Cohabitation: Sin Or Not? Biblical Perspective

Cohabitation before marriage is a hotly debated topic, with some arguing that it is a sin and others claiming it is not. While the Bible does not explicitly mention living together before marriage, it does speak of purity and keeping one's body as a holy temple. The Bible also condemns sexual immorality and premarital sex as sinful, and some interpret this to include cohabitation. Ultimately, the decision to live together before marriage is a personal one, but it is important to consider the potential risks and consequences of such a decision.

Cohabitation is not a sin, but shacking up is

The Bible does not explicitly state that living together before marriage is a sin. However, it does speak about purity and keeping your body as a holy temple. The Scriptures provide commands and guidance that help us deduce the appropriate response.

The Bible speaks consistently about the importance of purity and holiness. 1 Corinthians 6:18 states, "Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body." This verse emphasizes the seriousness of sexual sin and the need to flee from immoral desires and actions.

Shacking up is defined as casually moving in with someone you regularly have sexual relations with, or living together as spouses without being legally married. This type of arrangement can lead to sexual immorality, which is considered a sin according to the Bible.

The Bible provides clear guidelines for sexual activity, stating that it should only occur within the marital union of one man and one woman. Any form of sexual activity outside of this covenant is considered sinful. This includes premarital sex, adultery, and homosexuality.

While cohabitation itself may not be a sin, it is important to recognize that living together can create an environment that increases the temptation to engage in sexual activity outside of marriage. As Christians, it is essential to honor God and maintain sexual purity, regardless of living arrangements.

Additionally, living together before marriage can give the appearance of evil and bring disgrace to the name of Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 instructs believers to "abstain from any form of evil" and to run away from anything that could bring dishonor to Christ.

In conclusion, while cohabitation itself may not be a sin, shacking up or engaging in sexual activity outside of marriage is considered sinful according to Biblical teachings. It is important for Christians to flee from sexual immorality and honor God with their bodies, minds, and actions.

Sexual immorality is a sin

The Bible is clear that sexual immorality is a sin. In the Bible, "sexual immorality" is most frequently translated as "porneia", which means "a surrendering of sexual purity", and is primarily used to refer to premarital sexual relations. From this Greek word, we get the English word "pornography", which comes from the idea of "selling off".

Sexual immorality is the "selling off" of sexual purity and involves sexual expression beyond the boundaries of a biblically defined marriage relationship. The Bible makes it clear that God expects us to remain sexually pure and faithful to our spouses.

Sexual immorality includes any type of sexual expression outside the boundaries of a biblically defined marriage relationship. This includes adultery, premarital sex, pornography, and homosexual relations.

The Bible teaches that sex is a sacred gift, meant to be enjoyed exclusively within the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman, lasting until death. When expressed within these God-given parameters, it reflects His love and design for intimacy. However, any expression of sexuality outside of this framework misuses this gift and falls outside of God’s intended purpose, making it sinful.

The Bible provides clear instructions to flee from sexual immorality. This means to run and get away from it. By choosing to live with someone of the opposite sex before marriage, you are not fleeing from sexual immorality but instead placing yourself in a situation where it can easily occur.

In 1 Corinthians 6:18, the Bible states:

> "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body."

The Bible also teaches that lusting after someone is just as sinful as the act itself. In Matthew 5:28, it is written:

> "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Living together assumes sexual activity

Living together before marriage is a sin, according to some Christians. While the Bible does not explicitly state this, it does emphasise that any sexual activity outside of marriage is a sin. The term "porneia" in Greek, translated as "sexual immorality" or "fornication" in English, refers to any form of sexual activity outside of the marriage of one man and one woman.

The assumption of sexual activity when a couple lives together is strong, and this assumption brings disgrace to Jesus' name. Even if a couple living together is not sexually active, the perception of their living arrangement can dishonour Jesus and bring shame to the Body of Christ. This assumption of sexual activity when living together is further supported by research from the Guttmacher Institute, which found that 97% of cohabiting couples are sexually active.

