Part 2(1/2) of What is Sin: Sexual Immorality

Hey, loves. Today we will be doing a deep dive into sexual immorality. We will explore the intent and importance of sex, its place in our lives, and what sexual acts are prohibited or encouraged. This is a very controversial topic, and many people try to avoid or twist it to fit their narrative. We live in a world where sexual exploitation is real, and lust is something that we are constantly exposed to. You can never run from it; movies, social media, OF, porn sites and images, and the sexual revolution will always exist around us. As Christians, we need to make the conscious choice to choose Christ and the lifestyle He intended for us over our own "flesh" and the world's narrative. As controversial as this topic is, I needed to write about it to bring awareness to what God's Word says about it, and I need to stress that this post is not meant to condemn anyone, but rather shine light on what God says, so we can continue to obey Him correctly without ignorance. This is part 1/2 of sexual immorality and it forms part 2 of the What is Sin series. Part 1/2 will discuss socially lighter sexual sins like masturbation, adultery, fornication, and homosexuality. These sins are more private lustful sins and typically do not inflict bodily harm on anyone. Part 2/2 will discuss socially grave sexual sins like incest, rape, child abuse, and bestiality. These sins inflict psychological and bodily harm on other individuals and they will be discussed from a biblical perspective. So, take a pen and paper and welcome to part 1/2 of sexual immorality.

Also, Disclaimer: This blog post will be discussing topics such as masturbation, pornography, fornication, and same-sex sexual acts from a Christian, biblical perspective. Please approach what is written here as theological understanding — a way to learn God’s will, not as immediate condemnation or a demand for instant perfection.

Learning what God calls sin allows us to understand His heart and His design, but freedom from these struggles does not come through behavior modification or self-discipline alone. The Bible teaches that true change happens through sanctification, a process where the Holy Spirit slowly renews our hearts and desires (Philippians 2:13, Ezekiel 36:26–27).

This is not just a list of sins to avoid, it is a call to draw nearer to Christ, who alone transforms us from the inside out.

What is God's intention with sex and it's importance in our lives?

Sex is not inherently bad; God created sex as a way for two people to bond in marriage. It is not merely for procreation, but for connection. Sex is very encouraged in the Bible for married couples, as it is written that the married couple should not deprive each other of sex (1 Corinthians 7:3-5). It is also written that the marriage bed is undefiled, meaning although all two-person sexual acts done between the couple are allowed in the marriage, the marriage bed can still be defiled. The marriage bed is defiled when the couple or one individual within the marriage does sexual acts outside of God's will. For example, if one person commits adultery or if the couple commits bestiality. It is important to note that sexual acts committed in the marriage must be done between two people (the couple) as the Bible is against orgies and threesomes. Romans 13:13 and 1 Peter 4:3 address orgies, and this includes threesomes as well.

Fornication and why it's a sin?

Now that we know that sex is encouraged in marriage, the question that comes up again is: why is sex ONLY for marriage and not two people who love each other? This can be found in Genesis 2: 24, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." Marriage is seen as a covenant in God's eyes where the two become one, marriage is sacred and sex is seen as a seal to this covenant. I'm going to go off the Christian path to lay out my point for a moment. When we look at history, outside of Christianity this idea still shows up. Think of phrases like, “Have you consummated the marriage?” In many cultures, especially in royal or ancient societies, a marriage wasn’t considered fully valid until the couple had been physically intimate. In some cases, if consummation didn’t happen, the marriage could even be annulled. In Christianity, it is the same, but instead of sex being a way to secure your posistion in a marriage, it is seen as a sacred act done to solidify the marriage covenant. Since sex is this important, sacred act done to connect two people together and seal a convenant made before God, it can't just be done with anyone. God wants us to connect in this way with our marital spouse.

Also another answer is in 1 Corinthians 7:2 and Exodus 22:16. I Corinthians 7:2 states that "But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband." Paul is telling Christians that if they struggle with lust or that desire is something they cannot lay down then the right thing to do is to get married, which reinforces the notion that sex is for marriage. Not everyone can lay down their natural desires for the Lord and if you find yourself wanting to experience intimacy then do it the right way. Do not fornicate, ya'll, God's design for sex is very specific and intentional and as Christians we should strive to live a life that honors God's original design. We also see in Exodus 22: 16 that God told the Isrealites that if they sleep with a woman outside marriage, they should marry her. This verse shows the intention of God regarding this matter. Yes, we all have free will, but Christianity is all about sacrficing your old self to become a new person in Christ, one that is obedient to God. Let's strive to honor God not just with our prayers, but our bodies.

