Q3. What is a relationship?
http://www.titusinstitute.com/datingbible/relationshipsdatingbible.php For the full story, but here is the abstract- The bible describes 3 types of relationships.
1. Friendships.Proverbs 17:17. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
--- commitment to fulfil the responsibility of a friend
--- care for the welfare of the friend
--- affection
2. Brother- sister in Christ
--- Commitment to fulfil the responsibility of a fellow-believer in Christ
--- care for the spiritual growth of that individual.
3. Marriage
---Genesis 2:2424 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
--- commitment to fulfil the responsibility God ordains for the husband/wife
-- care and concern for the spiritual, emotional, physical and mental welfare of marriage partner.
-- romantic desire/attraction, intimacy, sexual desire/attraction.
So what about dating without thinking about marriage?
- simply doesn't exists in the bible. The purpose of romantic intimacy and romantic expression is for marriage. Once our feelings are expressed and shared, the deepest part of us becomes vulnerable to another.
- so guard your heart!
So the last type of relationship is relationship dating. Dating for the purpose of getting to know each other for marriage.
How do we know what love is? Christ demonstrated it first :D. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8.
