I once read an article about sexual purity that compared people to cars. You've probably heard this metaphor before: When a car leaves a dealership and goes to an owner, the value drops by at least thirty percent. In the same way, when a person loses his or her virginity, your value also goes down.

But is there truth to that illustration or is it just something that we use to get teenagers scared of premarital sex? What if a person already lost their virginity before coming to Christ? What if they were abused? Are they less valuable now?

I get the well-meaning point and objective of such an illustration, but I don't think it's true at all. If there's one thing that the enemy wants you to forget it's your intrinsic and imputed value now given to Christ.

On the topic of sexual purity, Paul has to say this in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." We must always be reminded of the price Jesus paid for every aspect of our being including our sexuality.

The greatest problem today when it comes to purity is our lack of value on it. We think that because we've already fooled around before or fallen for lustful thoughts that we've blown it big time and might as well treat ourselves like damaged goods. But God does not think you're damaged goods. The Bible tells us that you were "bought at a price" and the price was no less than the blood of Jesus Christ. Nothing and no one could ever be more valuable than that and that value is now on you.

Realising this value we now have in Christ, however, should never cause us to abuse grace, but rather inspire us to live up to it. While no one is perfect and sanctification does not happen overnight, God does promise that when we put our faith in Him, He not only washes us clean and makes us new. He also gives us new desires and a stronger will to stand up to sexual immorality and temptation.

No amount of sin can ever affect your worth as long as your faith remains in Christ. Through Jesus, we are now considered sons and daughters valued and adored. You are not slaves trying to pay off your sins, but children enjoying the grace and forgiveness made available because Christ paid the price once and for all. 2 Corinthians 6:18 says, "and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."