Living Together Before Marriage? Good Question

 

Hello Friends. If you read my post yesterday, you know that the evening before, I had an accident in my home. So, I took yesterday off from creating content. I pretty much stayed in bed all day yesterday and am still not up to par. However, I am a bit better today and want to continue the question about living together before marriage.

I have a site that I will be going to for a few days to see what biblical and perhaps their own opinions as to why a couple should not live together until marriage. 

For today, I will just give you their short introduction and then continue on each day with their points. 

I know for those of you that this subject is not an issue because you are married, perhaps it will help you to know what to say to those in your own circle of family and friends that are involved in this kind of relationship or considering it,

So, let's get right into it.

Why Christians Shouldn't Live Together Before Marriage

You’ve met an amazing guy and you’re debating moving in together.

Or maybe you and your boyfriend are already living together, but you’re starting to wonder whether you should live together and if it’s okay for Christians to live together without being married.

What does the bible say about living together before marriage? Is living together a sin?

Should Christians live together before marriage? And is it really a big deal?

In this blog post, we will talk about Christians living together before marriage, including:

• What the Bible says about living together unmarried
• Whether living together before marriage is a sin
• What to do if you are already living together before marriage
• Living together but not sleeping together
• Whether you should live together while engaged
• Sleeping in the same bed before marriage

(source)

Fun & Holy

https://www.funandholy.com

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Thanks for coming by today, Friends. Have a blessed day! And remember, God is always faithful

Post update, /an accident

 Hello Friends. I am not going to post content today. I took a fall last evening at my home. Thank the Lord I didn't break anything and it could have been much worse. But I am pretty sore today and am just going to take it easy.

I will probably post tomorrow but will see how I am feeling then.

Have a blessed day.

Is This Sin?

 

Why is living together before marriage considered a sin?

This question could be much more easily answered if the Bible made a clear proclamation such as “living together before marriage or outside of marriage is living in sin.” Since the Bible makes no such definitive statement, many (including some who profess to be Christians) claim that living together outside of marriage is not living in sin. Perhaps the reason the Bible does not make a clear statement is that, in Bible times, the arrangement of unmarried people living as husband and wife was relatively rare, especially among the Jews and Christians. For the purposes of this article, when we refer to living together, we are referring to living together in the sense of living as husband and wife, including sexual relations, without being married. We are not referring to a man and woman living in the same house without sexual relations.

While the Bible does not make an explicit statement about living in sin, that is not to say the Bible is completely silent on this issue. Rather, we have to put several Scriptures together and glean from them the principle that any sexuality outside of the marriage of one man and one woman is sin. There are numerous Scriptures that declare God’s prohibition of sexual immorality (Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 5:1; 6:13, 18; 10:8; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Jude 7). The Greek word translated “sexual immorality” or “fornication” in these verses is porneia, and it means literally “unlawful lust.” Since the only form of lawful sexuality is the marriage of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5), then anything outside of marriage, whether it is adultery, premarital sex, homosexuality, or anything else, is unlawful, in other words, sin. Living together before marriage definitely falls into the category of fornication—sexual sin.

Hebrews 13:4 describes the honorable state of marriage: “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” This verse draws a clear distinction between that which is pure and honorable—marriage—and that which is sexually immoral—anything outside of marriage. As living together outside of marriage falls into this category, it is sin. Anyone living together outside of lawful marriage invites the displeasure and judgment of God.

(source: gotquestions.org)

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There is another site that has more to say on this subject that I feel has some pretty good information. However, it is a bit longer than the one I am providing today. So, starting tomorrow, I will break it up into shorter pieces for us to think on. 

In the meantime, have a wonderful and blessed day today.

Amen!!

What Does God Say About it...

Consider this situation:

You have met and started dating a man or woman of a different race.

Hopefully, you and this person are Christians

And you fall in love with each other and start talking marriage.

You want to live in a marriage that edifies God and raise your family to serve Him.

But there is a problem because you are different races.

You want to know if God will honor such a marriage.

So you decide to seek out just what does He think about interracial marriages?

Well, here is a bit of info that you can start with:

What does the Bible say about interracial marriage?

Interracial marriage is really a misnomer. There is only one race — the human race. But, since inter-ethnic marriage and inter-skin-color marriage haven't caught on as alternate terms, I'll go with interracial marriage. Like most of the articles in the GotQuestions.org Top 20, this one can stir up some pretty heated arguments and strong emotions.

In Deuteronomy 7:3, speaking of the Israelites' relationship with the inhabitants of the promised land, God commands, "You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons." There are many other Old Testament scriptures that warned the Israelites against intermarriage with the inhabitants of the land of Canaan. Some look at those scriptures and come to the conclusion that it was a racial issue. I disagree. It was a religious issue. God did not want interracial marriage between the Israelites and Canaanites because, "for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods" (Deuteronomy 7:4). It had nothing to do with skin color. It was entirely a matter of the Canaanites worshipping false gods and having evil and immoral religious practices.

