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Road Test Relationship

1) Some experts believe that cohabiting before marriage allows couples to "road test" their relationship. However, research shows that couples who cohabit before marriage tend to have poorer quality marriages than those who don't. 2) The document discusses how cohabitation is a sin according to the Bible as it constitutes fornication. Cohabitation also undermines commitment in a relationship and weakens the marital bond. 3) Cohabitation can be injurious to any children from the relationship, whether they are born during cohabitation or after marriage, as it sets a poor example and may encourage children to also cohabitate.

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Sharomaine Salvacion
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73 views2 pages

Road Test Relationship

1) Some experts believe that cohabiting before marriage allows couples to "road test" their relationship. However, research shows that couples who cohabit before marriage tend to have poorer quality marriages than those who don't. 2) The document discusses how cohabitation is a sin according to the Bible as it constitutes fornication. Cohabitation also undermines commitment in a relationship and weakens the marital bond. 3) Cohabitation can be injurious to any children from the relationship, whether they are born during cohabitation or after marriage, as it sets a poor example and may encourage children to also cohabitate.

Uploaded by

Sharomaine Salvacion
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Written and edited by Ptr. Charlie M. Ponce Jr.

A Road Test Relationship

A practice acceptable to many people today is that of cohabitation before marriage. Where a
couple who intend to get married decide to live together first, some experts believed that “Living
together before marriage seems like a smart way to road test the relationship.” But living
together outside marriage may lead you to marry for all the wrong reasons or turn into a one way
trip to regret.
Today many people see cohabitation as sort of future laboratory for marriage, that living together
will help them make informed decisions regarding marriage.

I. The sin of cohabitation


 Marriage is Honorable

 The Bible speaks of the honor of marriage (Heb. 13:4)


 Marriage was first instituted by God (Mat. 19:4-6)
 It symbolizes the relationship between Christ and His church (Eph. 5:22-33)
 It also serves as a deterrent to fornication (sexual immorality) (1Cor. 7:2, 8-9)

 Cohabitation is Fornication

 Fornication is sex outside of the marriage bond


 The Greek word porneia includes “adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism,
intercourse with animals etc.” - Thayer
 Thus cohabitation falls under the condemnation described earlier (Heb. 13:4)
 It can keep one out of the kingdom of God (1Cor. 6:9 -10; Gal. 5:19 -21)

II. The stupidity of Cohabitation


 Cohabitation undermines commitment

Couples married couples who have lived together before exchanging vows tend to have poorer
quality marriages than couples who moved in after the wedding.
Research says;
 Many cohabitating couples get married, but without an explicit decision to commit.
 Men who cohabit are especially less likely to commit in a marriage relationship.
 The hesitancy to commit led them to choose cohabitation in the first place.
 The uncertainty about the relationship often continues after marriage.
Written and edited by Ptr. Charlie M. Ponce Jr.

Wartik referenced a 2004 study by psychologist Scott Stanley that found “that men who had lived
with their spouse premarital were on average less committed to their marriages than those who
had not”
 Cohabitation weakens the marital bond

 The experience of cohabitation itself is detrimental to the marriage bond


 Those who cohabit do not have the same moral imperative to remain faithful after
marriage
If we are willing to sin with each other before we marry, how do we know we cannot sin against
each other after we marry?
 A successful marriage is one built on trust; such trust is stronger among those who fear
the Lord more than they fear their spouse!

 Cohabitation injurious to children

 To children whose parents remain in cohabitation


 To children whose parents cohabitate and then marry
 Even if born after the marriage, the parents’ example of cohabitation will likely
encourage the children to follow in their steps

Conclusion:

Cohabitation is certainly no indication that one is serious about getting married. Many persons
have different standards for living partners than for life partners. The Biblical concept of
marriage is that life partners and living partners are to be the same.

a. That people do not live together until they are willing to commit their lives to one another
b. Such commitment strengthens the marriage bond and provides security for the children

If you desire the best for yourself and your children, then follow the Biblical concept of
marriage.

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