RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Falling for Sex
A Research Essay for
A Biblical Study of Sexuality
Submitted to Dr. Marcus N. Tanner,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
PACO 625 – B01
Foundational Doctrines for Pastoral Counselors
by
William C. King
June 22, 2022
ii
Abstract
God had a plan from the beginning of time for humanity to keep replenishing the Earth. This in
turn beckoned Him to allow for humanity to experience pleasure through sex. In its evolution
throughout time, sexuality has become something which is not communicated enough, discussed
in depth, nor given a healthy tone within Biblical constraints. But, as this evolution has taken
place, secular tones have taken hold, brokenness created, and ultimately replacing what God had
intended for good. The church must awaken to this pitfall and resurrect a holy approach to
teaching sexuality even in the church. It is here, the Bible presents a holy and unadulterated view
of what sexuality is and how it was intended.
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Abstract .........................................................................................................................................ii
The Original Plan in the Garden......................................................................................................1
God’s Masterpiece; Adam and Eve.............................................................................................1
Marriage .....................................................................................................................................2
The Fall and the Impact on Sexuality..............................................................................................3
What about Sin? .........................................................................................................................3
Sexuality and Sin.........................................................................................................................4
Restoration of God’s Plan ...............................................................................................................5
Healthy (Scriptural) Sexuality .....................................................................................................5
Confines of Singleness ................................................................................................................6
Confines of Marriage ..................................................................................................................7
The Correct Way .........................................................................................................................8
Christian vs. Secular Worldviews....................................................................................................9
Opposition in the Church Facing Sexuality .................................................................................9
Redefining Sexuality the Way it Should Be...............................................................................10
Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................11
Bibliography..................................................................................................................................12
1
A pastor of a church is setting up for an upcoming wedding for an older couple. The
youth pastor’s wife and 14-year-old daughter walk in to set up as well. Although not
prearranged, the three of them met in the church. The pastor shoots a look up and down at the
youth pastor’s wife and remarks “dang!” in exclamation of admiring the youth pastor’s wife in a
full-length dress. The remarks led to the pastor and youth pastor parting ways and the eventual
intervention of higher leadership in the organization to the pastor’s actions. It can be clearly seen
there was a moral and illegal breakdown over sexually related intentions. But, from the
beginning things like this were not the case. The evidence presented will bare proof as to how
God’s intended plan for humans to experience sex as pleasurable within Biblical bounds has
evolved into something more vulgar and taboo. Through understanding the original design of
sexuality from God, The Fall and its impact on humanity’s sexuality, the restorative plan of God,
and how this feeds into opposing worldviews, a better understanding will be grasped of how
Biblical bounds for human sexuality are necessary and needed.
The Original Plan in the Garden
Jesus challenged His disciples over and over again to understand the depth of the things
He taught. One such instance was in Matthew. “He saith unto them: ‘Moses because of the
hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not
so.” (Matt. 19:8, KJV). So, what were the intentions God had from the beginning?
God’s Masterpiece; Adam and Eve
In the beginning, God created male and female. He created them in perfection. God
brought His thoughts into action. He wanted to make man in His image; He spoke, and He did
exactly what He purposed to happen. “His thoughts were easily brought and fixed to His best
2
subjects, and there was no vanity nor unforgivableness in them.”1 They were created imago dei2,
in the image of God. The original plan left no plan for imperfection.
Marriage
Created to be an image of God, male and female were created in the beginning. God
created them in two different sexes and this shows God’s intention for differentiating between
the two. However, being two different people, the two were intended to become one together
with each other, love each other, and honor and thus respect each other as two different beings
but still both created in the image of God. “God’s creation of Eve as a helper suitable to or
corresponding to Adam implies a differentiation of role, which places man in the role of initiator
or leader and the female in the role of supporting, assisting, and adapting to his need.”3 The two
were created to complement each other and not be something as a target. The first marriage takes
place in the Garden after the creation. “Then God blessed them.” (Gen.1:28a, NKJV). This is
marriage in its first and purest form. Until after Genesis 3 (The Fall), they did not even realize
they were naked.
Later after this marriage, they are met with a direction of: “Be fruitful and multiply; fill
the earth and subdue it,” (Gen. 1:28b, NKJV). This is where the beauty of procreation is seen.
