What Does God Say About Human Sexuality?

Human sexuality is not a human invention, a social construction, or a matter to be defined according to personal desire. It was created by God, ordered by God, and must be governed by the Word of God. Because God is the Creator of mankind, He alone has the authority to define the proper expression of sexuality, the meaning of marriage, and the distinct responsibilities of men and women.

1. God Created Mankind Male and Female

The biblical foundation for understanding human sexuality begins with creation:

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
—Genesis 1:27

God created two sexes: male and female. This distinction was not caused by the fall, human tradition, or cultural development. It was established by God before sin entered the world.

A person’s sex is therefore part of God’s created order. Though sin has affected every part of human existence, including the body, mind, desires, and emotions, man does not possess the authority to redefine what God created.

Jesus Christ confirmed this creation order:

“Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female?”
—Matthew 19:4

The Lord did not treat male and female as temporary social categories. He pointed back to the beginning and declared that God Himself made mankind male and female.

Attempts to deny, disguise, exchange, or erase the distinction between male and female oppose God’s revealed order. Scripture commands that the distinction between the sexes be honoured:

“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.”
—Deuteronomy 22:5

The Bible does not use the modern word “transsexuality,” but it plainly teaches that God created the sexes and intends the distinction between them to be maintained.

2. God Established Marriage as the Union of One Man and One Woman

After creating the woman, God brought her unto the man. Scripture then gives the foundational definition of marriage:

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
—Genesis 2:24

Biblical marriage consists of:

1. One man.
2. One woman.
3. A covenant union.
4. A permanent one-flesh relationship.

Marriage was not created by government, society, or the church. It was instituted by God. Human authorities may recognize or regulate civil aspects of marriage, but they have no authority to redefine what God has established.

The Lord Jesus repeated Genesis 2:24 and added:

“Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
—Matthew 19:6

Marriage is therefore a divine joining, not merely a private romantic arrangement. It is intended to be faithful, exclusive, honourable, and permanent.

The New Testament also describes marriage as the joining of a husband and wife:

“For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth.”
—Romans 7:2

“And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband.”
—1 Corinthians 7:10

No other relationship is presented in Scripture as a legitimate marriage. The only biblical marriage is the joining of one man and one woman.

3. Sexual Intimacy Is Reserved for Marriage

Sexual intimacy is a gift of God, but it is a gift that belongs within marriage. Within that covenant it is honourable; outside that covenant it is sinful.

“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
—Hebrews 13:4

The marriage bed is undefiled because it exists within the relationship God ordained. Sexual conduct outside marriage is not made right by affection, consent, sincerity, or personal identity. God’s standard is not merely that sexual activity be consensual, but that it occur within the marriage covenant between a man and a woman.

Paul wrote:

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God.”
—1 Thessalonians 4:3–5

Fornication is a broad biblical term referring to unlawful sexual activity. God commands believers not merely to avoid public scandal, but to possess their bodies “in sanctification and honour.”

The body of the believer belongs to the Lord:

“Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.”
—1 Corinthians 6:13

Therefore, sexual purity is not optional for the Christian. It is part of living under the ownership and lordship of Jesus Christ.

4. Fornication Is Sin

Fornication includes sexual relations outside biblical marriage. Scripture does not excuse fornication because two people claim to love one another or intend to marry later.

“Flee fornication.”
—1 Corinthians 6:18

The command is not to manage fornication, redefine it, or see how close one may come to it. The command is to flee.

The believer must guard not only outward actions but also the inward life. Sexual sin often begins with unrestrained looking, imagining, and lusting.

“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
—Romans 13:14

5. Adultery Is Sin

Adultery violates the marriage covenant by engaging in sexual relations with someone other than one’s lawful spouse.

God commanded:

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
—Exodus 20:14

The Lord Jesus taught that adultery begins in the heart before it appears in outward conduct:

“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
—Matthew 5:28

This does not mean that inward lust and the physical act have identical earthly consequences. It means that God judges the heart and that the inward desire is itself sinful.

Adultery betrays one’s spouse, corrupts the home, wounds children, defiles the body, and dishonours God. No dissatisfaction, loneliness, temptation, or marital difficulty makes adultery righteous.

6. Homosexuality and Lesbianism Are Sinful

Scripture plainly condemns sexual relations between persons of the same sex.

Concerning the men of Sodom, Scripture records:

“Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.”
—Genesis 19:5

God later declared concerning Sodom and Gomorrah:

“For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.”
—Genesis 19:13

The law of Moses states:

“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”
—Leviticus 18:22

The New Testament gives the same moral judgment:

“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another.”
—Romans 1:26–27

Romans 1 addresses both female and male homosexual conduct. Such conduct is described as “against nature,” because it violates the male-female order established by God in creation.

Paul also wrote:

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.”
—1 Corinthians 6:9

The words “Be not deceived” are especially important. Men may change laws, terminology, and public opinion, but they cannot change God’s judgment.

Homosexual desire must not be treated as an unchangeable identity that excuses conduct. Scripture identifies men according to their relationship to God, not according to the temptations they experience. Temptation itself must be resisted, and sinful conduct must be confessed and forsaken.

At the same time, homosexual sin is not the only sexual sin, nor is it beyond the saving power of Christ. The next verse declares:

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
—1 Corinthians 6:11

The gospel offers forgiveness and a new standing before God to every sinner who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.

7. Bisexual Conduct Is Sinful

Bisexuality claims sexual attraction or involvement with both sexes. Scripture does not create a separate moral category in which such conduct becomes acceptable. Sexual activity outside the marriage of one man and one woman remains fornication, adultery, or homosexual conduct.

A person’s desires do not determine righteousness. God’s Word determines righteousness.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
—Proverbs 14:12

Every believer experiences desires that must be denied. Christian discipleship requires submission to Christ rather than submission to the flesh:

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
—Galatians 5:24

8. Incest Is Sinful

Leviticus 18 gives detailed prohibitions against sexual relations between close relatives. God repeatedly commands:

“None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.”
—Leviticus 18:6

The New Testament likewise condemns incest. Paul rebuked the church at Corinth for tolerating a man who had his father’s wife:

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.”
—1 Corinthians 5:1

Incest is not merely socially inappropriate. It is a violation of God’s moral order and a corruption of the family relationships God established.

9. Bestiality Is a Sinful Perversion

Scripture explicitly condemns sexual relations between human beings and animals:

“Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.”
—Leviticus 18:23

Bestiality violates the distinction God made between mankind and animals. Human beings were created in the image of God; animals were not. Such conduct is called “confusion” because it corrupts the boundaries established by the Creator.

10. Pornography Is Sinful

The word “pornography” is not found in the English text of the King James Bible, but the conduct involved is plainly condemned through the Bible’s teaching concerning lust, uncleanness, lasciviousness, evil looking, and adultery of the heart.

Job said:

“I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?”
—Job 31:1

David prayed:

“Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.”
—Psalm 119:37

Jesus said:

“Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
—Matthew 5:28

Pornography is sinful because it deliberately feeds lust, turns people made in God’s image into objects of gratification, encourages fornication and adultery in the heart, and brings the mind under the control of the flesh.

The believer is commanded:

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes.”
—Psalm 101:3

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure…think on these things.”
—Philippians 4:8

Pornography should not be managed as a harmless habit. It should be confessed as sin, forsaken, and removed from one’s life.

11. Sexual Sin Begins in the Heart

God’s standard of purity reaches beyond outward actions. Christ taught:

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications…
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
—Mark 7:21, 23

The problem is not merely the availability of temptation. The deeper problem is the sinful heart. External safeguards are wise and necessary, but true victory requires spiritual renewal, obedience to Scripture, prayer, and walking in the Spirit.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
—Galatians 5:16

12. Men and Women Are Spiritually Equal Before God

Men and women are equally created in the image of God, equally accountable as sinners, equally capable of receiving salvation, and equally secure in Christ through faith.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
—Galatians 3:28

This verse teaches equality of spiritual standing in Christ. It does not abolish the distinctions between male and female, husband and wife, parent and child, or pastor and congregation.

A saved man is not more justified than a saved woman. A saved woman does not possess less access to God than a saved man. Both are redeemed by the same blood, indwelt by the same Spirit, and accepted in the same Saviour.

Spiritual equality, however, does not require identical responsibilities.

13. God Has Ordained Distinct Roles in the Home

The husband is commanded to lead his home in love, sacrifice, truth, and responsibility.

“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church.”
—Ephesians 5:23

Biblical headship is not permission for cruelty, selfishness, intimidation, or abuse. The husband is commanded:

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”
—Ephesians 5:25

The pattern of headship is Christ’s sacrificial love. A husband who uses authority to gratify himself rather than to serve, protect, provide, and lead in righteousness is disobeying God.

The wife is commanded:

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.”
—Colossians 3:18

Submission does not mean that a wife is inferior, unintelligent, without value, or required to participate in sin. It describes God’s order within marriage. The phrase “in the Lord” places all human authority beneath the authority of God.

The husband and wife have different responsibilities, but both stand equally accountable before God.

14. God Has Ordained Male Leadership in the Church

Scripture restricts the authoritative teaching and governing office of the church to qualified men.

Paul wrote:

“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
For Adam was first formed, then Eve.”
—1 Timothy 2:12–13

Paul grounds this order in creation, not in the customs of a particular city. Therefore, it cannot properly be dismissed as merely cultural.

The qualifications for a bishop or pastor state:

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife.”
—1 Timothy 3:2

The qualifications for deacons likewise state:

“Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.”
—1 Timothy 3:12

The pastoral and deacon offices are therefore to be filled by biblically qualified men. Accordingly, only qualified men are eligible for pastoral licensure and ordination by the church.

This does not mean women have no ministry. Scripture presents godly women praying, serving, teaching children, instructing younger women, helping missionaries, showing hospitality, supporting the work of God, and labouring in the gospel. Nevertheless, their ministry must remain within the boundaries God has established.

15. Biblical Authority Must Not Become an Excuse for Abuse

The biblical teaching concerning male leadership must never be twisted to excuse violence, coercion, molestation, rape, intimidation, or the exploitation of women and children.

Sexual activity obtained through force, manipulation, threats, intoxication, or abuse of authority is wicked. The guilty person bears responsibility for the sin; the victim must not be blamed for what was done against him or her.

God condemns those who use strength to harm others:

“The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.”
—Psalm 11:5

Church leaders must not hide crimes, protect offenders, silence victims, or substitute private church discipline for lawful reporting when civil crimes have occurred.

“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.”
—Romans 13:3

Biblical authority is always accountable to God and must be exercised according to truth, righteousness, and love.

16. Sexual Sin Must Be Addressed With Truth and Compassion

The church must never approve what God condemns. Love does not require affirming sin.

“Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
—2 Timothy 4:2

At the same time, biblical preaching must not be cruel, mocking, self-righteous, or hateful. Every person is a sinner in need of the grace of God.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
—Romans 3:23

The church must speak the truth plainly while offering the gospel sincerely. We must distinguish between loving a sinner and approving his sin. Jesus Christ received sinners, but He never redefined sin in order to make them comfortable.

To the woman taken in adultery, He said:

“Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
—John 8:11

Grace does not call evil good. Grace forgives the repentant sinner and calls him to a changed life.

17. Sexual Sin Is Forgivable Through Jesus Christ

Fornication, adultery, homosexuality, pornography, and every other sexual sin are serious, but they are not beyond the reach of Christ’s blood.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”
—Ephesians 1:7

Salvation is not earned by reforming one’s behaviour, overcoming every temptation, joining a church, being baptized, or maintaining sexual purity. Salvation is the free gift of God received through faith in Jesus Christ.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
—Ephesians 2:8–9

The sinner must believe that Jesus Christ died for his sins, was buried, and rose again.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
—Acts 16:31

After salvation, the believer is commanded to grow in holiness. Sanctification is not the cause of salvation, but it should be the result of salvation.

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
—1 Corinthians 6:20

A believer may continue to experience temptation, but temptation does not have to become obedience. Through the Word of God, prayer, separation from occasions of sin, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit, the Christian can walk in purity.

Conclusion

God created mankind male and female. He established marriage as the covenant union of one man and one woman. He reserved sexual intimacy for that marriage relationship. Therefore, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexual conduct, attempts to reject one’s God-given sex, incest, bestiality, pornography, and every other form of sexual uncleanness are contrary to God’s revealed will.

Men and women are spiritually equal before God, yet God has assigned distinct responsibilities within the home and church. The husband is to lead his home with Christlike love, and qualified men are to serve as pastors and deacons.

The church must neither compromise God’s standard nor behave cruelly toward those caught in sin. It must proclaim both righteousness and grace: sin must be confessed and forsaken, and forgiveness is freely available through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”
—1 Thessalonians 4:7