Is Masturbation a sin?

Yes, masturbation is considered a sin in Christianity, but I want to be honest with you — this is not meant to shame you. Many people say, “But it’s not mentioned in the Bible!” That’s true. But there are many things not explicitly written in the BIble that we believe is right or wrong based on one principle: "When something is not explicitly written in the Bible, we need to look at God's intention with the topic." We need to look at God's heart and his desire for a specific topic.

For example, think about the Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity is not explicitly written in the Bible. There isn’t a single verse that plainly says, “Here is the Trinity". Yet, when we read carefully, it’s revealed in how God speaks and acts in scripture. We read many verses of Jesus being reffered to as "Lord" or the "Prince of Peace" in the old testament(Isaiah 9:6 and Psalm 110: 1). We also see in the new testament that He is the son of God and we see Jesus referring to himself as " I am" in John 8: 58 echoing God’s name revealed to Moses. We also see that Jesus gives us the Holy Spirt to be with us. All these verses and more indicate that there is a Holy Trinity.

Just as we have verses to support the Holy Trinity, we have verses to support the notion that masturbation is a sin based on the principle above.

God designed sexual intimacy to be within the covenant of marriage, where a husband and wife become one flesh (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5-6). Sex is not meant to satisfy selfish desire or be purely a personal pleasure , it is meant to connect two people in love, trust, and covenantal unity. Masturbation, being a solo act, often revolves around lust or self-gratification, which separates it from God’s intended purpose. Even when lust isn’t present, it misuses the gift of sex and falls outside God’s design. We clearly see God's orginal design for sex, anything outside God's design is against God and is sinful.

Is Homosexuality a sin?

Yes, the Bible speaks against sexual activity between people of the same sex, and this is consistent across both the Old and New Testaments. There are approximately 8 verses that speak against homosexuality. The most criticized verses are Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. These verses are criticized based on translation; however, they are supported by other scripture and referenced by Paul in the New Testament. Most believe the verses in Leviticus speak on same-sex sexual violence or child abuse, or they may acknowledge the verse but claim it should be disregarded as it is in the Old Testament. However, both the Old and New Testaments are words of God and should be read together, not apart as it is one unified story: from creation, through Christ, to Paul, God’s design for sexuality is consistent.

The belief that homosexual activity is considered sinful in Christianity flows from God’s design for sex and human relationships. From the very beginning, God established marriage as a covenant where a man and woman become one flesh (Genesis 2:24), and Paul reiterates this in 1 Corinthians 7:2, encouraging husbands and wives to live faithfully within marriage. Jesus affirms this design in Matthew 19:4-5, reminding us that God’s original intention remains. Sexual intimacy is meant to bond husband and wife in love, trust, and unity, not as a solo or same-sex act.

The other verses that directly speak about homosexuality besides Leviticus 18 and 20 are Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and 1 Timothy 1:8-11. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and 1 Timothy 1:8-11 speak against homosexuality. Importantly, these passages place homosexuality alongside many other sins, making clear that it is not singled out but included in a broader rejection of God’s will. Romans 1:18-28 speaks on idolatry and homosexuality, emphasizing how God feels about those who have turned away from Him and given themselves to unnatural desires, which describe homosexuality and activities done outside marriage. The verses that speak against homosexuality are supported by verses that speak on God's natural design for humans and marriage. Always remember that the Bible cannot oppose itself; if Jesus said that God's original design for marriage is for one woman and one man to be together, then we can't have another verse that opposes it. All these verses taken together show consistency. From creation to Christ to Paul, the message is the same—God designed sex for marriage between a man and a woman.

It is important to remember that God’s call is not about condemnation or shame. His design points us to life that is full, meaningful, and aligned with His wisdom and love. As Christians, our calling is to trust God’s guidance and submit our desires to Him, allowing our hearts and relationships to be shaped by His truth. For anyone struggling with same-sex attraction, the invitation is not to reject your humanity but to seek God’s grace, grow in sanctification, and learn how to live in a way that honors Him step by step.

