Counsels on Relationships

Counsel #5 — Sexual Intimacy

Picture: Counsel #5 — Sexual Intimacy CR 84.1

Sadly, many Christians, inadvertently equate God’s ideal for sexual intimacy with the imperfect world’s view. They limit their discussion on sex, rarely verbally celebrating God’s gift. But God talked about it! A whole entire book of the Bible (Song of Solomon) is dedicated to the beauty and intimacy of His meaningful idea. Healthy discussion, through prayer, leads to healthy expression within the loving boundaries that God has set in place for us.^[80]   CR 84.2

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4 NKJV CR 84.3

“Jesus did not enforce celibacy upon any class of men. He came not to destroy the sacred relationship of marriage, but to exalt it and restore it to its original sanctity. He looks with pleasure upon the family relationship where sacred and unselfish love bears sway.” Ellen White in The Adventist Home, p. 121 CR 84.4

“I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.” Song of Solomon 7:10 NKJV CR 84.5

“God celebrated the first marriage. Thus the institution has for its originator the Creator of the universe.” Ellen White in Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 46 CR 84.6

Reflect: Why does God have a high view of marital sexual intimacy? CR 84.7