Question:  Dear Greg,

            I have many questions about what the Bible says and how it teaches us to live.  In particular, I am concerned about sex.  Obviously, as our modern society revolves around sex, and being the young age that I am (17), it is an extremely important issue.  I know that it says to wait until we are married to have sex and I truly want to wait.  My question is, does it give any other regulations?

            Thanks for the help and God bless,

            Josh

Answer:  Dear Josh,

            The Bible has a great deal to say about human sexuality.  It does so without being pompous or pretentious while at the same time being clear and direct about biblically based morality.  While the Bible does not provide numerous, exact regulations, Jesus speaks about purity that begins in the mind before any physical actions result, thus also commenting on physical activity that follows mental activity.

            Biblical lessons about sexual drives and emotions and the result of pre and extra marital feelings that are acted out include (without precluding others) Joseph and Potiphar, Amnon and Tamar, Solomon’s “harem” of 1000 women and the resulting advice given to “my son” in the early chapters of Proverbs.

            Jesus said, as mentioned above, that not only is adultery and fornication forbidden by God’s law, but those who look at a woman and lust after her commit the same thing “in their heart”.  Like all other sins, we are all guilty of sexual sins of some kind in some way.  That’s what the cross of Christ is all about.

            Jesus rescued the woman who was taken in the act of adultery in John 8.  According to John’s inference, she was being accused of adultery by some of the same men who had committed adultery with her.  In this specific case, the man with whom she was caught while in the act of adultery was not being condemned, but only the woman.  Jesus exposes this double standard and charges both parties as being wrong.  He forgives the woman but tells her to go and sin no more.

            Sexual temptation and conduct is a huge problem in our world.  It is saturated with sexual themes as a result of our media, entertainment, music, etc.  Real Christianity is not self-righteous or condemning of those with any kind of weakness, but it is also clear and direct about the high standards to which Christians are called.  We cannot escape the lust and temptation thrown at us by our culture on our own.  It is only through the life of Christ that he will live in us that we can achieve the high standards to which he calls us.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht