What's Wrong with Living Together Before Marriage?
A Message From Pastor Zieroth:
Living in a self-centered, pleasure-oriented society, young Christian couples find it increasingly difficult to uphold the true, Biblical standards of righteousness and morality in our land.
God’s standard is clear, and it is still best. “Let marriage be held in honor among all and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for Godwill judge the immoral and adulterous.” (Heb. 13:4).
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The frequency of couples living together today apart from the marriage bond is alarming, and the flippancy of their attitude to do so is even more frightening. “Well, what’s wrong with living together before marriage anyway?” they ask. “It’s our life!” Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about it:
1. God calls it sin. Fornication is defined as “sexual intercourse between unmarried persons.” The Bible condemns fornication as immoral (1 Cor. 6:9; Eph. 5:3; Heb. 13:4).
2. The proper place for sexing God’s good design of marriage is to consummate the marriage bond and thereafter to serve as a means of conceiving children and enjoying marital intimacy. Any deviation from this model is a violation of God’s law with serious consequences.
3. Christians call Christ their Master. They submit to Him as Lord. Therefore, they do not and cannot do exactly as they please. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.” (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
4. Sex without the binding commitment of marriage cheapens both the sanctity of sex and the sacredness of marriage. It also cheapens oneself and the other person involved. Love without commitment is not really love at all, but rather lust.
5. All violations of God’s standards of morality carry consequences with them. Some of the many consequences of the sin of fornication are misplaced trust, unplanned pregnancy, , “forced” marriages, venereal disease, and difficulty in adjusting within marriage with the greater risk of eventual divorce. In addition, there is the negative Christian witness which the lifestyle presents to the world.
God’s standard is clear, and it is still best. “Let marriage be held in honor among all and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for Godwill judge the immoral and adulterous.” (Heb. 13:4).
Have you fallen into the trap of sexual intimacy before marriage? If so, don’t despair, for there is still hope. Jesus Christ died to save sinners and forgive them of sins against the Sixth Commandment, as well as all others.
So, recognize your sin in the light of God’s Word. Repent of it and confess your wrong doings to God. Be assured, that when you confess your sin to Him, He is faithful and just ot forgive you your sin and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Seek the Lord and His strength to live a sanctified life, dedicated to a loving Lord. There is no life more glorious!!