Live-in Relationships and Civil Marriage in the Bible
In the society where we live in today, it is a common thing that we come across single parents – either they had failed marriages so they separated, or they just happened to beget children out of wedlock.
Whichever is the case, these single moms or single dads usually look for another partner, and then they live together even without entering into marriage at all. Given this situation, the question that might arise is, is it wrong for a man and a woman to live together outside marriage, specifically a marriage that is officiated by a priest or a pastor?
Actually, a civil wedding is much better than a religious wedding. In wedding ceremonies officiated by priests or pastors you would be required to give offerings and you have to pay a certain amount. They make money out of it. But biblically speaking, it is not really the marriage certificate that matters most but the sincerity of both parties to live together as husband and wife.
GALATIANS 3:15 says,
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s
covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
It is very clear that, if both parties come up with a mutual agreement to live together as husband and wife, it is already acknowledged by God – even if they were not married by a priest. You see, there is nowhere in the Bible will you find that Joseph and Mary got married, or that there was a wedding ceremony that took place at all.
MATTHEW 1:18-20 says,
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother
Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found
with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her
a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord
appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not
to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the
Holy Ghost.
It means that they were betrothed or engaged to be married. But before the actual wedding ceremony took place Mary was found with a child because God made her an instrument for the birth of Christ. At first, Joseph decided to put Mary away because he thought that she became unfaithful to him. Until the angel told him, “fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife . . .”
But what was clear was that Mary was already acknowledged as Joseph’s wife even if they were just engaged then. And even if there was no formal wedding ceremony yet, God regarded Joseph and Mary as a couple already.
This is just to prove that the pact between a man and a woman is more important than a marriage certificate. Even if you have all the documents signed before a priest, they would all be useless if the contracting parties would not be true to their wedding vows and would just keep on fighting day and night. That is why it would be best to assess everything first before entering into an agreement to live with someone. Foremost, you have to be sure that the person you decide to live with truly loves you despite your past. But if you start to feel that he is taking you for granted, better watch out because that is a manifestation that he doesn’t really love you. Better find a man who would love you very much and who would care for you even if you have a child out of wedlock. If he truly loves you, he would also accept and love your child, and he would provide all your needs, both material and emotional.
I TIMOTHY 5:8 says,
But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own
house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
For God, anyone who does not care for his own, especially for his family is considered wicked. Irresponsible fathers and irresponsible mothers are regarded by the Bible as wicked. So, if you see that your partner right now does not care for his household, you are in trouble. There is a big possibility that you might spend the rest of your life in misery if you would stick to that man.
Think very well before deciding to spend your life with someone until death.
A good eye opener for all lovers before entering the vow of a married life. A warning to refrain from entering hell like household
ReplyDeleteVery enlightening to those play up with relationships.
ReplyDeleteTo God be the Glory!
ReplyDeleteHad I known of this biblical truth earlier, I would not be suffering of a broken family now...
ReplyDeleteThe biblical truth here is wonderful and it can stop a broken family life for a super and meaningful christian love affair till death.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, if a man really loves you ,he would accept and love your child also.🙂
ReplyDeleteMaraming nagkakasal kuno sa mga iglesia, pero di nila alam ituro yang aral ng Dios. Ang mahirap pa, yung ipinagsama daw ng dios nila, batas ng tao ang naghihiwalay.
ReplyDeleteAmen...
DeleteThanks be to God or this insight.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful explanation thank God.
ReplyDeleteRelationship between man and woman is a sacred vow in the eyes of God so it is bound by God's laws for us to righteous!
ReplyDeleteTo God be the Glory!
If this will be the guiding principle of all the people then we will have a better life and few problems in our country since the basic unit of society is the family.
ReplyDeleteIt's really a must to assess both your feelings toward each other. You can't risk livong together if there is even a pinch of doubt. You must both accept each other's past for you to live a harmonious relationship by living together. together.
ReplyDeleteAn eye opener for those who seek the truth about relationship which the bible teaches
ReplyDeleteTo God be the Glory!
Thank's be to God for the enlightenment.. To God be all the Glory..
ReplyDeleteVery enlightening...To God be the Glory...
ReplyDeleteVery enlightening...To God be the Glory...
ReplyDeleteFor almost 7 years we're happy and contented even without married,.
ReplyDelete“But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.”
ReplyDeleteI Corinthians 7:8-9 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/1co.7.8-9.nkjv
Many have entered into a relationship not because they love each other but just because of the lust of their flesh, so there's no assurance that said relationship would last. Everyone should learn the love that is being taught by the bible as it is the greatest. Glory be to God...
ReplyDeleteTo God be the Glory!! ☺️😊
ReplyDeleteMangangaral ko yan 💞
ReplyDeleteTo God be the glory. The teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ must be obeyed.
