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There is one thing worse than not being a virgin when you get married. Dying one. If people think God approves of that, I’ve got news for them.

So you imply that is it worse to be a virgin at death than to commit fornication.

Wow! How unlike our pure savior, higher than the heavens, who hated sin so intensely - fornication included - that he was willing to sacrifice himself in order to destroy the power of sin.

By his life and example, the apostle Paul apparently didn't agree with you. I think I regard Paul's judgment more than I respect yours.

Hebrews 7 21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. 1 ¶ Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Thanks for the post. I have given consideration to sex outside of marriage, and I'm not a big fan of it. It does happen. If it happens with the person the second party has made a committment with and later marries, I'm not convinced God views the person to be worthy of enternal damnation for the commission.

If we're talking about men or women who look for pleasure only and no committment, then I think we call can agree this is wrong, and carries a lot more negative weight with it.

Yes Jesus did refrain from sex. I believe he did so for a number of reasons.

Out of wedlock sex was wrong.
Out of wedlock sex not intending to marry would be worse.
Bringing children into this world as his children, him being the Son of God, would have put a tremendous burden on them.
Marrying a woman would have put a tremenous burden on her.
Either of these would have caused pain to the wife and the children.
Imagine the early church having to deal with Jesus' wife and children
It would have been nearly impossible for that dynamic to work out well

I believe Jesus knew all this. I think it impacted his decisions.

Does your average run of the mill Christian have these dynamics to deal with? No. For that reason, as it relates to marriage and sexuality, I don't believe Christ is our Model here. He certainly didn't expect us all to lead celibute lives. I don't think He expected us to forgo having children, because He did.

.I'm not here to compete with Paul. I would urge you to respect Paul.

I don't urge you to respect me.

These are my thoughts. You don't have to agree.