1. Be sexually pure because it is right. Sexual purity is used in Revelation 14:1-5 to express righteousness. Genesis 1:26-31 and 2:18-25 make it clear that marriage is the only relationship designed for the expression of intimate sexuality (so do many other Bible passages). Defilement comes from sexual relationships outside of marriage.
2. Be sexually pure to maintain your dignity, self-respect and honor. To be honorable, one must live honorably. Marriage dignifies intimate privileges according to Hebrews 13:4. All other sexual relationships amount to fornication regardless of how right or innocent they may feel at the time. There is nothing honorable about them.
3. Be sexually pure to reaffirm the value of self-discipline. A person of character will control their passions. Any alley cat can do otherwise. Talk to God about times of temptation before they come and also when you're in the middle of them. 1st Corinthians 10:13 teaches that He is faithful to help those who want to do right in such times by providing a means of escape.
4. Be sexually pure to know that you are saving your body for the marital pleasure God meant for you and your mate to experience together. A Godly marital relationship is better than fornication in every way. Your virginity, whether male or female, is the most unique gift you can give your mate. and you can only give it away one time. Don't sacrifice such a gift on the altar of immaturity, foolishness and weakness. The pleasure of godly sexuality is too valuable to taint. See 1st Corinthians 6:13-7:5 on this.
5. Be sexually pure to avoid being a hypocrite. Don't you want to marry someone who's pure? What if your future mate is presently behaving just like you? Can you hold them to a higher standard than the one to which you hold yourself?
6. Be sexually pure to avoid becoming responsible for a child. Child bearing and rearing are very demanding, very difficult, very demanding, very expensive and very demanding even under the best of circumstances. Get the point? Worse yet, how would you like to be that child? There are no illegitimate children, just illegitimate parents. And don't be tempted to believe that being the male resolves you of any responsibility. God expects you to be responsible and He knows where you live. Paul writes in 1st Timothy 5:8 that those who do not provide for their own are worse than unbelievers. Abortion? Why add killing your own child to the sin of fornication?
7. Be sexually pure to avoid the problems of diseases associated with sexual promiscuity. Proverbs 6:20-28 likens immoral sexual behavior to walking on fire, or putting fire inside your clothing. Don't fool yourself. You will get burned. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, genital warts, Human Papa Loma virus, syphilis, and AIDS are just some of the surprise rewards awaiting the unchaste. Who do you think designed these diseases, and for what purpose? Some of them are incurable. Ever wonder why? Even worse are the emotional, spiritual and inter-relational side effects that no medicine can touch. And remember that any one of these plagues will tend to mar the sanctity and closeness of any future relationship.
8. Be sexually pure to encourage your children to do the same. How many young people have reasoned, “My folks did it, so what can they say?” Help your children stand strong in some future temptation by providing them a Godly example of strength, character and self-control.
9. Be sexually pure in order to bring a blessing on our nation. Proverbs 14:34 teaches us that righteousness exalts a nation but that sin is a reproach to any people. Why would God continue to bless and protect any nation whose people forsake His design and rebel against His will regarding one of the most intimate gifts He has given mankind? Why would He stand with a nation of people who reject His loving plan for sexual fulfillment and choose instead to be promiscuous?
10. Be sexually pure to inherit the kingdom of God. Jesus, apostle was clear in 1st Corinthians 10:6-9 that fornicators (and others who embraced different sins) would not inherit the kingdom of heaven. The one who blessed us with the pleasure of sexuality in the first place has prepared an even better life for us in the spiritual realms. You don't want to miss that!
Convinced? I hope so. But if not, buy a good health insurance policy, and then a life insurance policy. Get the names of a couple of good mental health counselors, prepaid legal and adoption agencies, plus one of those prearranged funerals. Have the mortician fit you with a nice suit. Make it asbestos. Lest you think me too harsh, consider first how we can ignore what God says so clearly about sin, and still expect to be blessed with a good life on earth and eternal life in the end? Do what is right. God blesses the faithful. He always has.