Are sexual desires inherently sinful?

from the old testament

• God created all things, including humanity with their sexual desires, and said that it was good (Genesis 1:27-28, 31).
• In the garden of Eden before sin entered the world, God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him" (Genesis 2:18). God then provided for this need by fashioning a woman whom Adam recognized as "bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh" (Genesis 2:23). Upon seeing the woman, Adam had a visceral reaction, recognizing a fellow human with whom he could fellowship in a unique way.
• Genesis 2:25 records, "the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed." Being together and desiring human connection–in this case sexual connection between a husband and wife–was nothing to be ashamed of and constituted no sin.
• In the Song of Solomon, God provides an intimate illustration of the love and sexual desire between a husband and wife. In Song of Solomon 5:16, the wife proclaims about her husband, "he is altogether desirable." Later in Song of Solomon 7:10 she states, "I am my beloved's, and his desire is for me." Both the husband and wife feel sexual desire for the other, and this is good.
• In the middle of this poetic ode to love, God pronounces a blessing over their sexual relationship. In Song of Solomon 5:1, the "others" declare, "Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love!" This pronouncement echoes what God said in the garden of Eden in Genesis 1:28, "And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.'" God is the creator of sex, and He has blessed the sexual desires and sexual union of married couples.
• Proverbs 5 contrasts the goodness of sexual desire within marriage against the wickedness of indulging those desires outside of marriage. Regarding his wife, a son is advised,, "Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love” (Proverbs 5:19). But he is warned against desire for another woman: "Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?… He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray" (Proverbs 5:20, 23). Just like the son, we are called to exercise self-discipline in sexual desire.
• Our sexual desires are ultimately meant to help us understand God more fully. God often refers to Himself as a husband and to His people as a wife (Hosea 2:16; Isaiah 54:6).

from the new testament

• When Paul wrote to the Corinthians he explained that "if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion" (1 Corinthians 7:9). Sexual desire itself is not sinful; rather, the way in which we handle the desire determines whether we sin.
• Paul reiterates, "if his passions are strong… let them marry—it is no sin. But whoever is firmly established in his heart… having his desire under control,… keep her as his betrothed, he will do well" (1 Corinthians 7:36-37). The options then are to marry and indulge sexual desire in the way God intended or to keep that desire under control.
• Marriage and all that it entails, including sexual desires, help us understand God more fully. Paul writes, "'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church" (Ephesians 5:31-32). God desires to be united with His people and for His people to passionately desire Him.
• Jesus prayed for this depth of unity in John 17 when He said, "I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me" (John 17:23).

implications for today

Sexual desires according to God’s plan and purposes are good, not inherently sinful. Knowing this frees us from shame and allows us to approach our sexuality with honesty and thankfulness. For example, if you’re single and struggling with attraction, you can acknowledge those feelings without guilt; they’re part of how God made you—but also choose to exercise self-control by turning your thoughts and actions to God and setting healthy boundaries so you can honor Him with your sexual desires. If you’re married, expressing sexual desire for your spouse is not only good but reflects the intimacy God designed for marriage, so prioritizing intimacy in your relationship becomes a spiritual act of love.

We shouldn’t fall into the traps of either repressing our desires or indulging them outside of God's design. If you find yourself battling lust or temptation, that’s a chance to invite God into the struggle, asking for strength and practicing disciplines like avoiding triggering media or seeking accountability. If you’re in a season of waiting, you can recognize your desires and choose to use your energy, passion, and time to cultivate a deeper relationship with God, love others well, and find other ways to use your mind and body to honor Him. We are called to glorify God in our bodies and desires, giving Him thanks for how He created us.