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NASB | Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. [Matt 19:5; 1 Cor 6:16; Eph 5:31-33] |
Bible Question: where in the bible does it say that u cannot have sex before marrage. isnt that fornication? but where does it say it like that "Before marrage no fornication?" or is it something made up? |
Bible Answer: Nothing is more important to God than relationships. We know this,because He sent His Son to die a brutal, violent death, just tore-establish a relationship with us. Marriage is the most important, more honored and most sacred of allrelationships between human beings, because it exemplifies and teachesus about our relationship to God. Unfortunately, in some translations, theword "adultery" is used here, but the word Jesus used literally means"fornication". Jesus was talking about someone who had sex BEFOREmarriage (during the time they were engaged). Remember when Mary wasbetrothed to Joseph and she became pregnant with Jesus? Joseph wasthinking about "divorcing" her, but they weren't even married yet.That's because in Jesus day, when you were engaged, you were ascommitted as if you were already married, so His terminology wasdifferent than we would use today. In our day, He would have saidthat fornication is grounds for breaking off the engagement. The only time God allows divorce is when someone becomes a believerand his or her spouse does not, and that spouse leaves. In that case,the believer is free (if they choose to be. They also have the rightto stand for their mate's salvation and reconciliation). This means there are NO GROUNDS for divorce between Christians, ever,for any reason! Jesus said the only reason Moses permitted it wasbecause of the hardness of their hearts. But God does not approve ofthat kind of situation. There is provision for a husband and wife to be separated. If yourmate simply will not submit to God (for instance, if he or she isabusive), you can live apart from that spouse, but if he or sherepents, you should reunite. However at no time are you allowed todivorce and remarry. That being said let me move on to something that will seem contrary towhat is written above. God is merciful and forgiving. We see again and again where Godallows for what SEEMS to be a violation of His law in order to extendHis mercy. Jesus demonstrated this when He did good works on theSabbath, and when He pointed out how David and his men ate the grainin the temple, or how you would lift your donkey out of a well if itfell in on the Sabbath. These acts would appear to be a violation ofthe law. But since "mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:3) theseacts of kindness are not against the law. It's the attitude of our hearts that determines if something is sinfulor not. If you've divorced in your past, but you've asked God toforgive you for that mistake and you've truly repented of that sin,God will forgive you and allow you to start anew. There is no sinthat you can commit that becomes a life sentence, if you repent. Ifyou're wondering whether or not God can forgive you, consider Paul,who had a hand in the murder of many Christians, but who after hisconversion, became the greatest apostle of all time and wrote 2/3rd ofthe New Testament! Paul addressed Christians about holy living and told them not tobehave as they once did, when they were living in sin. More than oncehe lists sinners by what they were guilty of, including adulterers.Then he says, "And that is what some of you WERE. But you were washed,you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord JesusChrist and by the Spirit of our God (I Cor. 6:11). |