Myth, 87

 ~ Premarital Sex Is Good ~

Myth  ~  In today’s culture many believe there is nothing wrong about premarital sex.  In fact, many believe it is a very good thing to determine compatibility in this relationship area in order to avoid problems later.  This is totally contrary to God’s Word.

Reality  ~  Sex is not intended to be the driving force of a romantic relationship but rather the intimate expression of a meaningful commitment in marriage between husband and wife.

The Bible makes it clear that sex is part of the husband and wife’s commitment to each other and only to each other. 

Scripture  ~  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.  And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:24-25).

“And He answered and said to them, ‘Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?  So then, they are no longer two but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6).

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?  Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot?  Certainly not!  Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her?  For ‘the two,’ He says, ‘shall become one flesh.’  But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:15-17).

Sex Outside of Marriage  ~  The Word of God condemns all sex outside of marriage, even sexual thought sins!  Here are some examples of extra-marital sex which are condemned by God…

Lust (a thought sin)  ~  See for example, 1 Thessalonians 4:5; Matthew 5:28, Romans 13:13; James 1:14-15; and 1 Peter 4:3.

Mental Adultery  ~  See what Jesus had to say about our thought life in Matthew 5:27-30.

Adultery  ~  For example, Exodus 20;14; Leviticus 20:10; and Proverbs 6:32.

Incest  ~  Examples include, Leviticus 18:6-18; 20:11-12, 17; Deuteronomy 27:20, 22-23

Homosexuality  ~  Leviticus 18:22, 20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; and 1 Timothy 1:10.

Bestiality ~  Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 18:23, 20:15-16; and Deuteronomy 27:21.

Quote  ~  “To enter upon marriage union is one of the most deeply important events in life.  It cannot be too prayerfully treated.  Our happiness, our usefulness, our living for God or for ourselves after wards, are often most intimately connected with our choice.  Therefore, in the most prayerful manner, this choice should be made.  Neither beauty, nor age, nor money, nor mental powers, should be that which prompts the decision; but first, much waiting upon God for guidance should be used; second, a hearty purpose to be willing to be guided by Him should be aimed after; third, true godliness without a shadow of doubt, should be the first and absolutely needful qualification, to Christian, with regard to a companion for life.” –George Muller

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Fear God, 211

~ Christian Leaders Who Feared God ~

God does not want His children living in fear.  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).  However, God does want His children to have a proper respect and reverence for Him.  We are told in many places in Scripture to “fear God.”  

Christian Leader Examples  ~  The following is not an exhaustive list of leaders who feared God – but rather a list of some of those individuals where we have clear quotes from them indicating the importance of the fear of God (arranged alphabetically).

John Calvin ~ “Without the fear of God, men do not even observe justice and charity among themselves.” 

Oswald Chambers ~ “The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” 

Sinclair Ferguson ~ “The fear of the Lord tends to take away all other fears.”  

William Gurnall ~ “We fear man so much because we fear God so little.  One fear cures another… when man’s terror scares you, turn your thoughts to meditate on the wrath of God.                                

Vance Havner ~ “People used to blush when they were ashamed.  Now they are ashamed if they blush.  Modesty has disappeared and a brazen generation with no fear of God before its eyes mocks at sin.  We are so fond of being called tolerant and broadminded that we wink at sin when we ought to weep.” 

R.C. Sproul ~ “Martin Luther made an important distinction concerning the fear of God.  He distinguished between servile fear and filial fear.  He described servile fear as that kind of fear a prisoner has for his torturer.  Filial fear is the fear of a son who loves his father and does not want to offend him or let him down.  It is a fear born of respect.  When the Bible calls us to fear God, it is issuing a call to fear born of reverence, awe, and adoration.  It is a respect of the highest magnitude. …  Ask God to give you filial fear for Him, and attitude of reverence, awe, and adoration.”        

“Trusting God in bad times does not guarantee that you will trust Him in good times.  Only the fear of God in you can guarantee you will trust God in the good times.” 

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (“The Prince of Preachers”) ~ “The fear of God is the death of every other fear.  Like a mighty lion, it chases all other fears before it.”

“A godless world is a lawless world.  Anarchy comes in when the fear of God goes out; and all the mischiefs that you can imagine, and much more, rush in like a flood.”             

“As for me, I have braved the sneer of men because I feared the frown of my Lord.”                      

Paul Washer ~ “In the Old Testament, and especially in its wisdom literature, the fear of the Lord is exalted as an absolute essential element in the truly pious or godly life.  So much so, that the godly remnant in Israel was often referred to as ‘they that feared the Lord.’”

This Week’s Passages  ~  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments.  His praise endures forever” (Psalm 111:10).

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

Closing Quote  ~ “To be a fool in Biblical terms is not to be dimwitted or lacking intelligence: it is to be immoral.  As the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, so the denial of God is the height of foolishness.” (R.C. Sproul)

Fearing God Results in Salvation  ~  “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).  “A wise person fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16).  This does not mean the Christian is to live a fearful life—but a life which reverences God and seeks to do His will.  

Fearing God Results in Fearlessness  ~  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).  The answer is: only God.  With the gift of salvation comes responsibility.

Fearing God Results in Witnessing  ~  “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Bible Answer, 82

~ Did You Get It Right? ~

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~~~~ bible answer ~~~~

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question:  How many times is cheese mentioned in the Bible?

answer:  3  

“Then Jesse said to his son David, ‘Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp.  And carry these ten cheeses [literally “cheeses”] to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them.’  Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines” (1 Samuel 17:17-19). 

“Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd [literally accurate: “cheese of the herd”], for David and the people who were with him to eat.  For they said, ‘The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness’” (2 Samuel 17:27-29). 

 “Your hands have made me and fashioned me, an intricate unity; yet You would destroy me.  Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay.  And will You turn me into dust again?  Did You not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese [literally “curdled cheese”], clothe me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews?  You have granted me life and favor, and Your care has preserved my spirit” (Job 10:8-12).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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