Marriage

This is about marriage in the plan of God. St. Luke 20:27-38, “Then some of the Saducees, who deny that there is a resurrection came to Him and asked Him. saying: Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife and he dies without children his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife and died without children, and the second took her a wife and died childless. then the third took her and in like manner the seven also and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife. Jesus answered and said to them. The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God being sons of the resurrection. But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, whether called the Lord, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. for He is not the God of the dead but of the living for all live to Him. Then some of the scribes answered and said, teacher you have spoken well. but after that they dared not question Him anymore.

From this passage it is clear that marriage is an institution for mankind on earth, not to be carried through in Heaven. It is also clear that one of the major reasons for the institution of marriage is the perpetuation of the human race in a tight, ordered family structure maintained by Biblical precepts such as those described in this account of one aspect of religious beliefs relating to marriage.

About the first marriage described in the Bible God said in Gen. 1:26-28, "Let us make man in our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.

DIVORCE DISCOURAGED

Jesus discussed the importance of the continuation of marriage in Matt. 19:3-9, “The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason? And He answered and said to them, Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female; and said for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. therefore what God has joined together let not man separate. They said to Him, why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away? He said to them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery, and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."

Paul expanded on the concept of marriage in I Cor. 7:1-16, Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self- control. But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment, for I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord; a wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. But to the rest, I, not the Lord, say: if any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.. for the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know O husband, whether you will save your wife?

The importance of Godly attitudes toward marriage is underscored again in 1st Peter 3:1-7, “Wives likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not believe they without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward, arranging the hair, wearing gold or putting on fine apparel - rather, let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves being submissive to their own husbands. as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord,, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. Husbands, likewise, deal with them with understanding giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of God, that your prayer may not be hindered·”

AGREEMENT

Paul emphasizes the importance of selecting our companions from those who share a common belief in he Lord Jesus Christ so that our lives may be more successful and satisfying.

2 Cor 6:14-18, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? and what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for you are the temple of the living God, as God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people. therefore, come out from among them e Fatheto you and you shall be son do not touch what is unclean. And I will receive you. I will be a Father to you and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord almighty.”

The importance of associating with other believers earlier was emphasized in Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” This agreement between two people is particularly important in marriage where discord and disagreement are especially destructive not only to the loving relationship between husband and wife but also to all of the members within the family circle. It is impossible to develop trust and confidence in a relationship that is not based on commonly shared beliefs and goals. For that reason it is essential that marriage not be based solely on physical attraction between the man and woman or viewed as a source of financial or social security. Rather marriage should be based upon sound philosophical and spiritual beliefs held in common by both partners in the marital relationship.

To understand the role of marriage in our interrelationships it is necessary to understand the inportance God places upon the institution of marriage and of its symbolic significance as an example of the relationship God has with the church which is composed of all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible is clear that God considers Himself married to those believers who trust in His name.

TWO AS ONE

Marriage is an example of the relationship Jesus Christ has with His church, the born-again believers in Jesus Christ as described in Ephesians 5:22-33, “Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. for the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let he wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word. that He might present her to Himself a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church, for we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

Here Paul clearly describes the relationship between marriage and Jesus' position as husband to the church on earth, which is the bride of Christ. We the members of the church are described as being the very body of Christ, flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone even as Eve was described as being of the same flesh and bone as Adam in the first marriage between man and woman, Gen. 2:21-24 “ And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam and he slept, and he took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man, and Adam said: this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and they shall become one flesh. and they were both naked the man arid his wife and were not ashamed.”

This concept of being unashamed in marriage is touched on is Hebrews 13:4. “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

COVENANT

The covenant of Marriage between Christ and His church was not a new concept among the early Christians since this concept was emphasized about Israel in Is 54:4-8, “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and your redeemer is the Holy one of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth, for the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused, says your God for a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you says the Lord, your redeemer.”

Marriage is holy, a sacred institution before God as a symbol of His relationship with us in which we are to have perfect trust and confidence in Him for all of our needs. We are to have a relationship of oneness with God our Father, for He dwells within us.

