GOD HAS NO COMMON LAW MARRIAGE! Jesus told a woman, “THE MAN YOU ARE NOW LIVING WITH IS NOT YOUR HUSBAND” [Jn 4:18 AMP]. Living like you are married without being married is not common law, it is fornication. When Jesus tells us "FORNICATION" is a sin that defiles us, He lists it with equally serious sins like "THEFT, MURDER, ADULTERY"  etc [Mk 7:21-22 NRS]. However today there are lots of unmarried couples living together, many of whom are openly proud of claiming they follow Jesus and even bragging they are studying the bible together, ignoring that God considers fornication a sin. Yes, others may think their life style is okay with God, which may cause other "PEOPLE TO SIN" [Mt 18:7 NI]. Jesus says in the end times there will be an "INCREASE OF WICKEDNESS" [Mt 24:12 NI]. Many live a sinful life style and Jesus says, "BROAD IS THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, AND MANY ENTER THROUGH IT" [Mt 7:13 NI], which Jesus calls "ETERNAL PUNISHMENT" [Mt 25:46 NI] and describes as a place where "THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED" [Mk 9:48 NI], which is also called hell. What is the other choice? Jesus mentions people who "STAY SINGLE FOR THE SAKE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" [Mt 7:13 CE]. Although that statement is usually considered for people who spend their lives single, it can apply to single people before marriage or between marriages. Many considering divorce would work harder on their marriage, if they realized God would want them to refrain from sex, while they are single. How do we help those currently unmarried who sin by living like they are married? Encouraging them to get married is a start (or share this teaching). Many naively think they are preparing for a better marriage by living like they are married, even though statistics show that couples who live together before they are married will have a greater chance of failure in their marriage. How do we treat people who are unmarried but living like they are married? Jesus, our role model, gave us an example of a woman who was married and divorced five times and was not married to the man she was living with. Jesus offered her eternal life and God used her in ministry to go tell the men in her village about Jesus [Jn 4:6-30].  Help people get closer to God and God will clean up their lives. Do you pray for people who need to be married? Home, Basic,  Subjects, Scriptures