Frequently Asked Bible Questions

Is masturbation a sin?

What does the Bible teach about sex and autoeroticism? How do you overcome a sexual sin?

The United Church of God believes that sexual love is the supreme expression of love between a husband and wife and that only this use of the sexual organs glorifies or reflects God's design and purpose.

Genesis 1:27 says of God's creation of mankind, "male and female He created them." The Hebrew words for "male" and "female" are unmistakable references to the male and female physiology. Verse 24 of chapter 2 reveals God's purpose for designing maleness and femaleness, when it speaks of God joining the first man and the first woman in marriage, saying, "they shall become one flesh." This phrase is a clear reference to the union of the sexual organs of the husband and wife, indicating the purpose for sex (in addition to procreation).

That this is the correct understanding is confirmed by 1 Corinthians 6:16. Paul calls sexual intercourse becoming "one flesh," just as Genesis 2:24 uses the words. In the same context, he wrote, "Flee sexual immorality" (1 Corinthians 6:18), explaining that sex outside of God's intended design is sin and that it brings penalties on the sinner. In Hebrews 13:4, Paul affirms that the sexual union between a husband and wife is the lawful function of our sex organs. "The [marriage] bed is undefiled," he wrote. He immediately warns that other sexual acts do defile a person spiritually.

Christ's statements in Matthew 5:27-30 amplify all of the above scriptures, as He explains that a person can commit sexual sin in the mind alone—apart from any action whatsoever. He taught Christians to guard and control their thoughts, as well as their actions. Christ later inspired Paul to write: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled" (2 Corinthians 10:4-6).

Of course, this refers to our own inner struggle, rather than a struggle with other people who sin. The scripture tells us plainly that the battlefield on which we win or lose against temptations is the battlefield of thought. We have to learn to recognize wrong thoughts, whether generated by our own natures or inserted into our minds through any one of numerous aspects of "this present evil age" (Galatians 1:4). Clearly, Christians should avoid any form of pornography or sexually oriented "entertainment" that incites lust, for these materials only make overcoming that much more difficult.

People overcome sexual sin essentially the same way that they overcome any sin. The process begins by recognizing and acknowledging the sin, and then seeking God's forgiveness and help. That's not to imply that the process is either simple or easy, for our struggle against the temptation to repeat a habitual sin is often truly difficult. Yet, we can have confidence that God will help us succeed.

In this regard, Paul's words about his own struggle against human nature are encouraging: "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin" (Romans 7:23-25).

We recommend you review our booklet Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion for a complete study of repentance, forgiveness, receiving and using the gift of God's Holy Spirit.

Related Online Resources

Is masturbation right or wrong?
What does the Bible say about this? Is it a sin?

God's Guide to Sex
Everyone knows about the similarities between animal and human sexuality, but what about the differences? And what are the implications of those differences?

Breaking Free From Sexual Addictions
Sexual addiction occurs in many forms and can be very destructive spiritually. How can it be overcome?

Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion
This booklet contains a complete biblical study of the subjects of repentance, forgiveness, receiving and using the gift of God's Holy Spirit.

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