Short answer: The Bible gives many examples of sexual sin, including adultery, sex outside of marriage (fornication), rape, incest, prostitution and lust. The New Testament word for sexual immorality, porneia, covers any sexual expression outside the boundaries God set for marriage between a husband and wife. God forgives sexual sin when we repent and trust Christ.
In This Article
Few subjects carry as much shame as this one, which is why so many people never ask a pastor about it and search for answers at night instead. People in the pews kept asking the same questions: is this a sin, what does the Bible actually say, and how do we live it out? I want to answer in plain, respectful language.
This article defines sexual sin, walks through the main examples with the Scripture behind them, and then deals with the questions that follow most often: whether God forgives, whether he still loves us, and how to stay away from it.
What Counts As Sexual Sin In The Bible?
In the New Testament the word usually translated "sexual immorality" is porneia. It is a broad term. It covers sexual expression of any kind outside the boundaries the Bible sets for a marriage between one man and one woman, and it includes sex before marriage, adultery and other acts the Scriptures forbid. For a closer look, see defining porneia in the Bible and what sexual immorality is according to the Bible.
To see why those boundaries exist, go back to the beginning. Jesus pointed to Genesis when he spoke about marriage (Matthew 19:4-6). God designed sex as a source of joy and closeness for a husband and wife who have made a lifelong commitment. Any use of it outside that frame is a misuse of a good gift. The same logic applies to the thoughts behind the acts, which is why lust and pornography belong in the conversation.
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
1 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV)
Paul's advice is not "resist." It is "flee." Sexual sin harms the person who commits it, it harms the other people involved, and it cuts against how God made us.
What Are Some Examples Of Sexual Sins In The Bible?
Here are the main categories, with the passages that speak to each.
Fornication
Fornication is a sexual act outside marriage, or premarital sex. The ban appears in both Testaments. See Deuteronomy 22:21, 1 Corinthians 6:18 and Hebrews 13:4. The Old Testament also gives accounts of prostitution and its consequences, such as Genesis 38:24 and Leviticus 21:9. For the full discussion, see premarital sex and living together outside marriage.
Adultery
Adultery is unfaithfulness in marriage, and it made the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18). Proverbs warns about its cost (Proverbs 6:32), and Jesus pressed it to the heart (Matthew 5:27-32; Matthew 15:19). David's sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-5) shows how one choice can grow into deceit and death. Read more in Is Adultery A Sin In The Bible?
Rape And Sexual Violence
Rape is a grave sin. The Bible records it plainly, and never approves of it. Look at the assault on Dinah (Genesis 34:1-31), the horrifying crimes in Judges 19:1-30, and the violation of Tamar (2 Samuel 13:11-14). The victim carries no guilt for what was done. See Is Rape A Sin In The Bible? and pedophilia.
Incest, Homosexual Acts And Other Prohibited Relations
Leviticus 18 prohibits sexual relations with close relatives, and Paul rebukes a case of incest in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 5:1-5). Our article on incest goes through it. I also hold that homosexual relationships fall outside God's design for sexuality, as I explain in What Does The Bible Say About Homosexuality?, and I would add that every person is made in God's image and deserves to be treated with respect. For other acts, see what sexual activities the Bible forbids, anal sex and oral sex, where I note that the Bible does not say oral sex within marriage is a sin.
Lust And Private Sin
Jesus taught that sexual sin starts in the mind (Matthew 5:28). That is why pornography and, in many cases, masturbation connect to lust. The Bible never addresses masturbation by name, and I discuss it in its own article. The short version is that when it is fed by lustful fantasy or pornography, it runs against what Jesus taught about the heart.
Will God Forgive Sexual Sin?
He will. This is the heart of the good news, and I want you to hear it clearly. Paul gave the Corinthians a list of sins that characterize a life apart from God, and several on the list were sexual. Then he said something remarkable: that was what some of them used to be. They had been washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
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 (NIV)
Some ask whether sexual sin is the one God cannot forgive. The answer is no. The Bible's only unforgivable sin is something else, covered in What Is The Unforgivable Sin?. See also Does God Forgive All Sins?. Does God still love you? He does. His love does not depend on your record. It is the reason he calls you out of what hurts you.
How Can We Avoid Sexual Sin?
The most useful step is to avoid temptation before it grows. Know where you are weak, and admit it. Then set clear boundaries. Do not spend time alone in private places with the person you are dating. Be careful about being alone in a car or at after-work gatherings with a particular coworker. Put filters on your phone and computer to block explicit content. Take steps that keep temptation at a distance, even when they are inconvenient.
Fill your mind with what is pure and good, and keep close to God's Word. Bring in a trusted friend or pastor who will ask hard questions. If you are caught in a pattern, our guide on how to repent and our post on how we overcome sins offer practical steps.
Key Bible Verses About Sexual Sin
- 1 Corinthians 6:18: flee sexual immorality, which sins against your own body.
- Hebrews 13:4: honor marriage and keep the marriage bed pure.
- Exodus 20:14: the commandment against adultery.
- Matthew 5:27-28: Jesus on adultery and lust of the heart.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: sinners washed, sanctified and justified.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5: God's will is that we avoid sexual immorality.
- Proverbs 6:32: adultery destroys the one who does it.
The Bottom Line
Sexual sin is serious, and the Bible is clear about its forms: adultery, fornication, rape, incest, lust and every other use of sex outside God's design. It is also clear about the remedy. Remove what tempts you, fill your mind with what is good, and run to the Savior who forgives. Sexual sin does not put anyone beyond his reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some examples of sexual sins in the Bible?
The Bible names adultery, fornication or sex outside marriage, rape, incest, prostitution and lust, along with other sexual acts outside God's design for marriage between a husband and wife. Many of these appear both in narrative stories and in direct commands.
Is masturbation a sin to God?
The Bible never mentions it directly, so Christians weigh it by what Scripture says about lust and self-control. I explain my reading in Is Masturbation Or Self Pleasure A Sin In The Bible?
Will God forgive sexual sin?
Yes. Paul told the Corinthians that some of them had lived in sexual sin and had been washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus. Forgiveness is offered to everyone who repents and trusts Christ.
Does God still love me after sexual sin?
He does. God's love for his people rests on who he is and on what Christ did, not on our record. His love is also why he calls us out of sin, because it harms us.
What sexual relationships are forbidden in the Bible?
Adultery, sex outside marriage, incest and sex with a close relative, and the other acts Scripture places outside marriage are forbidden. See What Sexual Activities Does The Bible Forbid?
