Between Modesty and Marriage:
Physical Purity
Building Physical Purity on the Right Foundation
What is Physical Purity?
Definition:
"Putting modesty and emotional purity into practice with self-control."
Two Essential Character Qualities
If these are not learned now, it will seriously affect all other areas of your life.
What is Patience?
Definition:
"A complete trust in God's faithfulness and sovereignty in my life."
- This implies that a young adult is "making his faith his own."
- Discernment in seeking the right timing for everything in my life.
"The right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing!"
What is Self-Control?
Definition:
"A God-given ability to gain mastery over my own thoughts, feelings, and physical body."
- What kind of physical contact is appropriate only within the marriage relationship?
- What kind of physical contact is appropriate before marriage?
God's Purpose for Physical Intimacy
- Acts as "superglue" for the marriage bond.
- Provides companionship and pleasure between partners.
- Acts as a deterrent to temptation.
- Produces children who can be raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Reserved for Marriage
- Physical intimacy, and anything that would create a desire for physical intimacy, should be reserved for the marriage relationship.
- We should have protections in place before marriage to serve as brakes for strong emotions and desires.
- The goal would be not to let the emotional sled even start downhill!
Protections Before Marriage
- Fellowship in group settings, especially in the context of family and church.
- Accountability with parents and godly friends.
- Personal standards and convictions, developed through understanding God's standards and your specific circumstances.
- Family standards: curfews and permission to fellowship based on discernment of others' character.
- The True Love Waits campaign and Josh McDowell's book Why True Love Waits. The use of purity jewelry.
- Avoid any appearance of evil.
- Have the mindset of pursuing righteousness, instead of seeing how close you can get to some imaginary line without going over it.
Grace for Transgression
- Unfortunately, even Christians are susceptible to failure and sin. But God provides a way of forgiveness.
- Examine yourself.
- Parents: if you have failed in this area, you can confess that and pray that God would do a new thing in your family now.
- Teens: even though there are continuing consequences, God can give you a brand new start.
Family Activity
- Take time to reflect and discuss family standards for maintaining physical purity.