Chapter 2
Tenants of the
Second Royal Law of Courtship
Part I of VI
"By the grace of Almighty God, I will arrive at
the marriage altar morally pure."
The Christian world abounds with horror stories when it comes to young people and immorality. Any pastor in America could tell multiple illustrations about Christian young people who blew it when it came to preserving their purity. Some Christian leaders have lowered the standard and have even suggested that premarital sex is just a given nowadays and not that big of a deal. The Word of God, however, clearly outlines God's standard and warns of the consequences of ignoring it.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14).
"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body" (I Corinthians 6:18).
"For this is the will of God, even your satisfaction, that ye should abstain from fornication" (I Thessalonians 4:3).
"Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4).
Don't let Satan deceive you! Not everyone is "doing it." Multitudes of Christian young people across America are preserving their purity as a gift they will someday give to the one God has created for them.
How can a Christian young person live by the Second Royal Law of Courtship in the midst of am "if it feels good, do it" world?
1. Make a vow of chastity to the Lord. this is a solemn promise, a vow to the Lord, a commitment to keep yourself pure until your wedding day. Read the following verse carefully. This is the right thing to do, but be warned: God will hold you to your vow.
"When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee" (Deuteronomy 23:21).
2. Realize the battleground for purity is fought in the mind. Work at developing a pure mind. First, let's be reminded that we are commanded to have a pure mind and heart. God would not command us to do something without giving us the power and ability to do it.
"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (II Timothy 2:22).
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (I John 3:2-3).
Guard your eye gates! The mind collects information sent to it for many sources, sight, sound, smell, touch, taste, but most of the information is collected through a person's eye gates! You must be careful what you look at each day.
"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes" (Psalm 101:3).
"I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?" (Job 31:1).
"How do I deal with evil thoughts?" Mant times I have had young people come in need of advice on how to overcome the wrong kind of thoughts. The answer is simple: our wonderful Creator has equipped us with minds that cannot think on more than one thing at a time. Paul instructed the Romans, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). You choose to meditate on "whatsoever things are pure" and, in doing so, you cast down evil imaginations and bring every thought to the obedience of Christ. Scripture memorization and meditation will always overpower evil thoughts.
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians 10:5)
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11).
"But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night" (Psalm 1:2).
Never make excuses for lusting after the opposite gender. Doing so is a sin. It is condemned in the Word of God again and again. If you are having problems in this area, God can give you victory! Again, you must protect your eye gates. Satan is using television, Hollywood movies, DVD's and videos, the Internet and teen magizines to bombard your generation with explicit, sinful images. You need to eliminate these influences from your life.
"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (James 1:15).
"For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flatter of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids" (Proverbs 6:23-25).
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world....For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (I John 2:15-16).
"Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14).
"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body" (I Corinthians 6:18).
"For this is the will of God, even your satisfaction, that ye should abstain from fornication" (I Thessalonians 4:3).
"Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4).
Don't let Satan deceive you! Not everyone is "doing it." Multitudes of Christian young people across America are preserving their purity as a gift they will someday give to the one God has created for them.
How can a Christian young person live by the Second Royal Law of Courtship in the midst of am "if it feels good, do it" world?
1. Make a vow of chastity to the Lord. this is a solemn promise, a vow to the Lord, a commitment to keep yourself pure until your wedding day. Read the following verse carefully. This is the right thing to do, but be warned: God will hold you to your vow.
"When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee" (Deuteronomy 23:21).
2. Realize the battleground for purity is fought in the mind. Work at developing a pure mind. First, let's be reminded that we are commanded to have a pure mind and heart. God would not command us to do something without giving us the power and ability to do it.
"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (II Timothy 2:22).
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (I John 3:2-3).
Guard your eye gates! The mind collects information sent to it for many sources, sight, sound, smell, touch, taste, but most of the information is collected through a person's eye gates! You must be careful what you look at each day.
"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes" (Psalm 101:3).
"I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?" (Job 31:1).
"How do I deal with evil thoughts?" Mant times I have had young people come in need of advice on how to overcome the wrong kind of thoughts. The answer is simple: our wonderful Creator has equipped us with minds that cannot think on more than one thing at a time. Paul instructed the Romans, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). You choose to meditate on "whatsoever things are pure" and, in doing so, you cast down evil imaginations and bring every thought to the obedience of Christ. Scripture memorization and meditation will always overpower evil thoughts.
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8).
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians 10:5)
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11).
"But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night" (Psalm 1:2).
Never make excuses for lusting after the opposite gender. Doing so is a sin. It is condemned in the Word of God again and again. If you are having problems in this area, God can give you victory! Again, you must protect your eye gates. Satan is using television, Hollywood movies, DVD's and videos, the Internet and teen magizines to bombard your generation with explicit, sinful images. You need to eliminate these influences from your life.
"Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (James 1:15).
"For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flatter of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids" (Proverbs 6:23-25).
"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world....For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (I John 2:15-16).
Copyright 2004
by Ultimate Goal Publications
All rights Reserved
(Permission given by Author)
by Ultimate Goal Publications
All rights Reserved
(Permission given by Author)
What is your opinion on courting someone who has compromised their purity (assuming they have repented of their sin at the time they are entering into a courtship)?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that if that person has truly repented about what he/she has done, and they have asked for forgiveness, then I believe they should be looked at as someone who is going through a Biblical Courtship with the one they know is God's will.
People do make mistakes and they do find themselves in bad situations where they let their flesh take over. But, once they admit to their mistake and ask forgiveness I believe they should be allowed the chance to do things God's way!
I agree with you, Kirisina! Galatians 6:1 says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
ReplyDeleteHowever, it would be important in a courtship for the other person to recognize that the consequences of the sin would still be present in the marriage, even though there had been repentence and forgiveness.
~Becca
Kristina,
ReplyDeleteI just posted something I would like your input on.
Thanks,
Megan