Purity Problems

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 6:12-20

Have you ever heard a speaker talk about how important it is to be sexually pure? Maybe they said, “God has someone special in mind for you, so save yourself for that person. You can unwrap the gift of sex with that person on your wedding night, and it will be worth the wait.”

Those ideas are helpful for many teens, keeping them from sinning sexually. But shared without the good news of Jesus, these ideas can be damaging. If someone has sinned sexually, they can experience so much shame from a talk like this that it can be traumatic. They figure, I’m already damaged, so why even try? Does God even still love me?

While sexual purity is important, sexual sin is not the ultimate sin. All sin makes us guilty before God, but, through faith in Christ, we can be forgiven of any sin—free from condemnation, loved by God, and covered by Christ’s purity and obedience (Isaiah 61:10; Romans 8:1, 38-39).

In Christ, you are no longer defined by your sins, because they are nailed to the cross; you are a loved child of God (Romans 6:6; 8:12-17). Through the power His Holy Spirit, you can begin to seek to honor Christ in all areas of your life, including through sex (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

And what does that look like? Sex within marriage is God’s plan (Hebrews 13:4). In that context, sex is good and glorifies God. But it’s important that you understand that sex is not what you see in the media. The first time two people are sexually intimate is not the perfect time depicted in movies or books. It’s worth the wait, but getting to know a spouse intimately doesn’t magically happen as soon as someone gets married. Intimacy takes years of work, love, and trust. This is a way that spouses show the love of God to each other (1 Corinthians 13).

Talk to Jesus about all aspects of your future. If it’s His will that you get married, He’ll guide you to the person you’ll grow to love with your heart, mind, soul, and even body. • Robyn Mulder

• Why is it important to remember the good news of Jesus whenever we talk about sex (or any other tough issue)?

• Why can we talk to Jesus about any sin we have committed or have been tempted to commit (Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 1:9; 2:1)?

For we know that our old self was crucified with him [Jesus] so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin. Romans 6:6 (CSB)