Is sex a sin?

In this era of Gen Zers and wokeness, sex is no longer a taboo topic or word. We are now more than ever encouraged to have very open conversations with kids, teens, and young adults about sex. It hasn't fully caught on, but it is catching on.

I remember my first conversation about sex with my sweet mother. It happened when I told her I was going to travel for a wedding. It was going to be my first time traveling for something like that alone, and she was worried.

The next thing she said was that people might be having sex, and she had not taught me anything about it, and she went on to ask if I knew what a condom was.

I was probably 20 or 21 at the time. I laughed myself out of that awkward conversation, but the truth is that because of the lack of proper conversations and education by our parents and the church, we have either had wrong perceptions of sex or have classified what sex is based on the world's standard and Satan's perversion. But neither Satan nor the world created sex.

IS SEX A SIN? 

The short answer is NO! Sex is not a sin. However there is a context in which sex becomes a sin.

Sex is a beautiful thing that God created. It is a gift. I know some minds are already judging me based on this answer, but that is the truth. But let me first define sin before I continue.

A sin is an act that goes against divine law or God's will, making it an immoral act.

There is such a perversion of sex in the world that believers and the church have classified it as a sin to the point that people dare not speak about it, and this has allowed the devil to take advantage and put out his narrative.

Sex is not a sin; it is the when it is done out of the context God intended for it that is classified as a sin.

Sex is not a sin; it is the when it is done out of the context God intended for it that should be classified as a sin.

Sexual immorality is sin; fornication, adultery, and other forms of sexual immorality are sins.

Gen 1:28 shows that God commissioned man to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and we all know that before the invention of new medical ways of fruitfulness, there was only one-way SEX.

Without sex, a lot of us would not have the opportunity to be on this earth for the furtherance of this gospel.  But there is an instruction that guides sex as not being a sin; like I said earlier, the misuse of sex is a sin. 

3. “Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

4. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

5. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In the verses above, Paul, one of the apostles of old, instructed that the husband should fulfill the wife's sexual desires and vice versa, stating that the only time they could refrain from it was if they both had an agreement.

God created sex to be explored in the confines of marriage for reproduction (Genesis 9:7), and for pleasure(Prov 5:18–19).

But the devil tries to pervert sex through fornication, adultery, and other forms of sexual activity outside of marriage. 1 Cor 7:2.

He has no original idea, so he takes something beautiful that God created and tries to pervert it. 

Sexual immorality is one of his biggest weapons for destroying lives and destinies.

I say in destroying lives and destiny because it can lead to certain consequences, like sexually transmitted diseases, abortion, and so much more—topics for another day.

In today's culture, sex outside the confines of marriage is seen as living your very best life and the like. And it is so encouraged in the society that it is harder to stay celibate or abstain, and this culture has seeped into the church.

You hear arguments like if God created sex for mans pleasure, how could it possibly be sin in any context. But just because it is a sin doesn't mean it will come with horns and a scary face. It is beautiful just as it was created to be, but within a specific context which is marriage.

Sex outside this context becomes a pattern that's difficult to break. That's why in dealing with sexual immorality, Paul did not tell us to rebuke it, bind and cast it, or pray over it. Paul tells us to flee from it (1 Cor 6:18–20)

It is important to understand that God knows why he created sex to only be explored in the confines of marriage, which is why we should start having this conversation in the church with our children, teens, and young adults.

Put out the true intentions of God for sex, have proper sex education conversations, and put out edifying content that shows what Gods view about sex is. That is how we begin to influence and shape culture.

If you are someone still struggling with their flesh like I am, I don't know the five steps by which you can be free or celibate.

What I know is that when you fall, don't give in to the lies of the enemy that you are dirty and no longer wanted by God because he loves you dearly. Instead of remaining in the lies and condemnation of the enemy, stand up again and flee. Put in place boundaries; sometimes, if you have to go extreme with your boundaries, do it as long as it helps you in the long run. (Rom 8:1)

Have an accountability partner. It is important that you have someone to lean on and someone who can be loving yet stern. Someone who is aware of your journey and supports the decision you are making. (Gal 1:6, James 5:16, and Prov 27:17).

The most important thing is to daily soak yourself in God's word, from reading your Bible to listening to sermons. You must be constantly filled; that is how fleeing becomes part of you. Your spirit man becomes full, and your flesh begins to die. (Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:5)

Written By Favour Egwu