Sermon Central
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Marriage
Contributed by Brian Yeager on Mar 1, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: A lesson outlining what God requires for scriptural marriages and includes information on the controversy of divorce.
Marriage By: Brian A. Yeager
Introduction:
A. Marriage is ordained [established] by God:
B. Marriage is a good thing (Proverbs 18:22).
1. Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage is honourable [as of great price, precious; held in honour, esteemed, especially dear] in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
a. The Bed [marriage bed] is undefiled [free from that by which the nature of a thing is deformed and debased, or its force and vigour impaired].
b. God authorizes that which is natural (Romans 1:24-27) in the marriage bed, which would be sinful to occur between two unmarried persons and would be called adultery.
2. I Corinthians 7:3 “Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.”
a. NKJV says: “Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.”
b. ASV 1901 says: “Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.”
D. Marriage is a covenant [binding agreement] for life (I Corinthians 7:39).
I. Who Are the Eligible Candidates For a Lawful Marriage?
A. An eligible man and woman:
1. A man and a woman not bound to another (Romans 7:1-3).
2. A man and woman who leave their families to start their own, not their ex’s to meet another (Ephesians 5:31).
3. If previously married the person seeking to enter into a second marriage would have to have been the one who “put away” their spouse for the cause of fornication, as this is the ONLY exception to the one man / one woman for life law that Christ put forth:
c. Every man is to have his OWN WIFE not someone else’s wife (I Corinthians 7:2).
4. A husband and a wife who have severed their marriage relationship must remain UNMARRIED or reconcile (I Corinthians 7:10-11).
a. There are those who argue what is known as the “mental divorce position” that constitutes the “waiting game”, in which the above scripture destroys that position. God does not approve of unlawful divorces, but he recognizes them (Romans 7:3).
b. Those who teach the mental divorce doctrine need to consider their application in the realm of salvation. EX: Mark 16:15-16 teaches: (believe – baptized – salvation). The Baptist change that to: (believe – salvation – baptized). Jesus said on the subject of divorce and remarriage Matthew 19:9: (fornication – divorce – remarriage). Mental divorce advocates say: (civil divorce – fornication – mental divorce). Application shows how absurd that position is in ALL CASES!!! If one can mentally divorce they can mentally marry, mentally be baptized, mentally commit murder, etc…
c. If "Mental Putting Away" were a valid arguement then what about the case of Joseph and Mary (Matthew 1:18-25).
B. Some argue God’s law of marriage and divorce only applies to Christians. However, the Bible uses the word “whosoever” in describing obedience (II John 9 and James 2:10). Notice also John 12:48, did Christ specify Christians only? NO!
1. Sin is transgression of the Law of Christ (I John 3:4).
2. Accountable men and women must repent of sin [transgression of the law of Christ] prior to conversion (Acts 3:19 and Acts 2:38).
a. Repentance means to change, not remain in a current sinful situation (Matthew 3:8 and Acts 26:20).
3. The logical conclusion of the above presented truth is this:
a. If alien sinners were not accountable to the law of Christ they would not have to repent and be converted.
b. One would be foolish to become a Christian as they would leave the life of freedom from law to one of bondage under the law.
4. Jesus sure bound the marriage law on those outside of the law (John 4:6-19).
5. John the Baptist did as well (Matthew 14:1-4).
C. The only authorized marriage is a heterosexual marriage, not homosexual marriage:
3. II Peter 2:6 / Cf. Genesis 18-19
II. Roles in the Marriage
A. The role of the man in the marriage:
1. The spiritual leader (I Corinthians 11:3).
a. The man being the spiritual leader is incorporated in the qualifications of an elder (I Timothy 3:5).
b. Notice the example of Noah and how his family was saved by his good leadership (Genesis 7:5;7 and I Peter 3:20).
c. Notice what Joshua was able to say, and men ask yourselves if you are leading your home enough to make this statement, or would you have to ask permission from the to even make this statement (Joshua 24:15)?
2. Men need to provide for their families (I Timothy 5:8).
a. Providing for your family does not remove the responsibilities of being the spiritual leader, loving your wife, and being a father to your children. Do not work so much that you forsake your more important duty of getting your family to Heaven!!