Some Christians argue that living together before marriage is unwise and should be avoided, even if it is not explicitly stated as a sin in the Bible. They believe that it is a form of playing with fire and that it is better to marry than to burn with passion, as stated in 1 Corinthians 7:9.

Additionally, living together before marriage can be seen as a form of testing God, which is considered sinful. By deliberately placing oneself in a sinful situation, one is essentially forcing God's hand to intervene and protect them from sin. This notion of testing God is supported by the biblical passage Matthew 4:7, where Jesus responds to Satan's temptation to throw himself off a cliff by saying, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."

In conclusion, while the Bible does not explicitly state that living together before marriage is a sin, the assumption of sexual activity that comes with it is strong and can bring dishonour to Jesus and the Church. Christians who choose to live together before marriage may be perceived as condoning premarital sex, even if they themselves are not sexually active.

Living together is playing with fire

The Bible does not explicitly state that living together before marriage is a sin. However, it does speak consistently about purity and keeping your body as a holy temple. The Scriptures are clear in multiple places that sexual activity outside of a marital union of one man and one woman is a sin. The Greek word translated “sexual immorality” or “fornication” in these verses is porneia, and it means "unlawful lust".

Living together before marriage definitely falls into the category of fornication—sexual sin. Hebrews 13:4 describes the honorable state of marriage: “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” This verse draws a clear distinction between that which is pure and honorable—marriage—and that which is sexually immoral—anything outside of marriage. As living together outside of marriage falls into this category, it is a sin.

Living together before marriage is a big reason that couples cohabit. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 97% of cohabiting women are sexually active. When Guttmacher’s researchers are right, 97% of cohabiting couples ARE committing sin by being sexually active. The wide assumption is that the other 3% are not sexually active, but there is no way to tell whether they’re a 3-percenter, or not. Every single action we take as a Christian will bring honor to Jesus, or bring disgrace to his name.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 7:9, “But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” Humans are wired to crave physical intimacy. If you think you can live together with your significant other and stay sexually pure, you're playing with fire.

Fires are awesome. They serve a purpose. They bring warmth and beauty. But they’re supposed to be contained in a fireplace or stove. The minute the fire gets out of its boundaries, it wreaks chaos and destruction. The rule of thumb is “if you play with fire, you will get burned”.

Living together is not the sin. Fornication is the sin but living together leads to fornication.

The Bible speaks consistently about purity and keeping your body as a Holy temple

The Bible does not explicitly state that cohabitation is a sin, but it does provide principles that any sexuality outside of the marriage of one man and one woman is a sin. The Bible speaks consistently about purity and keeping your body as a Holy temple.

The Bible teaches that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and we are called to honour and care for God's temple. This means that any sexual activity outside of marriage is a sin. The Greek word "porneia", translated as "sexual immorality" or "fornication" in the Bible, refers to any unlawful lust or sexual activity outside of marriage. As such, living together before marriage falls into the category of fornication and is considered sinful.

The Bible emphasizes the importance of purity in our words, actions, thoughts, and feelings. It encourages believers to have a pure heart, soul, body, and mind, which can only come from God and a love for God. Verses such as 1 Peter 1:15-16 remind believers to be holy and pure, just as God is holy and pure.

Additionally, the Bible provides guidance on how to resist temptation and flee from sexual immorality. For example, 1 Corinthians 6:18 instructs believers to flee from sexual immorality, as it is a sin against one's own body. Similarly, 2 Timothy 2:22 encourages believers to flee evil desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.

The Bible also highlights the importance of self-control and purity in relationships. For instance, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 states that it is God's will for individuals to be sanctified, avoid sexual immorality, and learn to control their bodies in a holy and honourable way.

In summary, the Bible consistently speaks about purity and maintaining a holy temple. This includes sexual purity, as well as purity in our thoughts, words, and actions. Believers are called to honour God with their bodies and maintain a pure and righteous lifestyle.

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