— “True love is not proven by touch, but by holiness.”
📖 Summary
Christian dating is not for exploring physical pleasure
but for preparing for marriage in holiness.
Physical intimacy before marriage is sexual immorality,
because it misuses what God designed for covenant love.
Love proves itself by restraint, not indulgence.
1️⃣ Introduction | “Everyone does it — isn’t it natural?”
Modern dating culture says,
“A kiss isn’t sin.”
“As long as we don’t go all the way, it’s fine.”
But Scripture says love is not emotional license —
it’s the practice of holiness.
2️⃣ Biblical Foundation | Purity Is God’s Will
📘 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 (ESV) — “Flee from sexual immorality.”
📘 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 (ESV) — “This is the will of God: your sanctification.”
📘 Song of Songs 2:7 (ESV) — “Do not awaken love until it pleases.”
→ Love must wait for covenant.
Passion outside marriage is rebellion, not romance.
3️⃣ Theological Insight | The Reformed Understanding of Premarital Purity
📜 John MacArthur — The Fulfilled Family
“True love waits.
Every physical act before marriage crosses the boundary of holiness.”
📜 R.C. Sproul — The Intimate Marriage
“Sexual intimacy belongs only to the covenant of marriage.”
📜 John Piper — This Momentary Marriage
“Restraint is the real evidence of love.”
📜 Tim Keller — The Meaning of Marriage
“Intimacy before commitment is consumption, not love.”
📜 Westminster Larger Catechism Q138
“We must avoid all provocations and occasions of unchastity.”
4️⃣ Misconceptions vs Biblical Truth
| Misconception | Root | Biblical Correction |
|---|---|---|
| “As long as we don’t have sex.” | Minimalism | Lust begins in the heart. (Matt 5:28) |
| “It’s just natural.” | Fleshly reasoning | Nature is fallen. (Rom 7:18) |
| “We love each other.” | Emotionalism | Love seeks holiness. (1 Thess 4:3) |
| “We’ll marry anyway.” | Presumption | Intimacy follows covenant. (Gen 2:24) |
5️⃣ Application | Guarding Purity in Dating
1️⃣ Guard your heart before your hand.
2️⃣ Prioritize spiritual intimacy over physical closeness.
3️⃣ Avoid private, tempting settings.
4️⃣ Stay accountable within your community.
5️⃣ Remember: your partner belongs to God, not to you.
6️⃣ Conclusion | Love That Waits Glorifies God
True love never rushes what God designed for covenant.
God’s people are called not to see how far they can go,
but how pure they can stay.
“Love without holiness fades.
Love with holiness endures.” — Revito
Faith. Truth. Renewal. — Revito
🔖 Hashtags
#ChristianDating #Purity #Holiness #Boundaries #1Corinthians6 #1Thessalonians4 #SongOfSongs2 #JohnMacArthur #RCSproul #JohnPiper #TimKeller #WestminsterCatechism #FaithTruthRenewal #Revito
