Christians’ Love, Courtship And Marriage

Text: I Thessalonians 4:1-7

We truly believe that Bible education is a priceless treasure for human race, especially for a Christians. Having such

knowledge will guide a man to walk consistently in the path of truth. Consequently, he will live a life

pleasing to God.

Without the Word of God as our guide in the course of life, we cannot live a God-glorifying life. We thank God for

the preserved Scriptures because through its principles, we can be rightly

directed and have the assurance that we have the right morals in life.

Important areas in life that we must carefully handle and guard are areas of

love, courtship and marriage. Before worldly philosophy creeps into the believer’s love life, he must guard

himself from such strange principles so he may not be led to conform to the

world’s craze.

It is quite disappointing to see a lot of young people from Christian

homes being drawn to worldliness and living a messy love life because of their indifferent attitude toward

the Word of God.

THE DEVIL WANTS CHRISTIAN HOMES TO BE DESTROYED, BUT WE MUST KEEP IN MIND THAT GOD WANTS

EVERY FAMILY TO DISPLAY THE POWER OF PURITY AND GODLY

LIVING.

In order for a Christian to avoid experiencing a

shameful love life, he must avoid playing with the world.

It’s high time for us to seek the principles of

Truth and faithfully live by them so we will be able to demonstrate to the whole world the right way of handling love, courtship and marriage.

Christians should know how to define love well and how to

appropriate love for the glory of God. Be pure and the Lord will bless your love life.

Godly Way Of Courtship

I Thessalonians 4:3

Within the will of God

One alarming problem that surfaces in Christian circle today is the way some Christians handle their

courtship. Many are not behaving well, many are being led by the ways of the lost and many are being victimized by the

devil unaware. Beyond doubt, these threatening problems may mount up in a critical level if Christians

avoid the blessed will of God for their lives.

In Christian courtship, the will of God is very important to be considered and to be obeyed strictly.

Blessings from God flow wonderfully every time we obey His will. Young people who handle their love life

within the will of God will surely be blest.

In I Thessalonians 4:3, it is written, For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye

should abstain from fornication: (KJV) Following the will of God keeps a man or woman from

committing fornication. The enticing ways of the world cannot trap a

Christian who wholly obeys the will of God; but a young person who has fellowship with the people

of darkness will end up in a tragic love life.

In II Corinthians 6:14, the Bible says, Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for

what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath

light with darkness? (KJV) This Bible passage is an excellent warning to those who are in love and

about to choose their life-time partners.

Believers should not overlook the importance of

prayer in seeking for the will of God regarding love and courtship.

Believers’ courtship is a serious thing and not be handled as “fun and play” as the world presents

it.

A true Christian must not welcome the ways of the world, neither desire to apply these ways in

his courtship and marriage. Worldly ways of handling love life do not give honor to God, but Word-based principles of life glorify the Lord.

Fear God and gain wisdom.

The absence of immorality

Christians in their courtship stage must keep themselves from flesh-triggered behavior. The absence of immorality

during courtship stage will surely lead a couple to a “happy guilty-free marriage.”

In I Thessalonians 4:4, it is written, That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification

and honor; (KJV) This verse from the Bible reminds us of the sanctity of marriage. Christian courtship should not be taken lightly but with the guidance of the Word of

God. Truly, courtship outside the will of God is very risky.

Christians who are in their courtship stage must be the model of our society.

A godly way of courtship must be displayed by true believers. It would be shameful to God if Christians are being found living in a

“world-friendly courtship”.

Romans 12:1-2

it is written, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a

living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and

perfect, will of God. (KJV)

3. Godly MarriageI Thessalonians 4:4-7 Hebrews 13:4

Undefiled

Untainted marriage is a blessed marriage. Christian marriage that is guided by the principles of truth truly conveys spiritual message for the whole world to take

heed. The great salvation of God and love of Christ are being conveyed through a godly marriage. For such reason,

Christian couples must guard the sanctity of their married life so the purpose of their marriage will not

be defeated but be fulfilled for God’s glory.

Hebrews 13:4-5, It is written, Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but

whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (KJV)

God can helpNow in closing I want to mention two things.

You should pray and ask God to help you in your choice of a life partner.

God knows your needs better than you do. God gave Adam his wife.

The next thing is to marry a Christian and build a Christian home in which you can pray together for we all have problems and we need to pray together about them and with God’s help you

will be able to solve

What does the Bible say about

love, courtship, marriage?

Love 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no

record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with

the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always

hopes, always perseveres

Love is not…

Evaluating another by external criteria"She's a #10"

Love is not…

SelfishInterested in "getting" to satisfy your needs

Love is not…

Taking advantage of another

Love is not…Sex

"Making love."Improper need fulfillment

Love is not…Idolatry

True Love is…

Respectful of the other person's values, standards and opinions

Unselfish and unconditionalResponsible to seek the highest good of the other

person "for better or for worse"

Stage 1: CourtshipWhat does the Bible say about

“Courtship”?Do not be misled: "Bad company

corrupts good character."- 1 Corinthians 15:33

What does the Bible say about “Courtship”?

2cor. 6:14The Bible seriously warns us about dating non-Christians.

The ultimate goal of dating or courting is finding a life

partner.

If being marriage-minded is still far off, it is probably too early to begin dating

or courtship.

Stage 2: EngagementWhat does the Bible say about

“Engagement”?“For this reason a man will leave his

father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

Genesis 2:24

What does the Bible say about “Engagement”?

Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for

him.“Genesis 2:18

What does the Bible say about “Engagement”?“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the

wellspring of life.” (NIV)Proverbs 4:23

Warnings on Sexual Immorality1. Ephesians 5:3

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's

holy people.

Warnings on Sexual Immorality2. 1 Corinthians 6:13b

The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the

Lord, and the Lord for the body.

Warnings on Sexual Immorality3. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins

sexually, sins against their own body.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You

are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore

honor God with your bodies.

Bottom lineAny and all sexual activity should be restricted

to married couples. Sex between a husband and his wife is the only form of sexual relations of which God approves

Stage 3: MarriageWhat does the Bible say about “Marriage”?

1. Ephesians 5:31For this reason a man will leave his

father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

What does the Bible say about “Marriage”?2. 1 Corinthians 7:1-5

1 Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to live a celibate life. 2 But

because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman

should have her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual

needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. 4 The wife gives authority over her body

to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.

What does the Bible say about “Marriage”?2. 1 Corinthians 7:1-5

5 Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give

yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because

of your lack of self-control.

What does the Bible say about “Marriage”?3. Hebrews 13:4

Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage.

God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery