The Bonding Power Of Sex

The Bonding Power of Sex

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure.

Hebrews 13:4 (NIV)

THE BOOK OF GENESIS says that when a husband and wife have sexual intercourse, they become “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24, NIV). In other words, their two lives are bonded together. Sex is the consummating act of marriage. We have a public wedding ceremony and a private consummation of the public commitment. Sexual intercourse is the physical expression of the inward union of two lives.

In the ancient Hebrew Scriptures and in the New Testament writings, sexual intercourse is always assumed to be reserved for marriage. That is not an arbitrary denunciation of sex outside of marriage but simply an effort to be true to the nature of sexual intercourse. Such deep bonding is inappropriate outside a loving, lifetime commitment between a husband and a wife. The author of the book of Hebrews talked about keeping the marriage bed pure—in other words, keeping sexual intercourse as a special thing only between a husband and wife.

Sex is not simply a matter of joining two bodies that were uniquely made for each other. It touches on intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual bonding as well. Sex was God’s idea, and marriage is the context in which it finds ultimate meaning.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of sex in my marriage. I am grateful for the physical, emotional, and spiritual bonding that results from our sexual relationship. I pray for your grace to keep this bond strong and pure.

Sex