Risks of having sex before marriage

    The risk of death 

No one can deny that having sex before marriage can have grave consequences. More than 600,000 cases of AIDS have been reported in the United States since 1981, and as many as 900,000 Americans may be infected with HIV. (Source:"HIV Infection and AIDS," www.onhealth.com, November 21, 2000).

1 Corinthians 6:18 - Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

1 Corinthians 10:8 - We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did - and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

  The risk of lost relationships

When you choose to develop a sexual relationship with someone, you have immediately changed the entire definition of the relationship. God's intent was for a man and woman to enjoy sex throughout the course of a lifetime. There is no such thing as casual sex. Once you have developed a sexual relationship, that relationship turns a critical corner. After the relationship ends, you and your partner will experience the guilt and pain of promises broken.

1 Corinthians 5:9 - I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.

Hebrews 12:16 - See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.

   Risks of incurable disease

Imagine that you have found that one special person with whom you want to share your life. And now you are forced to break the news that you have an incurable disease. Even though such diseases like herpes are generally not considered life threatening, there are no cures. Not only is it incurable, it fills a life with worries, awkward revelations, and continuous need for medication. Herpes and other STD's are everywhere. (Over 50 million cases of Herpes in the U.S. alone.) Why risk contracting an STD?

Romans 1:24 - Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

1 Corinthians 6:13 - "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food" - but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

1 Corinthians 6:18 - Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

  The risk of damaging the destiny of your future marriage

There is no way that premarital sex of any kind could be a plus for your future marriage. It only causes suspicion, mistrust, and regret.

Galatians 5:19 - The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery.

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.

  The risk of permanently damaging your testimony as a Christian

You'll never be able to honestly say, "I was a virgin before I was married." You'll never be able to live as an example of committed purity.

Romans 13:13 - Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.

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.

  The risk of depression

Those who participate in premarital sex experience emotional damage that may lead to an increased chance of mental depression and emotional despair.

2 Corinthians 12:21 - I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

Jude 1:7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

 The risk of placing your future children in spiritual harm's way

The Bible clearly speaks of the concept of generational sin. What you sow (plant) spiritually may be reaped in the life of your children. Break the power of Satan's curse. Remain pure before God and you'll be tenaciously guarding the future of the next generation.

Proverbs 22:8 - "He who sows wickedness reaps trouble..."

Proverbs 20:7 - "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him."

 The risk of sexual dysfunction

People spend millions of dollars to correct sexual dysfunction through drugs and psychotherapy. Why? Because they entered marriage with unresolved sexual issues. For example, a man may think that he will be free from the curse of pornography once he gets married, only to find that the problems are even more noticeable and controlling. Sexual purity before marriage is the first step to incredible sexual fulfillment after marriage.

Mark 7:21 - "For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery..."

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.

  The risk of shame

Premarital sex imputes a spiritual state of shame that becomes a major weapon of Satan. God forgives you, but you will still face the fruit of the sin and you'll still be vulnerable to Satan's whispering accusations on your worth as a person and your value as an active Christian.

1 Corinthians 5:1-2 - It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?

  The risk of disobeying God and letting Satan get a foothold

The Bible, time after time tells us to flee sexual sins. Why? Because it is a major strategy of the devil to sabotage God's work on Earth.

Matthew 15:19 - "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander."

1 Corinthians 6:9 - Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders...

Colossians 3:5 - Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 - It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.

Revelation 2:14 - "Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality."

Revelation 2:20 - "Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols."

Revelation 9:21 - Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Revelation 21:8 - "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."