The Glory of God in Christian Dating Relationships
The glory of God refers to the manifestation of His divine attributes, such as His majesty, power, and holiness [1]. It is exhibited in various ways, including through Christ, His name, His works, and His Church [1]. The concept of glorifying God in Christian dating relationships means conducting these relationships in a manner that honors and reflects God's character and purposes.
Central to this idea is the understanding that all of life, including relationships, should be lived for God's praise [6]. The apostle Paul states, "I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God" [3]. This suggests that believers can find a basis for glorying in God through Christ in all aspects of their lives. The affections of believers should be supremely set upon God, and Christ claims the first place in these affections [4]. Love for Christ is demonstrated by obeying Him and preferring Him above all others [2].
In the context of dating, glorifying God involves aligning one's desires and actions with His will. This means seeking God's guidance in choosing a partner and pursuing the relationship in a way that reflects Christian virtues. The church itself is described as the bride of Christ, highlighting the sacred nature of marital union and, by extension, the relationships that lead to it [5]. The "godly jealousy" Paul expresses for the Corinthian church, desiring to present them as a pure virgin to Christ, illustrates a concern for spiritual purity in relationships [8, 10]. This "jealousy of God" is for His honor and glory, and for the spiritual welfare of believers [8, 10].
The glory of God is also seen in His grace, particularly in the predestination of believers to adoption, which is for "the praise of the glory of his grace" [6, 7]. This divine grace underpins the Christian's ability to live a life that glorifies God, including in their relationships. When individuals pursue dating relationships with a focus on honoring God, they are participating in the broader purpose of God's glory being known throughout the earth [11].
The concept of "glory" also extends to the church as the body of Christ, which derives its excellency and glory from God and Christ [5]. This implies that individual relationships within the church, including dating, contribute to the overall witness and glory of the Christian community. The ideal of redeemed humanity is represented by the bride, the Church, where both man and woman together realize this ideal in Christ [9].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glory of God, The — Exhibited in Christ -- Joh 1:14; 2Co 4:6; Heb 1:3. Exhibited in His name. -- De 28:58; Ne 9:5. His majesty. -- Job 37:22; Ps 93:1; 104:1; 145:5,12; Isa 2:10. His power. -- Ex 15:1,6; Ro 6:4. His works. -- Ps 19:1; 111:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11. Described as Great. -- Ps 138:5. Eternal. -- Ps 104:31. Rich. -- Eph 3:16. Highly exalted. -- Ps 8:1; 113:4. Exhibited to Moses. -- Ex 34:5-7; 33:18-23. Stephen. -- Ac 7:55. His Church. -- De 5:24; Ps 102:16. Enlightens the Church -- Isa 60:1,2; Re 21:11,23. Saints desire to behold -- Ps 63:2; 90:16. God”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to Christ — Exhibited by God -- Mt 17:5; Joh 5:20. Exhibited by saints -- 1Pe 1:8. His personal excellence is deserving of -- Song 5:9-16. His love to us a motive to -- 2Co 5:14. Manifested in Seeking him. -- Song 3:2. Obeying him. -- Joh 14:15,21,23. Ministering to him. -- Mt 27:55; 25:40. Preferring him to all others. -- Mt 10:37. Taking up the cross for Him. -- Mt 10:38. A characteristic of saints -- Song 1:4. An evidence of adoption -- Joh 8:42. Should be Sincere. -- Eph 6:24. With the soul. -- Song 1:7. In proportion to our mercies. -- Lu 7:47. Supreme. -- ”
- King James Version “[KJV] Romans 15:17 — I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affections, The — Should be supremely set upon God -- De 6:3; Mr 12:30. Should be set Upon the commandments of God. -- Ps 19:8-10; 119:20,97,103,167. Upon the house and worship of God. -- 1Ch 29:3; Ps 26:8; 27:4; 84:1,2. Upon the people of God. -- Ps 16:3; Ro 12:10; 2Co 7:13-15; 1Th 2:8. Upon heavenly things. -- Col 3:1,2. Should be zealously engaged for God -- Ps 69:9; 119:139; Ga 4:18. Christ claims the first place in -- Mt 10:37; Lu 14:26. Enkindled by communion with Christ -- Lu 24:32. Blessedness of making God the object of -- Ps 91:14. Should not grow cold -- P”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of the Church, The — Derived from God -- Isa 28:5. Derived from Christ -- Isa 60:1; Lu 2:34. Result from the favour of God -- Isa 43:4. God delights in -- Ps 45:11; Isa 62:3-5. Saints delight in -- Isa 66:11. Consist in its Being the seat of God's worship. -- Ps 96:6. Being the temple of God. -- 1Co 3:16,17; Eph 2:21,22. Being the body of Christ. -- Eph 1:22,23. Being the bride of Christ. -- Ps 45:13,14; Re 19:7,8; 21:2. Being established. -- Ps 48:8; Isa 33:20. Eminent position. -- Ps 48:2; Isa 2:2. Graces of character. -- Song 2:14. Perfection ”
- King James Version “[KJV] Ephesians 1:6 — To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 1:6: To the praise of the glory of his grace,.... The grace of God manifestly appears in the predestination of men to adoption; in that God had no need of sons, he having a dear and well beloved one; in whom he is well pleased; and in that those he adopts are so unworthy of the relation; and in that men, and not angels, should be taken by him into his family; and that some, and not others of the same race; and that this should be before the world was; and in providing Christ as a Redeemer, to open the way for the reception of this grace and happiness; and in appointing t”
- 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 11:2: For I am jealous--The justification of his self-commendations lies in his zealous care lest they should fall from Christ, to whom he, as "the friend of the Bridegroom" (Joh 3:29), has espoused them; in order to lead them back from the false apostles to Christ, he is obliged to boast as an apostle of Christ, in a way which, but for the motive, would be "folly." godly jealousy--literally, "jealousy of God" (compare Co2 1:12, "godly sincerity," literally, "sincerity of God"). "If I am immoderate, I am immoderate to God" [BENGEL]. A jealousy which”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 11:11: Yet neither sex is insulated and independent of the other in the Christian life [ALFORD]. The one needs the other in the sexual relation; and in respect to Christ ("in the Lord"), the man and the woman together (for neither can be dispensed with) realize the ideal of redeemed humanity represented by the bride, the Church.”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 11:2: For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy,.... He lets them know it was not so much on his own account, or at all with any selfish views, or for any secular interest of his own, that he was so concerned, but it was "a godly jealousy", or a "zeal of God"; which he was inspired with by God, and which was for the honour and glory of God, even Jesus Christ, who is God overall; and for their real good and spiritual welfare, as a church of Christ, that possessed him, which put him upon saying what he was about to do; and what affected him the more was, when he co”
- Habakkuk (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Habakkuk 2:13: For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,.... Of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ; of the glory of his person, as the Son of God, and truly God; which is essential to him, and underived; the same with his Father's, and what transcends the glory of all created beings; and of the glory of his office as Mediator, which itself is glorious and honourable: and this his glory lies in his fitness for it; in his faithful performance of it, and the honour given him by his Father upon it; as well as in the fulness of grace in him, which makes”