Introduction

In Hebrews 13:4 it is written, Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. As stated in the last part of the verse, the writer is addressing two issues; fornication and adultery. The focus of this article is on the sin of fornication.

Most people don’t see sex outside of marriage as a big deal; the nature of pre-marital sex. Their response is, “If it’s two consenting adults, what’s the harm?” The harm is condemnation of your soul in Hell for all eternity.

The ‘One Flesh’

Too many people misinterpret Gen. 2:4 which states, in the latter part of the verse, …and they shall become one flesh. They see this phrase as the physical act of sex; joining bodies together. However, if you look at the first part of the verse it clearly states, Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife… This is bringing both man and woman together in the bonds of Holy Matrimony; marriage IS an invention of God.

The physical joining of man and woman didn’t occur until Gen. 4:1, Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the LORD.” This was well after the two of them were married. This clearly shows that sex is for married people only.

Jesus, when being challenged by Pharisees concerning divorce, agreed with God, when he said in Matthew 19:5-6, “and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Here, Jesus states, that divorce is an invention of Man and not God.

The apostle Paul also confirms what God stated when addressing men and women in Ephesians 5, he concludes in verse 31, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

But We’re Engaged

This is an argument used by many couples. Since they are engaged, and have the wedding date set, it’s fine for them to engage in the physical act. This is STILL fornication!

Anything could happen before the wedding day; one person dies, one changes their mind and cancels, one becomes incapacitated through an accident, etc. True, these are extreme examples but it doesn’t make them any less true.

Paul writes in 1 Cor. 6:9-10, Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And again, discussing the works of the flesh in Gal. 5:19-21, Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Conclusion

If you want to go to Heaven, and spend eternity with God, then abstinence is your best answer prior to getting married. Too often, people want that “practice” to make sure that they are marrying the right one. If you base your choice of spouse on “good looks and sex”, then you are getting married for the wrong reason.