The New Testament nowhere speaks about interracial marriage. It does, however, clarify the Old Testament commands. Second Corinthians 6:14 states, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" First Corinthians 15:33 says, "Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character." There is no more intimate "company" than your spouse. There is no stronger yoke than marriage. Just as the Israelites were not to intermarry with those who did not believe in the one true God, so are Christians not to intermarry with those who do not believe in the one true God. Believers are not to marry unbelievers because it hinders our faith and disrupts our relationship with God.

There are some who argue that since God separated the races at the Tower of Babel, the races should remain separate. Problem — the Tower of Babel speaks of God separating people by language, not race. There are some who argue that interracial marriage should be avoided due to the prejudice the couple will receive, whether from their families or from the surrounding culture. Problem — since when do we allow the unbiblical beliefs of others to be the determining factor in our decisions?

So, if the Bible does not speak against interracial marriage, does that mean interracial marriage is always a good thing? Not necessarily. In regards to interracial marriage, I am an advocate of the "eyes wide open" approach. An interracial couple should fully understand the risks of interracial marriage. Whether it is racism, prejudice, discrimination, or simply the disapproving glances, an interracial couple needs to consider these issues and decide accordingly. It is sad that these issues exist, but they have to be taken into account. In some, maybe even most, parts of the world, interracial marriage is strongly discouraged.

Ultimately, interracial marriage is a decision that should be made between the couple and God. Of course, the couple should take the feelings of their family into account, but since there is no biblical command against interracial marriage, it is a matter of Christian freedom.

(source: gotquestions.org)

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My humble thoughts on this situation:

I am certainly not against marriage between different races.

However, it is something that two people really need to consider and pray about before they marry.

Years ago and a young married woman myself, we met a couple in church that were interracial. 

He was black and she was white.

They were such a nice couple and  we could see how much they loved each other.

However, there were problems within their extended family. 

While the black man's family liked her,

the white family did not like him.

Now, please don't misunderstand.

It could very well have been the other way around.

And I am sure it happens both ways in a lot of marriages.

But that is the way it was in theirs.

And it caused a distress for them.

So very sad.

As I think back on that time, 

I wonder what happened with them.

Eventually we had moved to a different area and

lost contact with them.

Did their marriage stand the tests that

came on them?

Or did those tests crumble their marriage?

I don't know.

But, what I do know is

that marriage should never be taken 

lightly. 

No matter what the situation.

And sadly, it too often

it is.

When I was 18 and knew that in a few months

I would be married, I thought it was going 

to be fun. Like playing house.

It makes me chuckle to myself as I think about that.

Because here, all these years later I can.

But back then?

Back then it became all to apparent 

very quickly 

that marriage was not the same

as playing house. 

And the thing was, we were both white.

So we didn't even have those kinds of problems 

that the couple had, that we met at church.

So no matter what, in any situation

don't rush into marriage, no matter what situation you are in.

Take your time.

Do a lot of soul searching.

Above all, do a lot of praying.

And get some good Bible grounded

counseling.

Thanks for coming by today, Friends.

Have a blessed day!

Please note: I am not a licensed marriage counselor of any kind. All of my personal opinions are given from my own experience in my own marriage.

Biblical Marriage

 

Having a Balanced Biblical Marriage

Our marriages need to be balanced, but we often tend to one of two extremes: becoming too "couple-focused" or drifting apart.

Let's look at the selfish-focus first:
Did you know we can take Genesis 2:24 too far? It happens when we use this verse as an excuse to become "couple-selfish" or overly “couple-centered.”

Some signs that we're a selfish couple:

1. We no longer have same-sex friendships and are jealous if our spouse does.
2. We neglect parents, extended family, church and/or community relationships.
3. We accommodate our spouse's selfishness, jealousy, and/or laziness.
4. We always put our spouse’s desires above the needs and desires of others.

Marriage is “becoming one” with a purpose, but the purpose is not selfishness, separatism, or isolation. 

We must "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:1-2

If you realize you've become too couple-selfish in your marriage relationship, I encourage you to pray for God's help in overcoming that problem.

And that leads us to the second problem which is far more common: the problem of growing apart as a couple, finding less joy in our marriage relationship, and taking our spouse for granted. 

If this is your problem, note the importance that God places on our marriage relationship and how it is tied to important concepts of our faith:

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her… husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself… each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” from Ephesians 5:25-32

"For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands...Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers." from 1 Peter 3:1-7  

I also encourage you to read Shades of Gray Divorce which addresses the common problem of couples suffering an "emotional divorce." 

Marriage allows us to bring a complimentary blend of masculine and feminine gifts to everything we do as a couple.

We can stay balanced if we put God first and seek His daily purposes and priorities in our lives and marriages. If your marriage is out of balance, I encourage you to seek God's help in placing it in proper priority.

