Reason #1. God, Who loves you, says don’t do it.

Why does God forbid sex outside of marriage? Is it because He’s no fun? No, it’s because He loves you. He knows what sex outside of marriage (aka sin) will do to you. It’ll eat your lunch. It’ll mess with your mind, body, spirit, and emotions. It’ll make you miserable.

“God wants you to live a pure life. Keep yourselves from sexual promiscuity” (1 Thess. 4:3 Message).

 

“Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people” (Eph. 5:3 NLT).

Reason #2. You don’t want to miss out on the blessing of the wedding night.

There’s something very special about a couple making love for the first time. They become one flesh. This exclusive experience of discovery and pleasure is only meant to happen within the intimacy of marriage. If we don’t wait, we miss out on a very special blessing from God.

“Sex is as much spiritual mystery as physical fact. As written in Scripture, ‘The two become one.’ Since we want to become spiritually one with the Master, we must not pursue the kind of sex that avoids commitment and intimacy, leaving us more lonely than ever—the kind of sex that can never ‘become one’ ” (1 Cor. 6:16 Message).

Reason #3. You’ll be spiritually healthier.

When we live as carnal Christians, we seek to gratify the desires of the flesh and live only to please ourselves. If we continue to feed our fleshly desires, our spirit will grow weak and our relationship with God will be damaged.

“Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. . . . For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (Rom. 8:8, 13 NIV 1984).

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures . . .” (Gal. 5:19 NLT).

Reason #4. You’ll be physically healthier.

This one is pretty much a no-brainer. If we refrain from sex outside of marriage, we will be protected from the risk of catching sexually transmitted diseases.

“Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body” (1 Cor. 6:18 NLT).

Reason #5. You’ll be emotionally healthier.

When God tells us to honor marriage and keep the marriage bed pure, He’s helping us avoid baggage carried into our sexual relationships. Memories from the past, emotional scars, and unwanted mental images can defile our thoughts and make the marriage bed less than pure. God Himself absolutely forgives the past, but that doesn’t mean we’re free from the baggage that can linger in our minds.

“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Heb. 13:4 NIV 1984).

Reason #6. You want to show consideration for your partner.

When you choose to wait, you’re putting your partner’s needs above your own and considering his or her spiritual well-being. God wants the best for your partner, and you should too.

“Follow God’s example . . . and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:1–2 NIV 2011).

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves” (Phil. 2:3 NASB).

Reason #7. You’ll avoid trouble.

There are always consequences to sin. Sometimes they are devastating. Pregnancy, abortion, adoption, broken relationships, sexually transmitted diseases—these are just a few of the possible scenarios of choosing sex outside of marriage. Just say no.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23 NLT).

Reason #8. You’ll keep a good witness.

Whether you like it or not, people are watching you, and your life has an impact on theirs. You may be the only Bible some people ever read. Choose to set a good example before the world and be a light to them.

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty
again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless” (Matt. 5:13 NLT).

“Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your
purity” (1 Tim. 4:12 NLT).

 

Are there new rules for love, sex, dating, and living together?

Check this out: the truth about relationships and how to make yours great.