Sexuality was God’s idea, and this shows He’s not boring, prudish or ashamed of sex.

To become one flesh predates the fall (Genesis 1:28), and God designed sex to be enjoyed within the marriage context.

Marriage must be respected by all, and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge immoral people and adulterers – Hebrews 13:4

The repeated admonition not to “stir up or awaken love until it pleases” emphasizes that there is a right and a wrong time for sex – Song of Songs 2:7, 3:5, 8:4

Sex  outside of marriage, with someone other than one’s spouse or with someone of the same same sex is explicitly prohibited – Leviticus 18:22, Proverbs 5:20-23, 1 Corinthians 6:9

Scripture strongly commends the full enjoyment of sex within the God ordained context of marriage – Proverbs 5:15-19, 1 Corinthians 7:3.  (There is freedom and security)

**Waiting for love and not misusing sexuality are difficult, but not impossible

**Sexual longing is not wrong, but sexual enjoyment before marriage defies God’s design.

**Though sexual desire is great, sexual enjoyment must be waited for and enjoyed in God’s proper timing and design.

**This fallen world is in need of a saviour; there is increase in marital conflict, divorce, sexual immorality, sexual abuse, pornography and trafficking.

***Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom – Songs of Song 2:15

**⁶ Place me like a seal over your heart,
    like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
    its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
    like a mighty flame.
⁷ Many waters cannot quench love;
    rivers cannot sweep it away.
If one were to give
    all the wealth of one’s house for love,
    it would be utterly scorned.

[Song of Songs 8:6-7]

**Just as God created a bride for the man in Genesis, so Christ himself is the true bridegroom ( Mark 2:19). The marriage of Christ to his people is the reality to which every human marriage points to (Ephesians 5:31-32).

In Revelation 21, John sees the New Jerusalem, “Coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2).