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What is an appropriate level of intimacy before marriage?



    
    

Clarify Share Report Asked July 01 2013 Mini Anonymous (via GotQuestions)

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24
Shea S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries
Ephesians 5:3 tells us, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity...because these are improper for God's holy people." Anything that even "hints"...

July 01 2013 9 responses Vote Up Share Report


5
Me Lynda Hickman Supporter Homemaker, plumber, carpenter, all around gearhead
Whether we are single and looking for a mate, married or single again after the parting of our mate, we are to be Christ's salt. Our lives must be as pure salt. We must not do anything that might cause our saltiness to become a footpath for men. 

Until we have become one in marriage, our intimacy is to be with the LORD and no other.

We all know salt always tastes like salt. A few grains of salt can bite the tongue in a way no other substance can. 
If told that salt was used to season food, someone who had never tasted salt might think that all those foods tasted alike. Like salt. 
But we know better. Imagine a ripe tomato without salt, or an egg, even a slice of watermelon. Salt enhances flavors like no other seasoning can.

In Matt 5:13 Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt loss it's flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot of men."

But in truth, salt never loses it's saltiness. It is by it's very nature "salty."
So what did our LORD mean?

Matthew Henry reminds us that while the prophets of old were the salt carried into Canaan, the apostles and the believers who followed (that's us!) were to bring the salt, that is, Christ's glorious gospel to the world.

But how can one who is the "salt of the earth" lose the saltiness?

Again I will reference from M. Henry who said that Christians were to be well seasoned with salt, immersed in and full of His gospel and His grace so that it can shared. If we are empty, if we are devoid of His salt, how then can we share it?

In Mark 9:50, speaking to His disciples, Jesus again mentions salt. He suggests that it can lose it's flavor, and His final words are, "Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

Salt is one of the absolutes of life. Without salt, there can be no life. Salt can make a bland food taste wonderful. It can make a dull piece of meat taste savory and rich. But if the salt has become adulterated and mixed with dirt, it is useless. Why would anyone put dirty salt on their food?

Our lives are to be clean salt, well kept, white and fine grained. We are to be well seasoned with His Gospel, our thoughts and affections, our words and actions (M. Henry) are to be well seasoned with pure salt.
And when our lives are salty, we can have peace with one another.

And if we are not, the salt has certainly lost it's savor.

Let GOD be glorified with every word, every action, every thought. And if our thoughts wander, then because His gospel dwells in it's fullness in our hearts, we can bring "every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Cor 10:5) 

Always remember that the darkness of the world around us wants nothing more than to defile our salt. It is the enemy's ultimate goal!

And if by and through the senses, the intimacy that is for the LORD alone is given to another before it's time, the enemy has succeeded.

There can be no compromising, we must not surrender our commission. 
The lives of those we meet every day depend on our salt!

April 11 2015 1 response Vote Up Share Report


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