Is Sex OK in a Committed Dating Relationship?

His marital intimacy okay in a committed dating relationship that is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity why this is Bill Meyer along with pastor Gabriel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. We would love to hear from you and our phone lines are open right now you can call us at 833-843-2673 if you want to spell that out. 8833. The core course you can always post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter account. You can watch a drill live right now on YouTube and send us a message through our YouTube channel. You can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to a voicemail from one of our listeners named Carla and I will. I know that in my life and I we all my great mom Mary by law or anything that I really don't leave my back pain, thank you for your message. There so just in a number of things. The first thing I would say is no. I do not believe that it's proper right foot to two individuals to Christians to say hey you know we like each other. We've been dating for some time. Let's just you know maybe say a prayer and and maybe do that we can be married in God's eyes and and will be together. Nothing's fine. We can have all of the benefits that go along with marriage and it will be a big deal that kind of thing and I know especially for young couples, young believers, that this is the thought that crosses their minds and oftentimes my concern is our are we not just trying to find loopholes in order to engage in fornication a couple of things to that I wanted to say to you specifically as you don't want to be with someone who puts their pleasure who prioritizes their pleasure above, your sanctification, your growth in grace, you want to be with someone as as a follower of Jesus, who is going to respect you, who is good on her unit, but ultimately who's going to honor the Lord is going up with the Lord first in his life and was going to strive to live in a holy manner, according to what Scripture says in. And of course Scripture makes it absolutely clear that sex outside of marriage is fornication. And so what constitutes a marriage what you have to do to be right in God's eyes as it were, at least with regard to this issue. What will you need to be Mary and the apostle Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 7 it's better to marry than to burn with passion and in marriage is not just to people saying yeah let's be together forever kind of thing. It is this, this, we might even say covenantal con contractual act that happens I think you see this from the very earliest pages of the Bible when Adam and Eve came together in Genesis chapter 2 we read in verse 20 that the Lord caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept. He took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh and the rib, the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man and the man said this at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. This language of of leaving and cleaving to this other person. It's covenantal.

We might even say there's there's a sort of legally binding aspect and this is the reason why Moses for example when he's talking about divorce. He talks about giving a certificate of divorce is a legal act. Jesus confirm this. Moses talked about it and in Deuteronomy chapter 24 but Jesus confirmed that in Matthew chapter 19. In other words, it is. I think demonstrating that there is more to it than just hey we were married. Now… Let's just agree that were married and so were married no marriages. Also a civil a civil institution. If you would something that it's something that happens not just within the church, but outside of the life of the church under under civil authority as you think about Paul's words in Romans chapter 12 about obeying the law of the land need all these things put together I think make it clear in Scripture that there there's more to marriage than just you know, the two of you coming together, deciding that you're married and so I would say abstain from, you know sexual intercourse from fornication pursue holiness in your relationship, pursue, growing in grace and get married to me that that's over, that's a sense of the advice that Paul gives if it's if if this is the right thing.

If indeed this is the person that God is calling you to be with and yeah on the basis of a first print this chapter 7 in in in Scripture, it's clear that were called to marry in the Lord but but I would just say right now. If this is a really serious issue and if this individual with the two of you are not honoring the Lord in this and if this individual has no interest in honoring the Lord in this and I would just take a step back, maybe this isn't the right relationship because you want to be with someone who's going to prioritize God and walking with the Lord in faith in Jesus first and foremost, even in your relationship and so again thank you for for your question.

Forgive us a call. May God bless you as you continue to seek to honor him with your life such great advice. A drill and I was just thinking about it from a social science perspective we often talk about how the Lord reveals himself to us through through nature through his creation all the social science points to the negatives about living together outside of marriage, I mean everything from higher levels of domestic abuse. Higher levels of divorce, and if a woman gets pregnant and in a relationship like that there's a high likelihood the guys gone within a year, leaving her as a single mom.

So in the it's just not good news for young people today – some of the stats are are really discouraging and so you know we just week we need to be encouraged to pursue the Lord first and foremost in our lives and and to partner with people who are gonna do that as well and I know you know that the passions are raging in that's why it's so important that were in good church communities that we have accountability, encouragement, and people around us who are who are walking with us to to help us to walk with the Lord as well and so appreciate again that question. Thanks for that insight will know we actually have a wonderful resource that answers a lot of the tough questions that come in here encore Christianity about sexuality, about the Bible and science, you name it. It's called tough questions answered and it's available for you for free at our website yet, only about 50 pages long and and lemon one of the things that this resource gets into is just the Bible's view sexuality another some people to think just too restrictive, but not just that we talks about other religions, Islam, you know, what about Buddhism. What about science is is you said Bill and and and religion, science and faith.

And so if you have those kinds of questions you might want to get hold of this resource. Again, as Bill said it's for free and you can find it over core, Christianity.com love to have you pick the book up.

