How the sex-before-marriage issue is approached by Christians today

[007.5]

Originally Posted by Enow

Solution: go before the throne of grace for help to be led away from temptation and delivered from the evil one as Jesus is the Good Shepherd.



Solution: go before the throne of grace for help to be led away from temptation and delivered from the evil one as Jesus is the Good Shepherd.



And when he finds that no matter how much the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak that he cannot keep his commitnet, what then?

Solution: go before the throne of grace for help to be led away from temptation and delivered from the evil one as Jesus is the Good Shepherd.



Examining oneself is fine, but seeking to identify oneself religiously will have consequences. No one can see the faith of a believer in Christ working in his life if they are being religious about living that christian life by the flesh of keeping their commitment.

The Carnal Christian will not see himself able to make that commitment seeing how sin has "dominion" over him as he is unwittingly sowing to the flesh that produces sin and so he just ignores it and moves on.

The same can be said for the Struggling Christian: he will do the best he can, but ultimately, he will either be miserable ... or cover up his inner struggles, never relaizing that how he is sowing to the flesh can cause him to sin.

And no matter how religious and committed a christian says he is, Jesus will not help until he ask for his help, but as long as he continues to think that he needs to show his appreciation for Christ for helping him by trying once again to keep that commitment, he will fail.

James 1: 14But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16Do not err, my beloved brethren.

1 Corinthians 10: 12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Hebrews 4: 12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

This is why the poor in spirit are blessed: they are looking up.

Since Christ has set me free from the commitment to follow Christ, I have been enabled to rest in Him and His promises to me in living the christian life, getting to know Him and the power of His resurrection when I trust in His Word.

It is written that the just shall live by faith.

But somewhen along the way it as been added: the just shall live by faith and by their commitment to follow Christ: which is a boast in the flesh.

Living the christian life is of God, and not of us. It cannot be both. To be witnesses of the Son wrking in our lives, we must testify more of our faith in Him and less of our ability as a religious man in following Him in seeking His glory.

John 7:18He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?

The Lord is keeping me as a virgin, AND I can testify of Him as the Good Shepherd in leading me away from temptations and delivering me from the evil one from other areas in my life so that I can live as His.

Thanks for sharing your testimony . Youve got some real nuggets of truth what youve said here.

[Cyber Munchkin]

Originally Posted by 007.5

I think there are 3 basic categories that Single Christian Men (and women) fall into regarding how they approach the sex before marriage issue :

A. The Carnal Christian Man ---
1. The person who loves the Lord and got saved, but hasnt walked with the Lord for very long and has alot of spiritual maturing to do. Thus, he is vulnerable and fairly easily enticed into sexual immorality.
2. The person who has a 'said-faith' (lip service) declaring he is a christian....may attend church regularly , give to United Way, teach Sunday School.... yet is not willing to surrender his sexual nature to Christ....which is essentially keeping himself on the throne of his life because pleasure is his real god.

B. The Struggling Christian Man ---
1. The person who loves the Lord , but is susecptible to sexual immorality because he needs recovery from the past. He may or may not realize this, or could very well be in a recovery plan currently and is doing what he can to be an overcomer. There may be sexual abuse in his past , or, he may be a current sex addict (porn, etc...) . He has victory most of the time but slips on occasion . He isnt careful enough to select women who are fully committed to sexual integrity.
2. The person who has allowed our cultures sexual propaganda to influence his behaviour .... the person who has one foot in church and the other foot in the world. He may be heading toward being a fully devoted follower of Christ, but has a ways to go.

C. The Committed Christian Man ---
1. The person who loves the Lord , is very sensitive toward his personal sin, perhaps sees how sexual immorality has been destructive toward himself and others, and who daily vows to not take advantage of a fellow sister in Christ whether in or out of a committed relationship because he knows he has to answer to God ultimately; above all else, he desires to protect his relationship with Christ. He realizes a brief time of sexual immorality to feel good, isnt worth the price paid afterward ....emotionally or spiritually (or contracting an STD) . He strongly desires his Wedding Night to be the way it was designed to be by God, and is willing to respect his Mate as well as himself by waiting knowing that God will reward a person for his commitment to abstinence. He also realizes it will be a very good testimony to others .


This is sort of how I would sum it up .

Wow....a great post, well summed up !!
God knows those who so need to read this.... to help encourage there is Hope in this.
Especially needing someone to come along side of them to help them to be accountable, not judging them, male or female who may be struggling with this in their heart and life!!

I have heard and read many of testimonies of one's who so struggle with the sexual sins and it is not a path that many want to help some individual with, which Christians should.

This has become such a dilemma in our country for Christian and non-Christian !!

Blessings...007.5 !!

[007.5]

Yes, I think it is a real problem with Christians who love the Lord but are just so greatly influenced by our culture and/or, who really have the desire to live for Christ but just seem to get there. For myself, Ive actually gone thru all of the steps that ive listed in the OP, from start to finish. I thank God for his power and faithfulness.