TEAMS

Another aspect of marriage between a man and woman who are in philosophical and spiritual agreement is the enhanced productivity of their lives as described in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Jesus also emphasized the usefulness of having another person in association who agrees concerning the matter being considered. Jesus stated in Matt.18:18-20, "Assuredly I say to you whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

During His time on earth Jesus sent out his disciples two by two to minister in His name and this practice of sending out two for ministry was followed during apostolic times such as when Peter and Paul were on missions, taking another believer with them, such as Peter and John at the gate beautiful, Paul and Silas, Paul and Barnabas, and Paul and Luke on missionary journeys.

In Mark 6:7-13 Jesus sent out his disciples, "And He called the twelve to Himself and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff, no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them."

Again, in Luke 10:1, He sent out seventy disciples giving them the same instructions,

"After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then he said to them, the harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

These disciples returned with reports of great victories of healing and deliverance.

Throughout the remainder of the New Testament there are accounts of several husband and wife teams who were very effective in preaching the gospel and bringing the power of God into the lives of other people. Their usefulness for the Lord's work was enhanced because of the agreement between them and, the ability of one partner to lift up the other's faith during times of discouragement.

PURITY

I Cor 6:12-20 describes the importance of purity in the marital relationship. “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For the two, He says, shall become one flesh But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's.”

Paul emphasizes the church's marital relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in 2 Cor 11:2, “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin. But I fear, lest somehow as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jeusus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted - you may well put up with it.”

Paul here speaks as presenting us as a chaste virgin to Christ in that he desires us to be pure in heart, not tainted with sin or the corruption of the world. We are to model our lives strictly by the morality and concepts of Godly love found in the Holy Bible.

BRIDE OF CHRIST

The most magnificant aspect of the concept of marriage, however, is the soon to come marriage of the Bride of Christ with the groom which will occur in Heaven after the rapture, or catching up, of the dedicated, spirit-filled believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Those Christians who meet that requirement but who already have died will first be resurrected from the dead, even as Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead and given a new, glorified body that will never die. So shall it be with the dead in Christ. The living believers who are to be part of the bridal company will be given translated bodies and be caught up to be forever with Jesus Christ in His Kingdom. For 1000 years a renewed Eden-like status on earth will exist in the millennial reign of Christ in which the believers in Christ will reign and govern with Him from the city of Jerusalem.

NEW JERUSALEM

Afterward the “New Jerusalem” or city of God will descend and Christ shall rule the universe from there, according to Revelation 21:1-5, “ And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they sahll be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, and neither sorrow, or crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

We can believe that God is faithful and true, and we look forward to the marvelous plans He has in store for us as His children, the church of the living God.

Most important of all is that are sins are covered with the blood of Jesus Christ who gave Himself in the grestest expression of love before God the Father, spotless and sinless in His sight. Jesus is our great example, and even as He presented Himself as the lamb of God for our sakes, even so are we to present ourselves as living sacrifices before God, embued wtth the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us as reborn believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. The pertect love of God exhibited in the life of Jesus Christ should be seen in us as we fulfill the mandate given to us as befievers, to love the Lord our God.

If you have never had the life-changing experience of receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior there will never be a better time than now to know that your soul is secure in the love of God; your sins forgiven, covered with the sacrificial blood of Jesus who died in your place that you might be redeemed, perfect in the sight of God and worthy of the glories of Heaven which await those who have accepted Jesus' act of love and mercy in giving Himself for us. To know that your sins are forgiven, please repeat,

“God I believe that Jesus is your only son who came to earth to be the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. I confess that I have sinned. I have fallen short of the perfect life that you expect of me. I repent of my sins. I accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who died for me in my place. This makes me your child, my sins forgiven. Thank you for forgiving me of all of my sins, Lord Jesus. I now make you the Lord of my life, now and forevermore.

If you meant that prayer God accepts you as His own dear child, forgiven of all of your sins and reborn into the family of God, forever secure in God's love and grace.