What does the Bible say about what is sexual immorality?

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The Bible teaches that sexual immorality is any sexual desire, thought, or act outside God’s covenant design for marriage between one man and one woman, and it calls believers to repent and pursue holiness. Jesus includes lustful looking among heart-level sins (Matthew 5:28), while Genesis 2:24 presents marriage as a one-flesh union. Scripture therefore commands Christians to flee sexual immorality and honor marriage (1 Corinthians 6:18; Hebrews 13:4). Though such sin is serious, temptation is not irresistible, for God provides a way of endurance (1 Corinthians 10:13). In Christ, forgiven sinners are called to confess sin, receive grace, and put sinful desires to death (James 5:16; Colossians 3:5).

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

  • 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.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9

    Or don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals,

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • James 5:16

    Confess your offenses to one another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effective, earnest prayer of a righteous man is powerfully effective.

  • 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.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:2

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

  • Revelation 21:8

    But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

  • Genesis 2:24

    Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.

  • 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;

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