They were told, by God, to have sex, multiply the earth but they were walking around naked and
did not even realize the desire in a deviant way. It was pure and it was meant at this moment to
be holy. It is only after understanding the beginnings of God’s plan for sexuality, humanity
experiences a breach which brings about the vulgarity of sexuality.
1 Matthew Henry. Matthew Henry; A Commentary on the Whole Bible; Genesis to Deuteronomy. Vol. 1. 6 vols. Old
Tappan: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1983.
2 W. Christopher King. "Living Imago Dei." Saved & 4Given Blog. May 24, 2017.
https://savedand4givenblog.wordpress.com/2017/10/25/living-imago-dei/.
3 Daniel L. Akin. A Theology for the Church. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2014.296.
3
The Fall and the Impact on Sexuality
What about Sin?
In Genesis 3, the great separating of humanity from God transpires. God gives the
command to Adam not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in Genesis 2, which
he does at the persuasion of Eve and Satan. Romans 5:12 “enunciates Paul’s starting point in
four clauses: (1) Sin entered the world through Adam, (2) Death entered the world through sin,
(3) Death passed to all this way, (4) Because all sinned.”4 It is clearly evident that, the fall of
man directly influences all people. This clearly introduces all people to the effects of sin. Once
this breach takes place, sin begins to become a serious issue and ultimately a deviation from
what God originally created. “[W]e arrive at a consideration of the most horrifying reality in the
entire universe…the ghastly reality ruining everything it touches.”5 Sin will devastate anything it
encounters.
Sin is like a vine, the more it has influence on, the worse the situation becomes. “In the
biblical perspective, sin is not only an act of wrongdoing but a state of alienation from God. For
the great prophets of Israel, sin is much more than the violation of a taboo or the transgression of
an external ordinance. It signifies the rupture of a personal relationship with God, a betrayal of
the trust He places in us.”6 Sin if left unfixed creates a chasm in relationships, whether between
husband and wife, friends, or even humanity with God. “Sin exploits God’s good creation and
twists it into something distorted and broken.”7 It becomes clear upon a deeper reading of
4 Abner Chou. What Happened in the Garden?: The Reality and Ramifications of the Creation and Fall of Man.
Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2016.132.
5 Heath Lambert. 2016. A Theology of Biblical Counseling; The Doctrinal Foundations of Counseling Ministry.
Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic.214.
6 Daniel J. Treier and Walter A Elwell. "Sin." In Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, by Donald G. Bloesch, 808.
Ada, Michigan: Baker Academic Publishing, 2017.
7 Beth F. Jones. Faithful; A Theology of Sex. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015.36.
4
scripture how God’s standard for humanity has now been skewed and things are becoming
warped.
Sexuality and Sin
Knowing how sin creates a division in relationships, how does sin play into human
sexuality, one may ask. The issue first presents itself in the form of brokenness. Brokenness in
relationships, in marriage, and in sex. Twisting perfection into something deviant, is where this
often takes a turn. “Throughout Scriptures, one can see examples of how sin distorted sexuality
and how God condemns activities such as sexual immortality, rape, and adultery, to name a
few.”8 When looking at the full picture, one can see how these could be condemned. But, what
about in a relationship between a husband and wife?
The marital relationship can still present situations of rape. Sexual immorality is on a
steady incline even among Christian couples. Simply put, God created the one husband for the
one wife. He created sex for them to find pleasure in their relationship and the biggest reason
was to procreate. There was beauty in this. The body of the wife was to be pleasurable to her
husband and him only. “Paul upholds marriage as the only divinely authorized setting for sexual
activity.”9 Now, situations are often found where the spouse is either stepping out physically on
the other or a spouse is sharing things with others that should not be shared. There is a stark
warning to “Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and
husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex” (Heb. 13:4, MSG) and squandering
God’s gift of sexual intimacy is defiling that bed.
8 Elias Moitinho and Denise Moitinho. The Dream Home; How to Create an Intimate Christian Marriage. Dubuque:
Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 2020.160.
9 I. Howard Marshall. A Concise New Testament Theology. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2008.102.
5
One massive deviation is that of rape. “Rape and sexual violence are other examples of
hostile, coercive sex. Perpetrators have one focus in mind, to satisfy their own needs without
regard for the person they victimize.”10 With the focus on themselves, the selfishness of sin
shows through like a headlight in a darkroom. Sexual addiction, child molestation, and other
forms of exploitation are tremendous avenues which sin has used God’s design for evil. Even
though God’s original design for sexuality was since broken, He did have a plan to restore the
design to a holy, sanctified action which can be pure.
