Sample Memory Verses
We have compiled a list of Scriptures that will help you either strengthen your commitment to sexual purity and help you to make the commitment to save sex for marriage.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version. Other quotations are taken from the King James Version and the New American Standard Version.
| Lust | |
| 2 Timothy 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. |
| Romans 13:14 | Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. |
| James 1:14 | …but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. |
| Matthew 5:28 | But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. |
Temptation | |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | 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. |
| James 1:2-3 | Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. |
| James 1:12 | Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. |
| James 1:13 | When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; |
| James 4:7 | Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. |
Heart | |
| Matthew 15:19 | For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. |
| Psalms 37:4 | Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. |
| Proverbs 4:23 | Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. |
| Proverbs 23:7a, KJV | For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. |
| Mark 7:21 | For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery… |
Body | |
| 1 Corinthians 10:8 | We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did–and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. |
| Romans 8:13 | For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, |
| 1 Corinthians 3:16 | Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? |
| 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 | Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 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; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. |
| Mind | |
| Romans 16:19b | Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. |
| Philippians 4:8 | 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. |
| Colossians 3:16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. |
| Colossians 3:2 | Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. |
| Romans 12:2 | Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. |
Eyes | |
| Job 31:1 | I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. |
| Psalms 101:3a | I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. |
| Proverbs 27:20 | Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man. |
| Matthew 6:22-23 | The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! |
Love-Purity | |
| 1 Timothy 1:5 | The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. |
| 1 Peter 1:22 | Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. |
Mouth | |
| Matthew 12:34b | For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. |
| Ephesians 5:3-4 | But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. |
| Judges 16:16, NAS | It came about when she pressed him daily with her words and urged him, that his soul was annoyed to death. |
| Proverbs 7:21 | With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. |
Sin | |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:22 | Avoid every kind of evil. |
| Galatians 5:19 | The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; |
| Colossians 3:5 | Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. |
| Hebrews 11:25 | He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. |
| Proverbs 14:12 | There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. |
| Galatians 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. |
| 2 Corinthians 6:14 | Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? |
| Proverbs 13:20 | He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. |
Purity-Holiness | |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:3 | It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:7 | For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. |
| 1 Peter 1:15-16 | But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” |
| Ephesians 6:11 | Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. |
| 1 Corinthians 3:13 | …his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. |