It's a wonderful resource if you're talking to somebody who has doubts about the Christian faith. Maybe you've got doubts and you got some questions or if you're talking to an atheist or agnostic and there, peppering you with those questions you have a tough time answering this book will help you again. It's called tough questions answered. Just go to court, Christianity.com/offers defined well here's our phone number if you have a question for a drill about the Bible, the Christian life, Christian living, or theology, doctrine is open to whatever you'd like to ask. Here's the number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Karen in Fresno California turn what your question for atrial hello my question my question about 3 mile Island like he could explain specially where Carberry is not paved as by fire. And that's my first question part of it only guy got that for me conversation with a friend where I think that people make meaning but everything is not higher or very will not be invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb and will be second class. What are your thoughts on thank you so much. Questions like this. I really appreciate it.

May God bless you. Thank you Karen and appreciate your encouragement there. So first Corinthians chapter 3 here in the context the apostle Paul is talking about his apostolic ministry. In particular, his apostolic ministry as a preacher as one who is proclaiming the gospel in laying the foundation if you will of the church. The proclamation of Jesus Christ and there were divisions going on there in in Corinth. This is one of the themes in the book of first Corinthians people were saying. I am of Paul. I am of Apollo, so on and so forth as a Paul tells them in verse five of chapter 3. What then is Apollo's. What is Paul's servants, through whom you believed as the Lord assigned to each.

I planted Apollo's watered.

But God gave the growth so neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God gives the growth that he goes on to describe. Essentially this this ministry that he's been participating in as a skilled master builder.

He says I laid a foundation verse 10 in someone else's building on it. Let each one take care how he builds on it again, talking specifically about the proclamation, the preaching of the gospel, for no one can lay a foundation verse 11.

Other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now he says if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, would Jesus draw each one's work will become manifest for the day will disclose it. In other words, on the day of judgment. You know those works, the motives, even behind the preaching all of that is going to be revealed. It will be revealed by fire. The fire will test what sort of work each one has done verse 13. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire and that's that's that verse that you mentioned there.

Verse 15 that you had a question about his Paul is just highlighting her look as I'm fulfilling this apostolic ministry preaching the gospel, the foundation that is laid is Jesus Christ to get build on the foundation with anything else of that other people are coming and what they're teaching is taught from the wrong motives or or it's the others error mixed in. There's there's gonna be sifting if you will through those works there going to come under God scrutiny under God's judgment and it always going to be revealed on the last day on the day of judgment. Now that doesn't mean that those individuals won't necessarily be saving NetSuite what he highlights there and in verse 15 there going to be safe still, but they're not gonna receive any cop commendation for that the preaching that they did that sort of wood, hay and stubble. That kind of preaching and so that's a distinction that is making there. Now there's a question about what what do these rewards look like were not entirely sure. I think it's just us in this commendation from the Lord himself.

But with regard to the second part of your question this idea that the person described in verse 15 is not going to be able to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb that they're not invited that there can be maybe on the outskirts of heaven or or you know, not second-class citizens is as you put it that that's not true at all. I reject that idea. There are no second-class citizens in heaven.

No one in heaven is in a safe boy. The I'm here in the bleachers. It's kind of a bummer that kind of thing.

Nope, not at all working to be in the presence of the Lord based on the merits of Jesus Christ and so while we don't understand or may not know the hundred percent right now what what these rewards look like Look like, how they play out there in in the presence of the Lord, we do know that no one is going to be bombed out patient no not not participating in the marriage supper of the land that that that's for all of God's people redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. And so Karen, if you're with your worried about that for yourself wondering you know Micah to be a second-class citizen having I believe in Jesus. I braced him I received his forgiveness but man I still struggle. I hope I I make it to the marriage supper part just know you're going to be welcome there. Through the blood of your Savior, Jesus Christ.

He's going to welcome you, himself, and that's a hope that we all have, through faith in Jesus.

Amen. This is core Christianity, we'd love to hear your questions about the Bible or the Christian life.

Or maybe how your Christian walk is intersecting with what's going on in today's culture. Here's the phone number to call is 833 the core that's 833-843-2673 will be taking your calls for the next eight or nine minutes or so. So jump on the phone right now, or leave us a voicemail anytime 24 hours a day.

Let's go to Haley calling in from Nebraska.

Haley what your question for pastor atrial on the Lord recently had introduced me to somebody and we think entrance to church with Bible studies and so on and so forth. Some things I asked about actual believe, and he believes in God and he prays that the God of Abraham, but he told me that you see Jesus as anything more than just a prophet, he does not believe that Jesus is Lord, I believe that Hagen but somehow doesn't believe in how and he also said that he believes that you know there will be more more people pretty much any person that you think that person will end up in heaven on and he also doesn't believe that anything outside of Genesis and Revelation is the word of God like an accurate depiction of the work that he just got the Polygram theology. I'm just trying to figure out like what would be the best way for me to minister to have them without insulting his relationship with the Lord that he does have on them without kind of running them off but also being blunt and true to the gospel.