Restoration of God’s Plan
Healthy (Scriptural) Sexuality
As stated earlier, sexuality is to be beautiful. God created the human body to be beautiful.
“And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” (Gen. 1:31, KJV).
He made the body to be a masterpiece and a work of art. But, with the infiltration of sin, evil has
subjugated sexuality under its dominion. “All of us experience ourselves, our gender, and our
sexuality, in ways that are fractured by sin, guilt, and shame.”11 But, in God’s great grace, He
had a plan to restore the fallen state of humanity to its original design. He sent His Son to die for
the repayment of sin. This payment has and will ultimately restore humanity to its original state
of relationship with God, to include its sexuality. The restored purity can be seen in the confines
of singleness and in the confines of marriage. Either state requires a ‘correct way.’
10 Judith K. Balswick and Jack O Balswick. Authentic Human Sexuality. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press,
2019. 122.
11 Todd Wilson. Beauty, Order, and Mystery. Edited by Gerald Hiestand, & Todd Wilson. Downers Grove:
InterVarsity Press, 2017.147.
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Confines of Singleness
Even in the confines of singleness, humanity can still worship God. Humanity was
created as beings who need relationships. However, sexual intercourse is reserved for marriage.
With this being the case, does this simply mean masturbation is justifiable in every case. “A
decision for celibacy does not mean sexual inactivity.”12 Therefore, the simple answer would be
no. However, with a more thorough understanding, it could be permissible.
When it comes to the subject of masturbation, this is a societal taboo. Often not
discussed, this can be found as a viable option for many situations. “If all things come from God,
then women and men, married and single, childbearing or no, can visually demonstrate in their
bodies the full creative power of God.”13 Understanding all good things come from God, this still
does not necessarily now mean masturbation is okay. The Apostle Paul reiterates: “Everything is
permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is
edifying.” (1 Cor. 10:23, BSB). But, in the confines of singleness, does this mean it is
permissible or even edifying?
The bigger question begs what is happening in the mind while masturbating? “God has
created us with a capacity for self- pleasuring as one way to integrate our sexuality. Masturbation
and orgasm involve our brains, hormones, bodies, and minds, which are God’s design.” 14 The
Balswicks further present that “solo practice for single persons, for example, can be a way to
enjoy sexual gratification and attend to sexual needs without a partner.”15 This used in context
without focusing on a single person places a person in the confines of singleness and approval
12 Judith K. Balswick and Jack O Balswick. Authentic Human Sexuality. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press,
2019. 126.
13 Amy Peeler. "Imaging Glory." In Beauty, Order, and Mystery, by Todd Wilson, edited by Gerald Hiestand, &
Todd Wilson, 151-164. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2017
14 Balswick. 125.
15 Ibid.
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for sexuality the correct way while being celibate. “Fantasizing about a future mate while self-
pleasuring is within God’s good plan and may keep a young person from becoming sexually
active with dating partners.”16 Even in the confines of singleness, there can be brokenness and
use of erotica or even pornography usage can become a detriment. Therefore, it is imperative for
even the single person to walk in purity before God and have a strong prayer life while allowing
the Holy Spirit to guide them even in the context of single sexuality.
Confines of Marriage
Within the confines of marriage, there become less parameters to meet. The plan of
God’s redemption flows through the fibers of the marriage focused on God. Within the marital
context, sexuality is fairly open. The “do not’s” are less than the “do’s.” “In terms of wholeness,
Christians do not want to isolate what they do from who they are and the relationship that they
are in. They do not want to isolate a bodily function (genital sex) from the emotions and
relationships they have, nor from the transcendent reality of God and God’s purposes and
intentions for sexual expression and intimacy.”17 The key here are mutually pleasurable
outcomes. “An empowering principle of marital sex is mutuality. Spouses are encouraged to
express personal preferences and sexual requests. Emotional satisfaction come from knowing the
response is out of choice, responsive desire, and love.”18 If one pleases and the other is left
unfulfilled in their relationship, the relationship becomes more based on sex for sex’s sake. This
is the underlying principle governing marital sex.
16 Balswick. 127.
17 Mark A. Yarhouse and Erica S.N. Tan. 2014. Sexuality & Sex Therapy. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press
Academic.38.
