What does the Bible say about sexual immorality?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible forbids sexual immorality and calls God’s people to holiness, faithfulness, and self-control, trusting that Christ forgives and renews repentant sinners. Scripture teaches that sexual desire belongs within marriage between a husband and wife, while lustful thoughts and immoral acts dishonor both God and our bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:18 urges believers to flee sexual sin, and Hebrews 13:4 honors marriage as holy. Jesus exposes the heart’s need for purity in Matthew 5:28, while 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 calls Christians to abstain from immorality and live differently from those who do not know God. In temptation, believers are not abandoned: 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises God’s faithful provision of a way to endure.

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • 1 Corinthians 6:18

    Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin that a man does is outside the body," but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

  • Hebrews 13:4

    Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled: but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

    [3] For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, [4] that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, [5] not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don't know God;

  • Matthew 5:28

    but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

  • Ephesians 5:3

    But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;

  • 1 Corinthians 10:13

    No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

  • Galatians 5:19

    Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,

  • 1 Corinthians 7:2

    But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

  • Colossians 3:5

    Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

  • Ephesians 5:5

    Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.

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