DeleteThanks be to God. Very informative biblical wisdom.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good eye-opener and wakening call for us at an early age. truly, it is not the marriage certificate that matters, it is about the two contracting person in a relationship to stay beside each other until death. Entering a relationship is not just a one shot deal anyone can take. It should undergo assessment before deciding o go thru it and ensure that the one you are in a relationship with is your true half that fitted in your life and you in him as well.
ReplyDeleteI believe this because choosing someone is like a choosing your future. You need a take time to find someone who really deserve spending your life because if you have wrong decision it's so hard to recover or come back the past so that's why think very well.
ReplyDeleteAs I read in this story said here that Marriage is important or in other words the Church Blessings is important to prove that you is truly Married and have a title. But for God, Jose and Maria is true partner even if they not Married because for God the true Married is being true to your partner that you will love her so much even if he|she had a Child. For me God is correct, because we do not need to have a title to prove that we are partner. Real love is enough to prove it.
ReplyDeleteyessss you should find a man who'll bring out the best and worst in you.
ReplyDeletereflection
ReplyDeleteBe wise to choose your man. choose a man who accept you who you are , accept your badsides and accept you even you have a child out of wedlock. A man cares for you, priority you , spend time with you and the best is love you more
before you married him.
It is important to wait your the one. But if the destiny is not working on you might as well try find it.Don't just choose someone just because you think he/she is the one. Choose him/her because he is worth choosing for. Loving someone means accepting each other's flaws even though he/she has child. Acceptance is also important in loving someone.
ReplyDeleteyes, it's true that before you commit your self to other's you should think very well with asking the guide of God.
ReplyDeleteI believe that you should wait to the person for the right time. God is have a good plan for you.
ReplyDeleteThis will enlighten every relationships to be more faithful towards their partners. Being faithful is enough even without marriage certificate.
ReplyDeleteThe only way to succeed is to believe in god but , you family are included to your successful , more or less you have to cherish them as long as god are with us , protect our family and love them every single day.
ReplyDeleteit is importand to wait to someone for sure that the someone is real man for you. what thing you do is accept her with heart and trust. the person who care you and priority of you is a good man for you.
ReplyDeleteYou should choose a better man. a man who loves you very much , spend time with you and cares for you always.
ReplyDeleteA man who accepts you even you have a flaws into your life , who you are in your past and accept your child out of wedlock. Be sure that is the right man for you, before you married him.
It is important to wait your the one. But if the destiny is not working on you might as well try find it.Don't just choose someone just because you think he/she is the one. Choose him/her because he is worth choosing for. Loving someone means accepting each other's flaws even though he/she has child. Acceptance is also important in loving someone.
ReplyDeleteIn relationships ideally we see it as full of expression of love, but the reality also consists of fight and misunderstanding yes think very well to choose someone until death to have a good relationship after that God will be the Center between your relationship and his word because the word of God it will never past away so I mean God is a strong foundation in our lives no one can break you and to your partner always ask God to confirm it is she or he and that’s all thank you and God Bless.
ReplyDeleteFor me you should chose the person that you love the most and sure that you chosen people is love you the most.
ReplyDeleteif you are married to a woman and can only take a decision to divorce, it is also difficult to become a parent who will support the children and also the child will have difficulty understanding your situation
ReplyDeletei believe in this topic because married is a good thing to say promise in god especially in your partner this is a one thing that you share in your child because marriage is so important in ourself.
ReplyDeleteIt is very important to choose a partner in life but we should think first to choose a partner. Trust the God and pray for your decisions in life.
ReplyDeleteyes, you should need to think very well, before you commit yourself to other's. but always pray and let your decision on jesus christ because he have a good plan for us
ReplyDeleteIf he truly loves you, he would also accept and love your child, and he would provide all your needs, both material and emotional.
ReplyDeleteFor me this real life story from bible really inspire people now a days
ReplyDeleteIt's such a wonderful explanation. It's true that if a man really loves you, he would accept and love your child out of wedlock. Be wise to choose your man who'll love you for who you are, a man who will accept your flaw and a man who'll bring out the best and worst on you.
ReplyDeleteCivil marriage is held in front of the church and the priest and above all in the lord and the love in relationship is the two people who love each other and unity to each other but they never say too our beloved lord a promise that they will live together and have a family
ReplyDeleteI like that
ReplyDeletewisdom from God
ReplyDelete♡♡♡♡♡
ReplyDeleteAmen.... Thanks be to God.
ReplyDeleteThanks be to God.. Salamat sa Dios, it enlighten me, because there were sometimes that some people judge as because I and my partner/husband are living together though we're not yet married or we're not yet engaged in a civil wedding or any ceremony.. but we're living together as a real husband and wife we care, respect,and love each other..
ReplyDelete