Hello boy, sounds like there's a lot there so you know where to begin. I think I think the most important thing was the first thing that you brought up and that's the identity of Jesus Christ. I said this on on the program recently. There's no more important question that an individual can answer than who is Jesus to get this wrong and and were lost. This is why John in the book of first John when he talked about the spirit of the antichrist. In first John chapter 4 recently with the spirit of the antichrist wants us to to miss is the identity of Jesus and the work of Jesus. The antichrist is out in the world today denying that Jesus Christ came in the flesh that he died for our sins. And so if the evil one can take our eyes off of Jesus. If he can confuse us about who Jesus is by convincing people that Jesus was just merely a good man or a prophet or a zealot or something like that but that he isn't the eternal son of God, the second person of the holy Trinity who came to earth for us and for our salvation and that there there there is. That's the that the crucial thing and so in terms of you being an encouragement to this individual to your friend. I think continuing to to you know go to church and if you want to come to church. I think that's that's wonderful prayer. Obviously the Lord Jesus would open his eyes so that he might see and understand who Christ is to remember what Jesus said to Peter when Jesus asked Peter, who do you say that I am Peter said you are the Christ, the son of the living God in Jesus's response was blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. My father who is in heaven.

So what you need.

Haley is the heavenly father to open the eyes of this man to reveal to him by the grace of the Holy Spirit who Jesus really is and how does God typically do that he does it through his word, and so I think continuing to open up the Scriptures together. I was just thinking of Jesus's words in John 14 verse one where he said to his disciples. Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God believe also in me. Your friend doesn't just need to believe in God.

He needs to believe in Jesus, who according to John's Gospel very clearly and so many other places in the Bible is God, the second person of the holy Trinity and so I would say pray pray that the Lord would open his heart and search the Scriptures and know what it is that you believe why you believe it on the basis of Scripture and share that with him go to passages in the Scripture that make it absolutely clear that Jesus is God throughout the Gospels throughout the epistles of and you you see this everywhere all over the place. I think about what the apostle Paul said in the book of Romans.

In Romans chapter 10 where he talks about believing in Jesus Christ. Verse nine because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified and with the mouth one confesses and is saved, and then he goes down and in verse 13 and says for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved know it's interesting about that is, Paul is quoting from the book of Joel all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved and that quotation has to do with calling on the name of Yahweh God and so Paul there in Romans chapter 10 is saying Jesus is God and we call upon him is so much so that he might redeem us so that he might save us and so Haley may the Lord bless you as you pray for your friend as you guys continue to go to church together and may he open his heart to to the truth of the gospel to the truth of his word. As you can to continue to share that with him as well.

That lesson Haley would love to send you a link to the resource that we been mentioning.

It's called tough questions answered and will really help you in your conversations with this young man to really point out to him what the Bible actually says about Jesus answer probably a lot of his other questions as well.

We like to make that available to all of our listeners.

It's called tough questions answered and you can find that for free at our website. Just go to core Christianity.com/offers and look for tough questions. Let's go to go ahead. I'm sorry. I would, except I was just gonna say Bill I'd I wrote a short devotional called seeing Jesus. It's all about who Jesus is in taking snapshots from the Gospels to help us further understand who Christ revealed himself to be, and maybe if Haley's stone line.

We can send her that resourcing Jesus so great Haley thanks so much for your call. Thanks for listening to core Christianity of researching God's word. We are just really appreciate the fact that whenever on our listeners that take the time to really dig into the Scriptures and then discuss who Jesus is with their friends and their relatives. Let's go back to the falls we have Christine on the phone from St. Peter's, Missouri Christine what your question for pastor. Israel hi Christine and Christine were here can you hear us okay I'm back. No probably care what your question, yeah okay the question prayer request and I wanted to have a prayer request that all possible. My mother and she has been the ICU in the hospital with double covert pneumonia and 73. Her name is Barbara and I just love to have God's healing hand upon her and command that we've heard very sorry but I just don't feel like her trying to go. I mean, I'm sure other plans that what's in store for her. But I would like to have a prayer throughout your Christine I would be happy to pray for you and to invite all of our listeners to pray as well. I think of the words of the psalmist in Psalm chapter 30 I will extol you, Lord, for you have drawn me up you not let my foes rejoice over me oh Lord my God, I cried to you for help and you healed me, Lord, you brought me up.

You brought up my soul from shale you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit and so on. Pray that for Barbara, for your mother, and may the Lord be with you in this time, gracious father in heaven. Lord, we know that there are so many people who are suffering right now and crying out to you and and we joined the Lord and crying out to you and asking for your mercy, especially right now for Barbara Lord as she is in the ICU with the with double covert pneumonia.

Lord I ask Lord Jesus that you would bring healing your healing hand would be upon her that you would fill her with your Holy Spirit, drawing her up to your self Lord restoring restoring her body. I pray also for Christine Lord, that you would fill her with a sense of your presence with your peace knowing God that you know all things you are over all things. It did this circumstance did not surprise you and that you are good and gracious to your people and so would you help her to trust in you and would you please bring healing and in Barbara's life and for all those Lord who are suffering and sick right now with you for your spirit out upon them, and bring healing in Jesus name amen Christine. May the Lord be with you and bless you. Thanks for calling. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us.

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