What Does The Bible Say About Shacking Up
When I was growing up, adults warned me about what would happen if I had sex before marriage. They said it would ruin my life and that God would judge me for my actions. As an adult, I can see how right they were — but it’s not just the physical consequences of premarital sex that make it wrong. The Bible clearly says that sex outside of marriage is wrong because it’s sinful (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). That doesn’t mean Christians shouldn’t have any fun! We’re called to be joyful (Philippians 4:4), after all. But we must remember that God has given us rules for living because He loves us so much and wants us to live happily ever after in heaven with Him. So don’t let anyone tell you otherwise — shacking up is just another word for sin!
I heard a comedian joke that “shacking up” may have its place in culture, but it will never have a spot in the bible. It wasn’t a bad joke, considering what’s showing up on television today.
The comedian was right. The Bible does not condone shacking up. In fact, it’s very clear that the only proper way for a man and woman to live together is by marriage (1 Corinthians 7:2). The Bible is the only authority on what is right and what is wrong (Romans 3:4). It’s also the only authority on what sin is and isn’t (Romans 6:23).
It’s very clear that the Bible does not condone shacking up.
We’ve all heard of premarital sex or fornication. But the term “fornication” sounds so foreign and archaic that it could only apply to people of long ago who spoke with accents and wore full-length cloaks. So what does “fornication” really mean?
We’ve all heard of premarital sex or fornication. But the term “fornication” sounds so foreign and archaic that it could only apply to people of long ago who spoke with accents and wore full-length cloaks. So what does “fornication” really mean?
Fornication is sexual intercourse between two people who are not married. It can occur before marriage, during marriage, or after divorce (if there has been no remarriage). In other words, fornication describes any sexual activity between a single person and another person who is also unmarried; in this instance, we’re talking about a married couple engaging in sexual relations outside their marital relationship.
A good definition of fornication is illicit sexual intercourse between two unmarried people. The phrase “illicit sexual intercourse” is in and of itself a mouthful. Let me explain it in simple terms. Sex outside the bonds of marriage is sin. No matter how you approach it, if you call it shacking up, if you think it’s okay because one day you’ll get married anyway, if you think your love can make sex okay — the Bible calls sex outside of marriage fornication (sin).
Fornication is the act of having sex outside of marriage. Fornication is a sin, and it’s also a violation of God’s law. The Ten Commandments state in Exodus 20:14 that “you shall not commit adultery,” which means you shall not have sexual relations with another person’s spouse (Exodus 20:14).
This prohibition against adultery doesn’t just apply to married people; it also applies to those who are unmarried but living together or dating someone exclusively. To be clear: if two unmarried people are having regular sex, they’re breaking this commandment because their relationship has become adulterous—and their behavior could land them both in hot water with God (see Matthew 5:28).
Sex outside the bonds of marriage is sin. No matter how you approach it, if you call it shacking up, if you think it’s okay because one day you’ll get married anyway, if you think your love can make sex okay — the Bible calls sex outside of marriage fornication (sin).
Nowhere in the Bible does God say that having sex with someone before marriage or staying together as boyfriend and girlfriend is acceptable behavior. He doesn’t condone adultery or fornication in any form…but he does offer hope for those who have strayed from His path!
The Bible is the only authority on what is right and what is wrong. It’s also the only authority on what sin is and isn’tThe term “fornication” is derived from the Latin word fornix, which means “arch” or “arcade”—a vaulted structure, usually with one side open to the skyThe Bible says that God loves us, and it is His desire to reconcile us to himself (Romans 5:8). He will forgive our sins if we repent of them and turn away from our past deedsSimilarly, the Bible also prohibits premarital sex. The New Testament book of Galatians 5:19-21 states that “the acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions…
How can you know what is right or wrong? The Bible says that God created us and knows what’s best for us. He wants our lives to be blessed and free of sufferingBut what about unmarried couples who have sex? Is this a sin? The answer is yes and no..
The Bible clearly lays out the rules of sexual conduct, and it isn’t a pretty picture. But even if you don’t believe in God or his word, there are still consequences for breaking these laws. So what’s next? How do we stop the cycle of sin and shame? The answer is simple: turn to God and ask him to remove our darkness and replace it with light!