The contemporary teaching that says sexual intimacy among “committed” unmarried youth and adults is acceptable as long as it stops short of full sexual union is a teaching contrary to God’s holiness and the Biblical standard of purity. God explicitly prohibits “uncovering the nakedness of” (literally, a modern translation would be “having sexual relation with”) anyone who is not a lawful wife or husband (Lev 18:6-30; 20:11,17,19-21; see 18:6).
(4) The believer must exercise self-control with reference to all sexual matters before marriage. To justify premarital intimacy in the name of Christ merely on the ground of a real or a felt love for another flagrantly compromises God’s holy standards with the world’s impure ways and, in effect, justifies immorality. After marriage, sexual intimacy must be confined to one’s marriage partner. The Bible names self-control as one aspect of the Spirit’s fruit, the positive and pure behaviour that is in contrast to immoral sexual play, gratification, adultery and impurity. One’s faith commitment to God’s will with regard to purity will open the way to receiving this gift of self-control through the Spirit (Gal 5:22-24).
(5) Biblical terms used for sexual immorality, describing the breadth of its evil, are as follows: (a) Sexual immorality (Gkporneia) describes a wide variety of sexual activities before or outside of marriage; it is not limited to consummated sexual acts. Any intimate sexual activity or play outside the marriage relationship, including the touching of the intimate parts of the body or viewing another person’s nakedness, is included in this term and is clearly a transgression of God’s moral standards for His people (see Lev 18:6-30; 20:11-12,17,19-21; 1 Cor 6:18; 1 Thes 4:3). (b) Debauchery, or sensuality (Gkaselgeia) denotes the absence of clear moral principles, especially disregard of sexual self-control that maintains pure behaviour (see 1Tim 2:9). It includes the inclination toward indulging in or arousing sinful lust, and thus is a participation in Biblically unjustifiable conduct (Gal 5:19; Eph 4:19; 1Pet 4:3; 2Pet 2:2,18). (c) Exploiting or taking advantage of someone (Gkpleonekte) means to deprive another of the moral purity that God desires for that person in order to satisfy one’s own self-centred desires. To arouse in another person sexual desires that cannot be righteously fulfilled is to exploit or take advantage of that person (1Thes 4:6; cf. Eph 4:19). (d) Lust (Gkepithumia) is having a sexual desire that if fulfilled would be a violation of God’s law and another person’s purity (Eph 4:19,22; 1Pet 4:3; 2Pet 2:18; see Mat 5:28).
• What does Paul explain about God’s will?
Read Eph 5:8-21
“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is,” (Eph 5:17)
Paul contrasts getting drunk with wine, which produces a temporary “high,” to being filled with the Spirit, which produces lasting joy.
