The seriousness of sexual relations before marriage

Question:

How serious is the sin of sexual relations before you officiate your marriage ceremony, if the intentions were initially directed to marriage and eventually we got married?

God qualifies this as fornication and so, the consequences are neither more nor less than those of everyone who has committed the sin of sexual immorality. It is written in the Scriptures:

Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13:4)(NASB)

According to this passage, sexual relations before marriage, or fornication, dishonor marriage and defile the marriage bed, that is the marital relationship of the two who get married. They will have remorse of conscience, shame of each other that they should not have and that will prevent them from enjoying their physical relationship.

Therefore, nobody should be deceived by this thought that it does not matter whether you have sex before marriage since you are going to marry. Do not sacrifice your marriage and your relationship. Better go and talk to your parents about your desire to get married, put the wedding date, perform the wedding ceremony, as it should be and then enjoy of each other for the rest of your life.

Translated by Felicia Rotaru