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Sex Is Spiritual

Written By: Pastor Dan Hickling

“Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”—1 Corinthians 7:5 (NKJV)

Sex is spiritual. Yep, I just said that... but only because Paul essentially says the same in the passage above.

Contextually, the apostle is correcting the Corinthian Church, which had wandered into some sinful territory. Paul had to address a myriad of issues, but sexual sin was particularly problematic for the Corinthians as it had spilled over the boundaries God protectively prescribes.

Paul reestablishes those boundaries by declaring that the marital relationship between one man and one woman is the only acceptable place for sexual activity (1 Corinthians 7:1-2). He goes on to give some specific instructions on marriage, especially when it comes to showing “affection” (a polite way of saying “sex”). A husband and wife have a mutual obligation to please each other in this area (1 Corinthians 7:3-4).

Then Paul gives an exception: Sex can be suspended when a husband and wife mutually decide to pursue a season of fasting and prayer. But even then, this should only be temporary because sex exclusively fulfills certain needs within a marriage (1 Corinthians 7:5).

Here’s where we see that sex, as God intended it, is spiritual. We all agree that fasting and prayer are spiritual acts. Yet, Paul doesn’t teach that fasting and prayer should indefinitely displace sex in marriage. In fact, he deliberately directs husbands and wives to physically engage with one another.

Make no mistake, the stakes here are spiritual. Every marriage has a spiritual enemy. Satan understands that marriage mirrors the sacred bond between Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:23). He wants to destroy as many marriages as he can, and one of his most effective instruments is sexual temptation.

Sex provides spiritual protection against these spiritual attacks. When consistently and properly exercised, sex prevents the seeds of temptation from taking root and serves to promote spiritual wellness between a husband and wife. These spiritual benefits are byproducts of the spiritual agent of sex.

It’s critical that husbands and wives see sex as spiritual. When they do, it will find its proper place within their relationship. It will be the bonding agent that Paul describes here and what enables marriages to sustain the spiritual attacks and tests of time.

DIG: Under what conditions is sex spiritual?

DISCOVER: Why is it important for husbands and wives to see sex as spiritual?

DISPLAY: How is this passage speaking to you today?