(Source: bible love notes)

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Friends, I have to tell you. I wish I had read this article before my husband passed away in 2022. Please take it to heart.

Because if you let things go while your mate is still alive and then he or she passes away, you can live with much regret when God faces you with unresolved issues.

Take it from me.

The good news though, is this:

If you don't work on your marriage before hand, (or you haven't in the past)

and your mate passes (or has already passed) away.

You can confess your part in it and then stand on

the following passage of scripture:

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2

Amen and Amen!!

Thanks for coming by today, Friends.

Have a blessed day in Jesus!

Love: God's Way

 

                                                  Happy Valentines, Friends.

I hope you are celebrating it with those that you love.

Today's content is about love.

Love, God's way.

And according to what His Word says.

Please read on:

What does the Bible say about love?

The Bible has a great deal to say about love. In fact, the Bible says that “love is of God” and “God is love” (1 John 4:7–8); in other words, love is a fundamental characteristic of who God is. Everything God does is impelled and influenced by His love.

The Bible uses several different words for “love” in the Hebrew and Greek, interchanging them depending on context. Some of these words mean “affectionate love”; others indicate “friendship”; and still others, “erotic, sexual love.” There is also a distinct word for the type of love that God displays. In the Greek, this word is agape, and it refers to a benevolent and charitable love that seeks the best for the loved one.

The Bible gives many examples of love: the caring provision of Boaz for Ruth; the deep friendship of David and Jonathan; the poetic, passionate love of Solomon and the Shulamite; the enduring commitment of Hosea to Gomer; the fatherly love of Paul for Timothy and John for the church; and, of course, the sacrificial, saving love of Christ for the elect.

Agape, the benevolent, selfless love that God shows, is mentioned often in the New Testament, including in the “love chapter,” 1 Corinthians 13. There, love’s characteristics are listed: love is patient and kind; love doesn’t envy, boast, or dishonor others; love is not proud or self-seeking; love is not easily angered, doesn’t keep a record of wrongs, and doesn’t delight in evil; rather, love rejoices with the truth; love always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres; love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4–8). Of the greatest of God’s gifts, faith, hope, and love, “the greatest . . . is love” (verse 13).

The Bible says that God was motivated by love to save the world (John 3:16). God’s love is best seen in the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf (1 John 4:9). And God’s love does not require us to be “worthy” to receive it; His love is truly benevolent and gracious: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

The Bible says that, since true love is part of God’s nature, God is the source of love. He is the initiator of a loving relationship with us. Any love we have for God is simply a response to His sacrificial love for us: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Our human understanding of love is flawed, weak, and incomplete, but the more we look at Jesus, the better we understand true love.

The Bible says that God’s love for us in Christ has resulted in our being brought into His family: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1). Just as the father in the parable showed love to his prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32), so our Heavenly Father receives us with joy when we come to Him in faith. He makes us “accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6, NKJV).

The Bible says that we are to love others the way that God loves us. We are to love the family of God (1 Peter 2:17). We are to love our enemies—that is, we are to actively seek what is best for them (Matthew 5:44). Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25). As we show benevolent, selfless love, we reflect God’s love to a lost and dying world. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

The Bible says that our love for God is related to our obedience of Him: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3; cf. John 14:15). We serve God out of love for Him. And God’s love for us enables us to obey Him freely, without the burden of guilt or the fear of punishment.

First John 4:18 says that “perfect love drives out fear” (this is again the word agape). The dismissal of the fear of condemnation is one of the main functions of God’s love. The person without Christ is under judgment and has plenty to fear (John 3:18), but once a person is in Christ, the fear of judgment is gone. Part of understanding the love of God is knowing that God’s judgment fell on Jesus at the cross so we can be spared. Jesus described Himself as the Savior: “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17). The very next verse reminds us that the only person who must fear judgment is the one who rejects Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that nothing can separate the believer from the love of God in Christ (Romans 8:38–39). God’s love does not wax and wane; it is not a fickle, emotional sensation. God’s love for sinners is why Christ died on the cross. God’s love for those who trust in Christ is why He holds them in His hand and promises never to let them go (John 10:29).

(source: gotquestions.org)

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Sometimes even after years of loving God, I am still amazed that He loves me. 

Why does He?

I don't understand it.

But I know by His Word

that He does.

And He loves you as well.

Because of His love,

we then can love others.

Thanks for coming by today, Friends 

Monday's s post will be on marriage.

Have a blessed and Happy Valentines Day

New Bible Studies Coming

Hello Friends. I am going to change the direction of my content starting tomorrow. (2/14)

I will be looking up and posting some different topics that I hope will be of interest to all of us.

Since tomorrow is Valentines Day, we will begin with and find out what the Bible says about Love and Marriage.

I hope you will join me. Thanks for stopping by. I pray that you are blessed today as this day continues.