Biblical Answer

The Bible teaches that sex before marriage is not permissible because it goes against God's wonderful purposes for sex. According to the Bible, sex is meant to be a covenantal act, exclusively for a husband and wife in a lifelong commitment of marriage. This is evident in the biblical formula for marriage at creation, where it is stated that a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (Gen. 2:24).

The Bible also emphasizes the importance of a marriage covenant for sex. It creates a place of security for vulnerability and intimacy. In the New Testament, we are warned to honor marriage, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous (Heb. 13:4). The law of Moses also expresses the expectation of virginity before marriage, stating that if a man takes a woman but does not find her a virgin, he is to bring the evidence of her virginity to the elders of her town (Deut. 22:14). This passage suggests that premarital sex is not only unacceptable but also has consequences.

The Bible's teaching on sex before marriage is clear: it is not permissible. The biblical evidence emphasizes the importance of a marriage covenant for sex and the expectation of virginity before marriage. Sex is meant to be a covenantal act, exclusively for a husband and wife in a lifelong commitment of marriage. As followers of Christ, we should uphold this biblical standard and seek to live according to God's wonderful purposes for sex. This requires us to pursue marriage and to honor the marriage covenant, rather than engaging in premarital sex. By doing so, we can experience the intimacy and vulnerability that comes with a secure and committed relationship.