Ponder this, those first two people. The Bible elaborates in the next chapter on how they came into being at his command — how, after God created the man and put him in the Garden of Eden, he saw it was “not good” for the man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). So he determined he would create a helper fit for the man, causing the man to fall into a deep sleep, taking one of his ribs, and then forming a woman from the man.

The man exclaimed, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” (v. 23).

Because of this, the Bible tells us, a man shall leave his father and his mother and “hold fast” to his wife, and they shall “become one flesh” (v. 24).

What a beautiful, intimate picture of a marriage this shares — two people, parts of one whole, with God at the center.

Today, marriages are not always like this initial design. Men and women often fight to retain the self, forgetting they are supposed to be one wedded body. Distractions and worldly issues press in, threatening to tear apart what God united.

There is one important thing uniquely designed for marriage, however, that can help remind a couple physically, emotionally, and spiritually of their extraordinary, God-ordained marriage bond: Sex.

Whether we call it making love, bedroom intimacy, marital relations or any other name, sex within the boundaries of a marriage is a wonderful, God-orchestrated thing. God created sex, and like all things God created, it both glorifies and pleases him when it is pure and right.

The Bible is filled with much instruction about improper sex, from immorality and obscenity to sex outside the bonds of marriage, and with all the warnings about consequences of improper sex, sometimes we don’t pay enough attention to the good things God has to say about sex within a marriage.

But make no mistake: Sex is extremely important in a marriage, fostering intimacy and glorifying the Lord like nothing else.

Here, let’s explore seven reasons sex is critically important in marriage.

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