...God recognizes systems and structures that man puts in place (except that HE is not pleased with anything that is against HIS word or will).

It is because God reckons with systems and structures that are in place that the Bible instructs clearly that we submit to authority.

It is therefore proper for a man and a woman who want to get married to do so legitimately by following the process recognized in their environment - NOT just start living together and having sex.

To think we can just start living together and having sex according to our pleasure without following the recognized process of getting married is a lie from the devil! It is fornication in the sight of God as per Bible contents.

We must keep at the back of our minds that the Bible already says concerning the heart of man, that it is desperately wicked and deceitful above all things. Follow the Bible please!

And yes, Isaac, hell will be a very crowded place indeed!

The Bible makes that clear!

See Luke 13:
23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Thanks all, for your contributions. It is really heavy when you expect you can look up to a person for truth because the person is a Christian but you get the opposite!

Hello all. One issue that has bothered me so much is the freedom with which I have experienced some believers telling lies with consistence and with ease. How do you handle this?

A neighbor of mine in a new environment is supposed to be a pastor but I have been shocked at the manner and style with which he has consistently told lies for gain.

In running the Christian race, we all need to be very careful and vigilant, because our adversary the devil, who has been a liar from the very beginning is an expert in convincing vulnerable hearts that lies are truth...exactly as he did with Eve in the garden of Eden.

I was corresponding with a friend who I thought was a very good Christian and loving the LORD (he was even talking about full time Christian Ministry).

I got the shock of my life when discourse extended to the subject of premarital sex. I reproduce below his own understanding of sex outside of marriage - including pre-marital sex:

"embracing Our Lord's great gift in celebration of His holy Name..."

He has convinced himself that in engaging in sex with someone he is not married to, he is only embracing the LORD's gift in celebration of God's holy name.

What a lie from the pit of hell! Sin (whether it is committed with the body or with the mind or with the mouth or whatever, NEVER pleases God and does NOT celebrate God's holy name!

Wishing you God's favor and support - as you depend completely on HIM and HIS leading.

Hi, Isaac,

Actually, God's word is God's word. When it says for instance:

But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death (Rev 21.8)

It means just that!

And marriage is marriage irrespective of the procedure recognized in a given society. If the process of getting married in a particular culture or environment is for the intended couple to jump over a broom (as practiced amongst slaves in the very dark and inhuman days of slavery in America) in the full glare of friends, relatives or well-wishers, then a man and a woman who go through that process become man and wife!

In Nigeria, people have various options of marriage processes: an intending couple could opt to go through the traditional/customary procedure or get married at a marriage registry or do a Church solemnization. Moslems also opt for Islamic processes. Whatever, the process, marriage is marriage and it becomes binding in the sight of God, once the process concludes.

1st Corinthians Chapter 7 is very clear and specific (see verses 1 -2 and 8-9 reproduced below):

1 Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations.

2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

8 So I say to those who are no��t married and to widows - it is better to stay unmarried, just as I am.

9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It is better to marry than to burn with lust.
_____________________

Obviously from the above and many other verses of the Bible, pre-marital sex (fornication)is not only wrong but abhorred by God. The only sex that is spiritually legitimate is sex within marriage. This is the stand of God in the Bible.

In fact, in the old testament, the penalty for death outside of marriage was death. Today, no church will stone or burn anyone but a Christian who indulges in it without repentance will go to hell...because it is sin in the sight of God. It must be repented of just like every other sin must be repented of.

I am aware that in the west (especially), people live together as 'partners' just as if they were married and it is so widespread that it looks normal and right. But in the light of God's word, it is sin! Please get married and have sex, if you can't cope without sex.

1st Corinthians Chapter 7 is very clear and specific (see verses 1 -2 and 8-9 reproduced below):

1 Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations.

2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

8 So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am.

9 But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It’s better to marry than to burn with lust.
_____________________

Obviously from the above and many other verses of the Bible, pre-marital sex (fornication)is not only wrong but abhorred by God. The only sex that is spiritually legitimate is sex within marriage. This is the stand of God in the Bible.

In fact, in the old testament, the penalty for death outside of marriage was death. Today, no church will stone or burn anyone but a Christian who indulges in it without repentance will go to hell...because it is sin in the sight of God. It must be repented of just like every other sin must be repented of.

I am aware that in the west (especially), people live together as 'partners' just as if they were married and it is so widespread that it looks normal and right. But in the light of God's word, it is sin! Please get married and have sex, if you can't cope without sex.

Beautyfrompain, thanks for reminding me about this....there is always something to work on.

I realize that backsliding is not only about returning to cheating or adultery or lies. It is also about any form of decline from the way we once loved God deeply... that deep love that made the word of God so sweet and perfect to our hearts...before we became encumbered with countless desires and activities that left us with less time for study of God's word, prayer and Christian fellowship...etc..etc.

Thanks for the reminder.

Maranatha...come quickly, LORD JESUS. Home(heaven) is peace...perfect peace!

A topic indeed that we must keep reminding ourselves about. We must be ready for the LORD's return...sweet home...heaven...maranatha - come LORD JESUS. Amen!

Hi, Uche9aa.
In the lighter mood, really, I have been wondering at your choice of profile photo...is this also part of the spirituality -inside and out? Please don't get offended...I have really wondered for a long time!

Now...to the topic; spirituality does not stop married people from being Romantic. Many factors could be responsible for this sister's case...hopefully, confidential counseling fished out the reasons and helped out.

I also think going out rightly to a church committee was not the wisest as a first external step...would have been best to first confide in any good Christian that the couple feel free with.

Dear LORD JESUS,

I join my faith with Ladywind7's faith and I ask of you in agreement with her, that YOU, oh LORD will help her in the difficult choice she has to make....give her wisdom and strength...let YOUR will be done in the decision that she takes. I ask this in JESUS name. Amen!!!

All the signs are already here: Apart from 2nd Timothy contents reproduced below, there are several very specific Bible prophecies on end-time that are being fulfilled. Rather than think that it is still a far-away time, it is best to prepare!

2nd Timothy Chapter 3:
1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

9But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

...By grace alone indeed can we do anything in line with God's will.

Dear Ladywind7

Today, my heart is somewhat consoled... my biggest trauma has been questions about a person having to die is such a gruesome manner and yet without knowing JESUS CHRIST...plus the pains of the implications of a person dying like that in vain...without Christ.

Sure, you know that many have died like that without Christ.

But today, I am consoled by the information in your post that videos showed many whispering JESUS name. Halleluiah!

I don't have the heart to watch the videos

LORD JESUS COME!

JESUS told the thief who repented on the cross, Today you will be with me in paradise".

Christian dead do NOT remain in the grave after death. It is a misunderstanding of scripture!

2nd Corinthians Chapter 5:
1For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

4For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Keep trusting the LORD, brother Marc Short. HE will do it for you in HIS own time. Always remember also, that JESUS knows about your loneliness. I believe that HE is confident that it will not overwhelm you or push you into any wrong step.

Amen.