Why Should I Save Sex for Marriage?

By Dr. Richard D. Dobbins
EMERGE Ministries

CBN.com -- Certainly the greatest reward of confining sexual fantasies and practices to marriage is to have a conscience free from devastating sexual guilt, disappointment, and regret. I believe that more self-respect is sacrificed at the altar of sexual indulgence than in any other activity in modern America.

Sexual discipline spares people from this kind of pain.

Another great reward is in knowing that you are capable of forming the strongest marriage bond possible with a person who also has not had intercourse with anyone else.

Christian young men and young women should be taught to save themselves for each other...the man for the woman, the woman for the man. This is God's plan for every Christian married couple.

God's ideal is permanent monogamy, one man and one woman for life in Christian marriage (see Matthew 19:4-6).

Couples who have kept their lives free from the complications of sex outside of marriage provide a secure family life for the children of that marriage.

A security built on the uncompromising trust and bond of the parents' marriage earns the respect of their children. Such parents provide excellent role models for their children.

Even if your life is already complicated by the results of undisciplined sexual behavior, there is help for you. If you will invite Jesus Christ into your life today, He will not only forgive you for these sins, He will help you reclaim sexual purity for your life.

You may have to live out some painful consequences of poor decisions made in your past, but Jesus will give you the strength to help you resist sexual temptations in your future. Open your life to Jesus Christ, today and invite Him into your heart.

Dr. Richard D. Dobbins is the leader of EMERGE Ministries of Akron, Ohio. He serves on the faculty of Ashland Theological Seminary and initiated the coordination of their master’s program in Pastoral Counseling. An acclaimed author, Dr. Dobbins has created numerous film/video presentations on topics of interest to believers and has written many books, booklets, articles and audiotapes on Christian mental health care.

Copyright 2002 Media Ministries of the Assemblies of God. The highlights of the daily and weekly radio program, "From This Day Forward," are a joint production of EMERGE Ministries, Akron, Ohio, and the Media Ministries of the Assemblies of God, Springfield, Mo.