Biblical Answer

The Bible teaches that sex before marriage is not permissible. The biblical evidence for this is found in the creation formula for marriage in Genesis 2:24, which states that a man and a woman become one flesh in marriage. This emphasizes the importance of marriage as a covenant between two people, where sex is reserved exclusively for them. The Bible also teaches that sex is a gift from God, but it is not to be used for personal gratification or to express emotions (1 Corinthians 7:3-5). Rather, sex is meant to be an expression of the love and commitment that exists between a husband and wife.

The Bible strictly forbids any sexual activity outside of marriage, including fornication (Acts 15:29; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Hebrews 13:4), adultery (Exodus 20:14; Leviticus 20:10; Mark 19:18), and bestiality (Exodus 22:19). This is because sex is meant to be a part of a lifelong commitment between two people, where both parties are committed to each other exclusively. Sex outside of marriage undermines this commitment and can cause harm to individuals and relationships. The Bible also emphasizes the importance of virginity before marriage, as seen in the law of Moses (Deuteronomy 22:14).

The biblical view of sex implies that it is not just morally wrong to have sex before marriage, but also personally harmful. Sex is designed to be part of making a covenant and experiencing that covenant's renewal, and when it is used outside of marriage, it can lead to feelings of guilt, shame, and regret. The Bible teaches that God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous (Hebrews 13:4), and that we should honor marriage and not engage in sex outside of it. Ultimately, the Bible teaches that sex is a gift from God that should be reserved for marriage, where it can be used to express love, commitment, and intimacy between a husband and wife.