Justice Anoop Dhand, Rajasthan High Court, delivered the judgment while hearing a plea for protection filed by an 18-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man from Kota, who told the court that they were living together out of free will. Two consenting adults, though not of marriageable age, have the right to have live-in relationships, and the State has to provide protection from their relatives. (Times of India 5 December 2025) First, they rejected God’s commandment of marriage; second, they violated the nation’s law of marriageable age; and third, they chose a live-in relationship agreement and started living together.
God’s Law of marriage: God established the institution of marriage. Even in Paradise, the Garden of Eden, Adam was lonely. God gave Adam a deep sleep, removed his rib and created Eve to be his wife. They will be of one flesh. (Genesis 2:22) The Bible teaches that if a person violates one commandment of the Law, has violated all of it. (James 2:10) When the couple reject God’s commandment and covenant of marriage, they have rejected all of God’s laws.
Human Laws: God is the God of order and not chaos. Hence, he has ordained the system of governance and appointed leaders to run it. Generally, the laws are for the benefit of people. But none of the governments is perfect, and a few are oppressive. Laws like the marriageable age for men and women are determined by the government, so that families can be mature, functional, and dynamic. Child marriages affect both men and women physically, emotionally and mentally.
Live-in relationships: Sadly, in many countries, the concept of a couple living together without being legally married has become a trend. Many celebrities have endorsed and modelled this. Even if the whole world thinks that Live-in relationships are right, it is not right, just, correct or appropriate in God’s eyes. This non-legal and non-spiritual relationship trivialises the marriage covenant. “Let marriage be held in honour among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Hebrews 13:4)
Do I know, understand, and obey God’s laws?