The Bible upholds chastity as an important virtue, reflecting purity and self-control. Today, we’ll learn what Scripture teaches about honoring God with our bodies.
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What Does The Bible Say About Chastity
1 Corinthians 6:18-20
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of fleeing from sexual immorality and recognizing that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. As Christians, we are called to honor God with our bodies and keep them pure.
Sexual immorality is a sin that not only affects our physical bodies but also damages our relationship with God. By abstaining from sexual immorality, we demonstrate our obedience to God and honor the sanctity of our bodies as vessels for His Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable.”
In this verse, God’s will is clearly expressed – that we should abstain from sexual immorality and live a life of sanctification. It emphasizes the importance of self-control and maintaining a holy and honorable way of living.
By learning to control our bodies and resisting sexual temptations, we set ourselves apart for God’s purpose and experience the blessings that come with living a chaste life. It is through our obedience to God’s will that we show our love and devotion to Him.
Proverbs 5:18-19
“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.”
This verse celebrates the beauty of sexual intimacy within the context of marriage. It emphasizes the importance of enjoying and rejoicing in the physical relationship between husband and wife.
God designed sex to be a joyful and fulfilling expression of love between a husband and wife. By confining this intimacy to the marriage relationship, we honor God’s design and experience the deep connection that comes from sharing this gift within the boundaries of sanctified love.
1 Corinthians 7:2-5
“But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
This verse provides guidance on the importance of fulfilling one another’s sexual needs within the context of marriage. It addresses the mutual responsibility of husbands and wives to be attentive to each other’s physical desires.
Marriage is a covenant relationship where both spouses commit to meeting each other’s needs, including the physical aspect of their relationship. By prioritizing the needs of their spouse and maintaining a healthy sexual relationship, couples guard against temptation and cultivate a strong bond of love and intimacy.
2 Timothy 2:22
“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
This verse encourages believers to flee from the sinful desires of youth and instead pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. It reminds us to surround ourselves with fellow believers who have pure hearts.
Chastity involves not only abstaining from sexual immorality but also cultivating a lifestyle that is aligned with God’s principles. By intentionally seeking after righteousness and godly virtues, we strengthen our commitment to live a chaste life and find encouragement and support from those who share the same values.
Galatians 5:16
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit to overcome the desires of the flesh and live a life free from sexual immorality.
As Christians, we are called to live in the Spirit rather than gratifying the sinful desires of our flesh. By surrendering to the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can resist temptations and maintain a life of chastity, demonstrating the transformative power of God’s presence in our lives.
Colossians 3:5
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.”
In this verse, we are called to put to death the sinful practices that belong to our earthly nature, including sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed.
Chastity involves actively seeking to eliminate sinful behaviors that undermine our relationship with God. By consciously choosing to reject and renounce these actions, we demonstrate our commitment to honoring God with our bodies and live in a way that glorifies Him.
Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
This verse encourages believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. It calls us to reject the patterns and values of this world and instead be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Chastity involves surrendering our bodies to God and allowing Him to shape our thoughts, desires, and actions. By aligning our lives with God’s will, we experience a transformation that enables us to discern His good and perfect plan for our lives.
Ephesians 5:3
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.”
In this verse, believers are instructed to live in a way that reflects their identity as God’s holy people by avoiding any hint of sexual immorality, impurity, or greed.
Chastity involves maintaining a high standard of purity and honoring God by abstaining from any form of sexual immorality or impure thoughts. As God’s holy people, we are called to embrace a lifestyle that sets us apart from the values and practices of the world.
Psalm 119:9
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.”
This verse acknowledges the struggles faced in maintaining purity and seeks guidance on how to stay on the path of chastity. It answers that question by affirming the importance of living according to God’s Word.
The Bible serves as our guide and source of wisdom in navigating the complexities of life and making choices that honor God. By immersing ourselves in Scripture and aligning our lives with its teachings, we find the strength and guidance to live a pure and chaste life.
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
In this verse, believers are encouraged to focus their thoughts on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
Chastity involves guarding our minds and intentionally filling them with thoughts that are in line with God’s values. By actively choosing to dwell on positive and godly thoughts, we create a mental environment that supports and reinforces our commitment to living a life of purity.
1 Peter 2:11
“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.”
This verse urges believers to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against their souls and views them as foreigners and exiles in this world.
Chastity involves recognizing that our true home is in heaven and that we are called to live differently from the world around us. By resisting and abstaining from sinful desires, we protect our souls and demonstrate our citizenship in God’s kingdom.
Matthew 5:28
“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Jesus speaks directly to the issue of lust in this verse, emphasizing its severity and equating it to adultery.
Chastity involves not only abstaining from sexual acts outside of marriage but also guarding our thoughts and intentions. Jesus calls us to purity of heart, reminding us that even lustful thoughts are contrary to God’s design for sexuality. By resisting and redirecting our thoughts, we cultivate a mindset that honors God and promotes chastity.
Hebrews 13:4
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”
This verse highlights the importance of honoring marriage and keeping the marriage bed pure.
Chastity extends beyond restraining from sexual immorality before marriage, but it also includes faithfulness and purity within marriage. By upholding the sacredness of marital intimacy, we demonstrate our reverence for God’s design and protect the sanctity of the marriage covenant.
James 1:14-15
“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
This verse reveals the progression from desire to sin and the consequences that follow.
Chastity involves recognizing the power of temptation and actively resisting its lure. By understanding the nature of temptation and the potential destructive consequences, we are motivated to guard ourselves against situations that may lead us astray, seeking instead to live a life of purity.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Paul lists various sinful behaviors, including sexual immorality, and warns that those who practice them will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Chastity is an important aspect of living out our faith and maintaining a right relationship with God. This verse reminds us of the serious consequences that come from engaging in sexual immorality and underscores the importance of pursuing a life that is pleasing to God.
Romans 1:24-27
“Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.”
These verses in Romans describe the consequences that result from turning away from God and engaging in sexual impurity and unnatural sexual relations.
Chastity involves honoring God’s design for sexuality and rejecting any form of sexual behavior that goes against His intentions. By understanding the severity of straying from God’s plan, we are compelled to live in a way that upholds His truth and promotes chastity.
Mark 7:20-23
“What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
Jesus teaches that evil actions, including sexual immorality, are products of a defiled heart.
Chastity involves not only abstaining from outward acts of sexual immorality but also addressing the root issue – the condition of our hearts. By pursuing a heart that is pure and surrendering our desires to God, we guard against the tendencies that lead to sexual sin and cultivate a life of chastity.
2 Corinthians 7:1
“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
Paul encourages believers to purify themselves from anything that contaminates both their physical bodies and their spirits.
Chastity involves actively seeking to remove anything that hinders our pursuit of holiness. By recognizing the sanctity of our bodies and spirits as vessels for God’s presence, we strive to eliminate anything that would defile or compromise our commitment to living a life of purity.
1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
This verse assures us that God provides a way out when we are faced with temptation and encourages us to rely on His faithfulness in moments of struggle.
Chastity involves recognizing our dependence on God’s strength to resist temptation. By trusting in His faithfulness and seeking His help, we can overcome the allure of sexual immorality and maintain a life of purity.