While there are no direct statements in the Bible that will tell you in one clear sentence what God thinks about premarital sex, it becomes clear in light of God's view of sex. It would be impossible to fit in a single book simple, one-liner answers to all life's questions, but those that know their Bible WILL find the answers they're looking for.
Genesis 2:24 says: " For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."
God teaches that sex is much more than just an enjoyable physical act without lasting consequences, and, deny it as they might, I think people know deep down in their hearts that this is true. According to the Bible sex creates a bond between man and woman, who are meant to be husband and wife. The verse does not explicitly say "have to be husband and wife", but if you're looking for loopholes and not answers, they you will find them even in much more precise definitions. Anyway, since man and woman become one flesh, and there is no mention of them becoming separated afterwards, I believe that the bond is indeed permanent and will not be severed even after the breaking up of a relationship. How this bond manifests itself in people who have more than one sexual partner, I do not know, but, speaking as a married man, I can tell you that I know the bond, the connection, whatever you want to call it, is real.
(Before anyone jumps in with arguments about rapists and their victims, let me add that God is a gracious God and I believe He would save the victim from being bonded to a rapist. He does not erase the consequences of ALL evil deeds, however...)
I also know that being separated from the person you have become one with is extremely painful mentally and spiritually, and obviously not meant to be since the bond is permanent. God would not want His children to go through such pain and suffering. Now, on to premarital sex.
Some could argue that two people who are madly in love and are definitely getting married in the future should not have to refrain from having sex, but until the moment they utter their wedding vows, they cannot be sure that they WILL get married. One can never know what tomorrow holds. If they truly love one another, they would want to avoid causing each other the pain I was talking about. Their plans for their future are uncertain, but the bond created in the sexual act is not, it will be there whether they do get married or not.
So, I believe it is God's desire for all of us to be bonded to one and only one person, our spouse. Like Paul says:
" 'Everything is permissible for me' -- but not everything is beneficial."(1 Cor. 6:12) It is really the desire of our hearts that decides whether we are sinning or not. If our desires are aligned with God's, we are in His will and are considered righteous. If not - you know the rest.
