This is an update to my other blog post Sexual Sin...ish?. God put this topic on my heart a few months ago, and after some intense research after my original post, this is what weighed on my heart.
We all know, as believers, that sex before marriage or sex outside of marriage is a sin. It tells us that in the Bible. But what about the topic that nobody wants to talk about… masturbation? It doesn’t say it in the Bible anywhere, so it must be okay right? No. No no no no. Thinking that is wrong on so many levels. I’ve heard other believers say ‘it’s human nature’ or ‘God did give us sexual desire’ so it must be okay. I’ve heard people say it depends on what leads up to it weather it’s a sin or not. Like thinking lustful thoughts about someone or looking at pornography. Or thinking about someone while you’re actually doing it. All wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. Now, don’t get me wrong, I judge no one that does masturbate, I fall into the temptation myself every now and then, I’m just simply clearing up the record of weather or not masturbation is a sin because I’ve heard so many say it is and so many say it isn’t.
Let’s start by breaking that human nature phrase down. I can’t stand it when people say it’s ‘human nature’ or ‘we’re only human.’ That is no excuse whatsoever. When Adam sinned, sin entered this world. We are born in sin, live in sin, and die in sin. We have an inclination to sin; we have a sinful nature. So by saying it’s ‘human nature’ you’re pretty much saying it’s okay to sin in any way, because it’s ‘human nature.’ Basically you're saying lying is okay because 'we're only human." But because Jesus died on the cross for us, His blood covers our sins. That doesn’t mean we can continue sinning though. I mean, we are not perfect and we will mess up from time to time, but I know some who just don’t care what they do in everyday life. They will go on sinning no matter what without thinking of the consequences.
Sexual desire. Yes, God did give us sexual desire, but He gave us sexual desire as a gift between a husband and wife; MARRIAGE. God’s gift of marriage is His way for us to satisfy our sexual desires. God created sex as an declaration of love between a husband and wife. 1 Corinthians 7:3 tells us “The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs.” It doesn’t say ‘if you have a sexual need, fulfill it yourself, it’s okay.’ Besides, you can’t marry yourself. In Matthew 5:28, Jesus said “But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” What Jesus is talking about here is the desire to have sex with someone other than your spouse is mental adultery, which is sin as well. Let’s face it, masturbation is, well, having sex with yourself, therefore adultery.
Most people think that masturbation and sex outside of marriage is okay as long as they are not hurting anyone. This is not true. Not only does it hurt yourself or perhaps your family, most importantly, it hurts your relationship with God. When we seek out to satisfy our own desires, we are choosing our way instead of choosing God’s way; that we want to satisfy our desires in the way WE choose instead of waiting on God and His timing. This pulls us away from God.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 says, “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from sexual sin. Then each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” Do you think it’s honorable to God to masturbate when He gave us sexual desire to be fulfilled in marriage by our husband or wife? No.
Sexual sin is one of the most difficult sins to resist. I understand that there are people out there who are addicted to masturbation, and just like any addiction, you can’t just stop. However, relying on God you can overcome sexual sin. Asking for His strength, you can overcome this sin. God also will provide a way out with any temptation that stands before you as 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.” I don’t know how He will show a way out, only that He WILL.
So, yes, the answer to the question is masturbation a sin? Yes, yes it is. But fortunately, God loves us so much He forgives us and has new mercy for us everyday. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” 1 John 1:9. That doesn’t mean it’s okay to keep sinning, knowing God will forgive you though. If you do have an addiction to masturbation, ask God to deliver you from it. You need His help to get through it, just like all of us need Him, and He will help you.
a unique soul
We all know, as believers, that sex before marriage or sex outside of marriage is a sin. It tells us that in the Bible. But what about the topic that nobody wants to talk about… masturbation? It doesn’t say it in the Bible anywhere, so it must be okay right? No. No no no no. Thinking that is wrong on so many levels. I’ve heard other believers say ‘it’s human nature’ or ‘God did give us sexual desire’ so it must be okay. I’ve heard people say it depends on what leads up to it weather it’s a sin or not. Like thinking lustful thoughts about someone or looking at pornography. Or thinking about someone while you’re actually doing it. All wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. Now, don’t get me wrong, I judge no one that does masturbate, I fall into the temptation myself every now and then, I’m just simply clearing up the record of weather or not masturbation is a sin because I’ve heard so many say it is and so many say it isn’t.
Let’s start by breaking that human nature phrase down. I can’t stand it when people say it’s ‘human nature’ or ‘we’re only human.’ That is no excuse whatsoever. When Adam sinned, sin entered this world. We are born in sin, live in sin, and die in sin. We have an inclination to sin; we have a sinful nature. So by saying it’s ‘human nature’ you’re pretty much saying it’s okay to sin in any way, because it’s ‘human nature.’ Basically you're saying lying is okay because 'we're only human." But because Jesus died on the cross for us, His blood covers our sins. That doesn’t mean we can continue sinning though. I mean, we are not perfect and we will mess up from time to time, but I know some who just don’t care what they do in everyday life. They will go on sinning no matter what without thinking of the consequences.
Sexual desire. Yes, God did give us sexual desire, but He gave us sexual desire as a gift between a husband and wife; MARRIAGE. God’s gift of marriage is His way for us to satisfy our sexual desires. God created sex as an declaration of love between a husband and wife. 1 Corinthians 7:3 tells us “The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs.” It doesn’t say ‘if you have a sexual need, fulfill it yourself, it’s okay.’ Besides, you can’t marry yourself. In Matthew 5:28, Jesus said “But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” What Jesus is talking about here is the desire to have sex with someone other than your spouse is mental adultery, which is sin as well. Let’s face it, masturbation is, well, having sex with yourself, therefore adultery.
Most people think that masturbation and sex outside of marriage is okay as long as they are not hurting anyone. This is not true. Not only does it hurt yourself or perhaps your family, most importantly, it hurts your relationship with God. When we seek out to satisfy our own desires, we are choosing our way instead of choosing God’s way; that we want to satisfy our desires in the way WE choose instead of waiting on God and His timing. This pulls us away from God.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 says, “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from sexual sin. Then each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” Do you think it’s honorable to God to masturbate when He gave us sexual desire to be fulfilled in marriage by our husband or wife? No.
Sexual sin is one of the most difficult sins to resist. I understand that there are people out there who are addicted to masturbation, and just like any addiction, you can’t just stop. However, relying on God you can overcome sexual sin. Asking for His strength, you can overcome this sin. God also will provide a way out with any temptation that stands before you as 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.” I don’t know how He will show a way out, only that He WILL.
So, yes, the answer to the question is masturbation a sin? Yes, yes it is. But fortunately, God loves us so much He forgives us and has new mercy for us everyday. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” 1 John 1:9. That doesn’t mean it’s okay to keep sinning, knowing God will forgive you though. If you do have an addiction to masturbation, ask God to deliver you from it. You need His help to get through it, just like all of us need Him, and He will help you.
a unique soul