18 Balswick. 154-155.
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The only real items which should be avoided in marital sex are those which are self-
serving. For instance, infidelity (Ex. 20:14), rape (Deut. 22:23-29), polygamy or multiple
partners (Mk. 10), bestiality (Lev. 18:23), prostitution (1 Cor. 6:13), incest (Lev. 18:7-18), orgies
(Rom. 13:13-14), or anything else that degrades sexual morality between a husband and a wife (1
Cor. 6:18-20). “The inventor of the human machine was telling us that its two halves, the male
and the female, were made to be combined together in pairs, not simply on the sexual level, but
totally combined.”19 In marriage, so long as the ‘other half’ does not feel negated and it is not
expressly condemned in the Bible, the marital sexual relations are open to interpretation and fun
between the spouses. It is about mutual pleasure.
The Correct Way
With such a stringent requirement of how to act in sexual nature, it would seem then
there would be no correct way. However, the opposite is correct. When looking into the ways of
remaining holy in God’s eyes while still being authentic sexually, it becomes clearer in light of
Scripture. Jesus lived a holy and sinless life. Jesus was always about others. The Apostle Paul
even exhorted the Philippian church. He stated: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit,
but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to
his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:3-4, ESV). When looking through
the lenses of a faithful Christian, the marital side becomes a little clearer. It, as stated earlier, is
about mutual pleasure.
From a single perspective, the necessity lies in self pleasure, if chosen, with a pure mind
and thoughts still pleasing to God. Thoughts which degrade the imago dei of humanity in a
single’s mind, becomes sinful. Ultimately, it comes to one big question. Would God be pleased
19 C. S.Lewis. Mere Christianity. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1980. 104.
9
with me? If a single has sought God in what is pleasing and it is not starkly prohibited in the
Scriptures, then it is permissible. But, once again, the filter comes in the form of 1 Corinthians
10:23.
Everything a believer does should reflect God. He created humanity to be relational. A
believer’s relationship with Him is a reflection of this. Sexuality is something which can be a
blessing, whether single or married, but if one cannot exercise self- control, they should find a
Christian spouse. Paul points this by stating: “But if they cannot exercise self-control, they
should marry. “ (1 Cor. 7:9, ESV). Even in sexuality, no one should ever place their bodies in a
place which degrades God’s holiness, as the body is a temple (1 Cor. 6:19). God’s plan to restore
sexuality to a pure action can be seen; but, with opposing views with which should the church
take sides?
Christian vs. Secular Worldviews
With opposing worldviews, it is easy for the believer to struggle with sexuality. With
society dictating “sin is okay,” “there is no sanctity in marriage,” and “anything you want to do
is permissible in any situation,” it becomes difficult to know what really is acceptable in regards
to human sexuality in God’s eyes.
Opposition in the Church Facing Sexuality
With the inevitable scriptures coming to pass of a great falling away, sin has infiltrated
the church. With staggering statistics showing steady decline of morality in the church, it is clear
that sexuality in the church, now more than ever, needs to be addressed and with fervor.
Although there is a stigma of morally right and wrong changing over time based on society, the
scriptures are clear as to the sin which Christ condemned. “It is the old way that wicked men
have trodden, that have gone slumbering to hell, as if their damnation slumbered while they
10
did.”20 With the prevalence of the LGBTQ+ movement and the acceptance of it in certain
Catholic, Baptists, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Methodist, and other affirming church denominations,
we have seen the acceptance of sin breach the walls of the church. Jesus warned: “But as the
days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matt. 24:37-39, KJV).
Another opposition in the church is the steady decline of pastoral morality. In 2006 a
study showed 35% of pastors personally deal with sexual sin. The same showed 315 pastors
(30%) who said they had either been in an ongoing affair or a one-time sexual encounter with a
parishioner.”21 An increase happened within just three years. Now, “37% report inappropriate
sexual behavior with someone in the church.”22 With more than 250 pastors charged with some
sort of sexual misconduct, it shows the discrepancy taking place starts in the pulpit and echoes in
the marriage. Pastorally permissive sin is taking place and yet there is a wonder why numbers are
increasing with regards to sexual sin.
