of the marriage relationship. Such sins are severely condemned in Scripture. The book of Proverbs repeatedly warns about the destructiveness of sexual immorality. Solomon emphasizes that through immorality’s deceptive pleasures are attractive, giving in to them will lead to ruin (Pro. 5:1-14). Violations of God’s standards of sexual purity and chastity are found also in Proverbs 2:16-19; 6:20-35; 22:14; 23:27-28; 29:3; 30:20; 31:3. The alternative to sexual immorality is commitment to God (Pro. 5:1), disciplined restraint prior to marriage, and the fulfillment of natural sexual desire through a holy love life in marriage (Pro. 5:15-23). Premarital sex and marital infidelity have deadly consequences (Pro. 5:5,11). What may begin as a taste of honey (Pro. 5:3) will end with the taste of bitterness. God will not be mocked (Pro. 5:21); what is sown will be reaped.
(3)Sexual immorality and impurity include not only forbidden intercourse or consummated acts, but also involve any act of sexual gratification with another person other than one’s marriage partner, achieved by uncovering or exploring the nakedness of that person. The contemporary teaching that sexual intimacy among “committed” unmarried youth and adults is acceptable as long as it stops short of full sexual union is contrary to the holiness of God and the Biblical standard of purity. God explicitly prohibits the “uncovering of the nakedness” or “seeing the nakedness” of anyone who is not a lawful wife or husband (Lev. 18:6-30; 20:11,17,19-21).
Things intrinsically excellent are perversed by their abuse “Vanity of vanities…all is vanity” (Pro. 12:8).
