DOCTRINES
& POSITIONS
Sexual Purity Before Marriage
Our church affirms that human sexuality is a sacred gift from God, created with purpose, boundaries, and blessing. Scripture teaches that sexual union is designed to occur within the covenant of marriage, not prior to it. Any sexual activity outside of this covenant—regardless of consent or cultural acceptance—stands contrary to God’s revealed will and results in spiritual, emotional, and social harm.
From the beginning, God established marriage as a covenantal union that precedes sexual intimacy. Scripture declares that "a man shall leave his parents, be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24). Sexual union is therefore not the pathway into marriage, but the fruit of marriage.
Sex is not merely physical; it is a unifying act that binds two people at the deepest levels—emotionally, spiritually, and bodily. When sexual union is separated from covenant commitment, it creates fragmentation rather than unity. God’s order protects both individuals by requiring commitment before intimacy, not intimacy before commitment.
Premarital sex undermines this design by treating sexuality as a temporary or disposable experience rather than a lifelong covenant expression. What God designed to seal commitment is reduced to a test of compatibility or a source of personal gratification.
Scripture warns that sexual sin uniquely affects the individual, leaving deep emotional and spiritual wounds (1 Corinthians 6:18). Many people carry unresolved trauma, confusion, and mistrust into future relationships because intimacy was given prematurely and repeatedly without covenantal safety.
Because of our commitment to uphold the truth and authority of God’s Word, our church cannot support or condone relationships that are engaging in premarital sexual activity. While we continue to extend grace, compassion, and pastoral care to all individuals, we cannot affirm behaviors that contradict the biblical standards we are called to teach and uphold. Our desire is not to shame or exclude, but to encourage individuals and couples toward repentance, healing, and alignment with God’s design so that their relationships can flourish within the protection and blessing of covenant marriage.
Our objection to premarital sex is not rooted in shame, condemnation, or legalism, but in love, wisdom, and obedience to God. Scripture calls believers to flee sexual immorality and to honor God with their bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:3–5). God’s commands are not restrictive, but protective, intended to guard the heart, preserve dignity, and protect the covenantal nature of marriage.
At the same time, the church affirms God’s grace, forgiveness, and restoration for all who repent. No sexual sin places a person beyond redemption. Healing, renewal, and purity are available through Christ to all who turn to Him in faith. Many believers come to Christ with past experiences that do not align with God’s design, and the gospel offers both forgiveness and the power for transformation.
Our church does not exist to shame individuals for past choices, but to call people forward into the freedom that comes through obedience to Christ. Purity is not simply the absence of past mistakes; it is the present commitment to honor God with one’s life moving forward.
In addition, the church does not seek to control the personal choices of individuals or relationships. Each person remains responsible before God for their own decisions and conduct. However, when individuals invite pastoral guidance and accountability into their lives, our leadership is committed to providing biblical counsel, support, and encouragement toward living in alignment with God’s Word.
Our aim is not merely behavioral compliance, but heart transformation. True purity flows from a renewed heart that desires to honor God, value others, and live according to His design for relationships.