Redefining Sexuality the Way it Should Be
The only way this world will ever change and the only way sexuality could ever be
successfully redefined is to first start with a sincere saving relationship with Christ. Then, pastors
need to get back to preaching acceptance of the Word of God first, then cultivate relationships of
marriage and singleness around God. The holiness of humanity is where the sanctity of marriage
and the purity of singleness will once again be found. Thus, it starts in the pulpit with pastors
who can preach under the anointing in purity themselves and not be scared to tell the unaltered
truth. “By bearing the the penalty of our sin and thus satisfying once and for all the just
20 Matthew Henry. Matthew Henry; A Commentary on the Whole Bible; Matthew to John. Vol. 5. 6 vols. Old
Tappan: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1983.771.
21 Richard J.Krejcir."Statistics on Pastors." Partners in Pastor Renewal (PIR). 2021. http://pirministries.org/wp-
content/uploads/2016/01/FASICLD-Statistics-on-Pastors.pdf (accessed June 21, 2022).
22 Bill Gaultiere. "Pastor Stress Statistics." Soul Shepharding. 2009. https://www.soulshepherding.org/pastors-under-
stress/ (accessed June 21, 2022).
11
requirements of the law, Christ nullified Satan’s control over us at its root.”23 Getting back to a
holy relationship with God, where sexual purity is once again paramount, is where the Christian
should thrive. “The church is called to faithfully preach the kingdom by exposing the sexual lies,
manipulations, and illusions perpetrated by elements in society that deny the light of God’s
redemption in Jesus Christ.”24 The Apostle Paul gave us the instructions of how to fix the
problem. He stated: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old
self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your
minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
(Eph. 4:22-24, NIV). The problem is the attitude of the heart.
Conclusion
In conclusion, whether single or married, young or old, the necessity for sexual
encounters exist. It may look different to and for some people, however, the necessity still exists.
Through a thorough understanding of how sexuality should be in the eyes of God, the discourse
on the beginnings and impact of sin on sexuality, and clear yet concise correction on how to
redefine pure and authentic sexuality, the world can once again discover God’s original plan for
sexuality; pleasure in holiness. We are to please God in all we do.
23 Millard J. Erickson. Introducing Christian Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015.279.
24 Balswick. 259.
12
Bibliography
Akin, Daniel L. A Theology for the Church. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2014.
Balswick, Judith K, and Jack O Balswick. Authentic Human Sexuality. Downers Grove:
InterVarsity Press, 2019.
Chou, Abner. What Happened in the Garden?: The Reality and Ramifications of the Creation
and Fall of Man. Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2016.
Erickson, Millard J. . Introducing Christian Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015.
Gaultiere, Bill. "Pastor Stress Statistics." Soul Shepharding. 2009.
https://www.soulshepherding.org/pastors-under-stress/ (accessed June 21, 2022).
Henry, Matthew. Matthew Henry; A Commentary on the Whole Bible; Genesis to Deuteronomy.
Old Tappan: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1983.
—. Matthew Henry; A Commentary on the Whole Bible; Matthew to John. Vol. 5. 6 vols. Old
Tappan: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1983.
Jones, Beth Felker. Faithful; A Theology of Sex. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015.
King, W. Christopher. "Living Imago Dei." Saved & 4Given Blog. May 24, 2017.
https://savedand4givenblog.wordpress.com/2017/10/25/living-imago-dei/.
Krejcir, Richard J. "Statistics on Pastors." Partners in Pastor Renewal (PIR). 2021.
http://pirministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/FASICLD-Statistics-on-Pastors.pdf
(accessed June 21, 2022).
Lambert, Heath. A Theology of Biblical Counseling; The Doctrinal Foundations of Counseling
Ministry. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2016.
Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1980.
13
Marshall, I. Howard. A Concise New Testament Theology. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press,
2008.
Moitinho, Elias, and Denise Moitinho. The Dream Home; How to Create an Intimate Christian
Marriage. Dubuque: KendalL Hunt Publishing Company, 2020.
Peeler, Amy. "Imaging Glory." In Beauty, Order, and Mystery, by Todd Wilson, edited by
Gerald Hiestand, & Todd Wilson, 151-164. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2017.
Ripley, Jennifer S., and Everett L. Worthington Jr. Couple Therapy; A New Hope- Focused
Approach. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2014.
Treier, Daniel J, and Walter A Elwell. "Sin." In Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, by Donald
G. Bloesch, 808. Ada, Michigan: Baker Academic Publishing, 2017.
Yarhouse, Mark A., and Erica S.N. Tan. Sexuality & Sex Therapy. Downers Grove: InterVarsity
Press Academic, 2014.
