Premarital sex? Does it exist?

Many a God-fearing teenager faces the question of sexuality in one or another form.
Maybe you have a girlfriend and you would like to have sex with her.
Maybe you don't have a girlfriend but would like to have sex "casually", like the world does.
Maybe you are engaged, and wondering if you should have sex before the night after the wedding.
Whatever your question is, it usually comes down to: what is sex, and where does it belong.

The bible is the ultimate authority in a believer's life, going even above any authority in your church. Finding God's plan for sexuality is a long journey into one's self and the heart of God. We must distinguish the right and wrong motives in our heart, while remembering the desire of God's heart. First, let me share a couple of true stories with you.

A young woman, lets call her Anna, is living with a man but not officially married. They've been together for years, and its going well. Then she comes to faith in Jesus Messiah and is reborn. An older lady gives her advice to leave her companion, simply because he isn't ready to officially marry her yet. Terrible!

1 Cor. 7:12-13: But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her. And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.

Now, we need to answer the question "what is marriage" in the bible, and how is it defined: how do you get "married"? Well, here are a couple of passages:

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)

Here we see no references to red carpets, priests or state officials, there are no rings and no official papers involved, and yet Adam "knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man with the help of Jehovah" So Adam had sex with Eve, although no social acknowledgement of their marriage had taken place.

How about the law of Moses given to Israel? What would Adam and Eve's sexual relationship would imply if they were taken to a time a couple of thousand years later? Let's read:

Exodus 22:16 And if a man entice a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife.

In other words, social "marriage" must respect the natural marriage first and foremost. The social "marriage" is, thus, only an acknowledgement of something that is essentially not social, but natural and spiritual. Social "marriage" helps to protect the sanctity of the holy union between a man and his wife.

Another interesting passage:

Matt 19:4-6 And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh? So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

If we follow this passage closely, we find that after saying the two become one flesh, Jesus states that God has joined them! In other words, if you have sex with someone, you become one flesh. It then follows, that God HAS joined you and no man (including yourself) should separate (put asunder) you.

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Other passages about marriage:

1Cor 7:4 The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.

Matt. 15: 7-9 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, saying: "This people draws near to Me with their mouth, and with their lips honor Me; but their heart is far from. But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.

Matt 15:3-6 And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God said, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is given to God ; he shall not honor his father. And ye have made void the word of God because of your tradition.

Concentrate on what's excellent and eternal.

Relationship keys: Pray. Remember God's nearness. Be content and grateful. Concentrate on what's excellent and eternal.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/mp/2007/004/11.18.html

Additional links:
http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.com/artman/publish/
http://www.pureintimacy.org
http://www.themarriagebed.com
http://ccostello.blogspot.com/2007/04/wasting-time-in-relationships-that-lead.html
"Bruce Marshall is even more startling: “The young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God.”² "

Have faith, doubt not

Bob Jone's "White Dove Ministries": http://www.whitedoveministries.org/content/ArchivesItem_11_347_v
http://www.bobjones.org/

Reminded me of what Mike Murdock said about faith: for him it was the realization that doubt will also create a harves, that really got him into faith!

Mark 11:23
"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."

1. Speak the thing you need
2. Doubt not
3. Believe
4. You will HAVE what you SAY

Don't read this as: have faith and you will have; that is only a partial truth.
Rather, speak and faith will come from hearing.
Then, don't doubt (don't receive thoughts of doubt, this is a conscious choice and not very fun to do)
Finally, you will have what you say!

"with his stripes we are healed" (from Isaiah 53:5)
"they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing" (from Psalm 34:10)

Additional links:
http://ihopmp3store.com/Media/AllMedia.aspx?speaker=Mike%20Bickle