Adultery

Adultery is commonly understood as being unfaithful to your spouse through physical intimacy with someone outside the marriage. However, the Bible shows us that adultery goes much deeper than outward actions. Jesus expands the definition in Matthew 5:28: “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

This reveals that adultery begins internally, in our desires, thoughts, and imaginations. Even if a person has never physically cheated, a heart that entertains lust toward someone who is not their spouse is still committing adultery before God. Watching pornography, fantasizing sexually about others, or entertaining lustful thoughts all fall under this same heart condition. People are made in the image of God and carry His dignity. Even when someone presents themselves in a sexualized way, Christians are still called to see them with purity and honor, not as objects for gratification.

Jesus also speaks about adultery in relation to divorce and remarriage in Mark 10:11-12. This leads us to understand that marriage is a covenant that God witnesses and honors. In 1 Corinthians 7:10–11, Paul emphasizes that it is God’s desire for a married couple to remain together. The allowance for divorce in the Old Testament was not God’s ideal but was permitted because, as Jesus states, “your hearts were hard” (Matthew 19:8)

God only provides the breakage of the marriage covenant in Matthew 5:32, Mathew 19: 9 and 1 Corinthians 7:15. Where He allows divorce or the breakage of the marriage covenant if one party cheated on the other, committed an act of sexual immorality or if an unbelieving party abadons the believer in the marriage. The verse regarding the unbelieving spouse simply allows the Christian to no longer be bound to the marriage if the unbelieving partner chooses to depart. It does not necessarily instruct the Christian to initiate divorce. It is also important to note that 1 Corinthians 7:15 only states that the believer is no longer bound, meaning they may accept the separation; it does not explicitly mention remarriage in this context. However, some interpret the phrase “no longer bound” to mean that all marital obligations, including the restriction against remarriage are lifted, and therefore the Christian may be free to remarry. Taking into account the verses mentioned we can see that remarriage is accepted only if the divorce was initiated due to sexual immorality and abandonment by an unbeliever.

I will look more closely at Matthew 5:32 to better understand its meaning. The verse says: "But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." The phrase “except on the ground of sexual immorality” is commonly understood as God allowing a provision for divorce and remarriage in specific circumstances. Matthew 19:9 also mentions this idea. Both verses suggest that remarriage is only permissible when the previous marriage was broken due to sexual immorality committed by the other spouse. With this understanding, if a person is the one who committed adultery, this provision does not apply to them as a basis for divorce or remarriage. It is viewed as an act of grace toward the innocent spouse so that they are not held responsible for another’s sin. However, it is important to note that this is not a command to divorce, but a permission,meaning that even in cases of infidelity, the decision to stay or leave remains a personal choice before you and God.

The Bible also provides that if your spouse dies then you are allowed to remarry as it states in Romans 7:2-3 which reads: "For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man."

God does honor the covenant of marriage, but also acknowledges the human heart and that divorce will occur even amongst Christians. Yes, there are provisions for divorce, but we need to look at them as allownaces and not commands. The choice to initiate or stay is between you and God. I want to also touch on those in abusive circumstances, although not explicitly stated in the Bible. God ultimately cares of our safety as His children and if you find yourself in a bad situation God will not judge you if you leave and separate. The allowance of remarriage may not be given, but divorce will not be seen as sinful. We also touched on how ultimately adultery is not only seen as the outward action of being physical with someone who isnt your marital spouse in a marriage, but is seen as a heart posture, an inward state of the mind and heart.

Conclusion

As we close this section I want to thank you for reading this part 1/2 of my blog series. Remember God loves ya'll. I also want to gently remind you that recognizing these sins is not meant to push you toward behaviour modification or a checklist Christianity. God is not after people who simply try harder. He is after hearts that are transformed by Christ. These sins, though lighter in comparison to what Scripture calls “grave sins,” still matter because they reveal areas in our hearts that need sanctification. But the goal here is not to burden you with guilt or to make you obsess over every failure. Instead, it is to draw your attention to the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, who convicts us not to shame us, but to lead us deeper into holiness. So, if you struggle with any of these sins, go to Christ in prayer. Confess everything to God, even the parts you are most ashamed of. God wants your heart and wants to heal you and free you from sins with sanctification. This blog series serves as theological understanding, aiding us to understand God's will for our lives and how to live in holiness. Understanding what God calls sins will ultimately help us align ourselves with God's will.

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Thank you for reading my blog series. I hope it blessed you. Remember to sign up if you have any question, queries or suggestions. Note that a whatsapp group may be formed where scriptures will be shared. Please write in your feelings on the matter. Stay blessed ya'll.