God says ‘that it is not good for the man to dwell alone’ (Gen 2:18), therefore he created a wife for Adam.
I agree a man needs to find a wife and a woman needs to find a husband. Paul says that if an unmarried person cannot exercise self-control 1 they should marry. (1Co 7:8-9 ESV) To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. (9) But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion. Paul says something along similar lines later in Ch 7. (1Co 7:36-37 ESV) If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry–it is no sin. (37) But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well.
(1 Th 4:3-7 NIV) It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; {4} that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, {5} not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; {6} and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. {7} For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
(Titus 2:6 NIV) Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.
(1 Cor 7:2 NIV) But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. \
(Prov 18:22 NIV) He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
In 1 Cor 6:12, Paul says ‘”Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything’. If we become slaves to a bad habit, then we are not in control of our body.
(1 Cor 6:12-13 NIV) “Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything. {13} “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”–but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
(1 Cor 7:1-4 NIV) Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. {2} But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. {3} The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. {4} The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
(Phil 4:7-8 NIV) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {8} Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
In 1 Th 4:4-5 Paul tells us that “each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God”. Also in 2 Tim 2:22 Paul’s advice to Timothy, is to flee the evil desires of youth, and a positive command is introduced , which is to pursue righteousness, faith love and peace.
(Titus 2:6) Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.
2 Tim 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
(1 Cor 6:15-20 NIV) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! {16} Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” {17} But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. {18} Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. {19} Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; {20} you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Again the problem here is that the Corinthians were going to a prostitute and becoming one body, or one flesh with the prostitute. Paul argues that our bodies are a member of Christ himself, and that we should not unite them with a prostitute. He is sinning against his body by uniting it with a prostitute. This is certainly not the case with masturbation. However perhaps 1 Cor 6:19-20 are more relevant to masturbation, we are not our own, we were bought at a price, therefore we should honour God with our body. It is hard to see that masturbation is honoring to God, while sex within marriage is.
(Mat 5:28 NIV) But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
(Job 31:1 NIV) “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.
(Mat 5:29 NIV) If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
(Phil 4:8 NIV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
(Prov 24:16 NIV) for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
(Mat 18:21-22 NIV) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” {22} Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
(Heb 2:17-18 NIV) For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. {18} Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Heb 3:1 NIV) Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
(Heb 12:4 NIV) In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
(1 Cor 10:13 NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
(Prov 5:18-20 NIV) May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. {19} A loving doe, a graceful deer– may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. {20} Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man’s wife?
(1 Tim 4:1-5 NIV) The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. {2} Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. {3} They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. {4} For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, {5} because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
1Co 7:33-34 ESV But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, (34) and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.
1Co 7:12-16 ESV To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. (13) If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. (14) For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. (15) But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. (16) Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?
(1 Cor 6:13 NIV) “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”–but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
see also http://thefocusonthefamily.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/the-false-divorce-incentives/
http://postedat.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/todd-bentley-someone-has-to-say-it-to-you/
