Will there be sex in heaven?

Question:

My friend and I were up late recently. We like to have conversations on spiritual matters or currents debates. We started talking about what we imagine Heaven to be like. He mentioned there would be sex in heaven. I was so surprised. I asked him if he really thought there to be sex in heaven. He said he hopes so. I've never really heard another Christian think so. I asked him why he thought that and he said he can't see God making something good like sex (by good I mean good as in God made it, and he saw it was good kind of good) and after Jesus comes back that He would just "flush sex down the toilet." I told him sex is meant for married couples, and you are not married in heaven, though there is a sort of marriage between God and His church. He said Heaven will be just like Earth but without sin; therefore, we'll still have sex. I said, "but you're not married. 'Til death do us part.'" He says "what if we get married here on Earth and it's not the true one we're meant to be with or we just never find them in this life but will meet them for sure Heaven and marry." I say "But there can't be much of a point in it by then. I hope there isn't sex in heaven." He said, "You really don't want sex in heaven? Why not? Have you been fed too much 'sex is bad' talk from the modern-day church teachings?" I said "No, I guess I'd rather just be independent in heaven. Jesus and I then everyone else." We agreed to disagree for now. What do you have to say about this?

Answer:

I think it would be best if both of you looked at what God said instead of using your opinions to make your points. I know some of it is based on Scripture, but because you did not go back to the source, a simple point became complex.

Sex is a part of this physical world in order that God's creation is able to self-replicate. To that end, God made most of animal life and mankind into male and female. "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth" " (Genesis 1:27-28). Reproducing is important when we are not designed to live forever. "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day" (II Corinthians 4:16).

Jesus said, "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven" (Matthew 22:30). I suspect that likely in the spiritual world we will not be divided into male and female roles. The need for reproduction will not be there because we will be living eternally.

Your friend is wrong to assume that heaven is like life on earth but just without sin. "So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption" (I Corinthians 15:42-50). Our spiritual bodies will not be physical. I would no more expect there to be sex than I would expect there will eating, drinking, and sleeping. These are all things that result from having a physical body.

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