Living together, but no sex until marriage?

The Bible clearly states that “"God will judge fornicators."” (Hebrews 13:4) What is fornication? The original Greek word for fornication is por·nei′a. It refers to sexual activity involving the use of the genital organs carried on outside the bonds of marriage

Now I know you mentioned that you are not having sex. But how long do you really think you can keep that up sleeping in the same bed together. Our bodies were designed to have a craving for the opposite sex. And even if you are not "going all the way" notice what the definition was: "sexual activity involving the use of the genital organs" so, it includes anything "down there".

1 Corinthians 7:9 says: But if they do not have self-control, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to be inflamed [with passion].

Sex is not wrong. It is a beautiful gift from God. But it was a gift reserved for marriage. And the Bible even says in that last scripture, if those urgings are so strong, just get married! My husband and I waited for marriage and we have so much trust and respect for each other because of it!

To your other question on "What is marriage?"

Matthew 19:4-6 "4 In reply he said: “Did YOU not read that he who created them from [the] beginning made them male and female 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh’? 6 So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has yoked together let no man put apart.”

In Bible times they didnt require the formalities we do in todays society to get married. But we are looking at two different cultures. In that culture if a man took his betrothed home, they were married and everyone knew it. They couldnt back out easily because in that society it was considered a binding agreement. Now look at todays society. If two people have sex, do others automatically see them as married? No. Marraige in Gods eyes is to be considered so binding that the only way he approves a divorce is if one mate cheats on the other. So by going about the legal procedures you are showing others and GOD that you are promising to be together forever. Without it, it makes it even easier to back out later down the road. And it shows GOD that you are not serious about the commitment to that person.

Lastly (Mark 12:17) Jesus then said: “Pay back Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God.” And they began to marvel at him.

The jews wanted to know if they had to pay taxes to the governement. Jesus was saying to follow Caesars (or the current government) rules and to respect them. The rules in our society and government say if a man and woman are to be married, you have to go throught the legal arrangments.

Hope this helps

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Despite the arguments of some, the odds of a successful marriage do not increase because a couple lives together before marriage. In fact, studies reveal the opposite is true.

Where do professing Christian couples find justification for living together without marriage? Their own desires and an immoral culture provide support, but God’s Word is neither vague nor confusing on this point: A personal commitment between a man and woman is not the moral equivalent of a biblical marriage.

The fact that many couples live together without the legal commitment of marriage surprises few in our morally dysfunctional society. What is surprising is the number of professing Christians who choose to live together without the benefit of marriage.

Churches and families are increasingly faced with the question of how to respond to these individuals who believe their personal commitments to one another are morally equivalent to legal marriage.

Every moral issue is fundamentally a biblical issue. Genesis 2:18-25 describes marriage as a divine institution. God presented Adam with Eve and established the first marriage.

Genesis 2:24 is the basis for all future marriages: “This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.” When Jesus was asked about grounds for divorce, He quoted this verse with regard to a legal, binding marriage relationship (Matt. 19:5).

So even if you dont have sex, you still cannot cohabitate before marriage or according bible its a sin.

. Marriage is a divine institution, authorized and established by God in Eden. Marriage brings into being the family unit, the family circle. Its basic purpose was the reproducing of the members of the human family, to bring into existence more creatures of the human kind. God the Creator made male and female and ordained marriage as the proper arrangement for the multiplication of the human race. (Ge 1:27, 28) The first human wedding was performed by God himself, as described at Genesis 2:22-24.

As Jesus pointed out, it was not Adam but God who said, “That is why a man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh.” The wording of this text makes it evident that monogamy was the original standard for marriage in the eyes of God.—Mt 19:4-6; Ge 2:24.

Does the Bible approve of a man and a woman living together if they are not legally married?

The Bible clearly states that “God will judge fornicators.” (Hebrews 13:4) The Greek word for fornication, por·nei′a, broadly refers to the misuse of the sexual organs of those who are not married to each other. Therefore, it would be wrong in God’s eyes for a couple to live together—even if they intend to get married later.

Even if a couple are deeply in love, God still requires that they marry before enjoying sex. It was God who created us with the capacity to love. God’s primary quality is love. Therefore, he has good reason for insisting that sex be enjoyed only by married couples.

Then you may want to take Jesus' words in consideration:

Jesus said: “Everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28) Therefore you don't even have to be that close to a woman to commit fornication...

True Christians follow the admonition found in God's word, the bible..

RE:

Living together, but no sex until marriage?

What are the Bible's definitions of fornication and marriage? For example, say I'm living with my girlfriend because she has a bad situation at home and I sleep in the same bed with her but don't have sex and won't until we're married.

1. I don't know how Adam and Eve got...

That's even worse than living together and having sex. Living together before marriage just makes it a lot harder once you are married. Not having sex would drive the two of you crazy...

It's really the perfect recipe for disaster so don't be stupid

It is written for a reason that to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. What is needed is for you to stop thinking above [beyond] that which is written, because all that is beyond that which is written is exaggeration, over-estimation, and rationalization.

But when we learn to not think above that which is written, then we have the foundation on rock, and not on sand.

As for acting as if you were married living together, again, it is thinking beyond that which is written. God created marriage, not man, and let us understand why we should get married by this which is written: Provide for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

The first thing you must know is if you want to save your marriage and if you find yourself alone in this desire, waiting for the other spouse to make the first move is the beginning of the end. Learn here https://tinyurl.im/aHLCt If you are looking for someone to blame or someone else to put the emotional and physical work into saving the marriage, again, it's going to fail.

God brought Eve to Adam as his wife, what is so hard to understand about that?

Don't grope or have sex before marriage.

So..

I couldn't afford marital counseling sessions so I bought some online resources here http://www.downloadita.it/r/rd.asp?gid=417. They really helped.

Good Bye