Marriage/Divorce

When God created man in His image and after His likeness; His design for procreation was through children produced in this relationship.  Marriage is therefore ordained and approved of God.  And He gave instructions and directions of how each partner in this relationship is to act and how they are to treat one another.

Gen 2:18-24 002:018 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

002:019 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

002:020 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

002:021 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

002:022 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

002:023 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.

002:024 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Matt.19:3-6 019:003 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

019:004 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

019:005 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

019:006 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Gen 1:27-28 001:027 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

001:028 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Eph.5:21-33 005:021 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

005:022 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

005:023 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

005:024 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

005:025 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

005:026 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

005:027 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

005:028 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

005:029 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

005:030 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

005:031 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

005:032 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

005:033 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Heb.13:4 013:004 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Rom. 7:2-3 007:002 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

007:003 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Marriage/Divorce

Marriage is an honorable relationship.

It is to be between a man and a woman. "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. " Hebrews 13:4. It is authorized and approved by God. 'therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his is wife: and they shall be one flesh. ' Genesis 2:24. Jesus showed His approval of the marriage relationship when He attended a "Marriage" in Cana of Galilee.

Hebrews 13:4 013:004 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Genesis 2:24 002:024 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

The marriage relationship is to be permanent.

'Herefore they (the husband and wife) are no more twain (two), but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. ' Matthew 19:6. When someone breaks up a marriage (whether it be the husband or wife or someone, else), the break up what God has approved and sanctioned. However, there are records of divorce in the Bible. All of them are found in the Old Testament and took place before Crist came and fulfilled the Old Law, which was given by Moses. John 1: 17; Matthew 5:17; Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 8:7-10 .

Matthew 19:6 019:006 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
John 1: 17 001:017 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5:17 005:017 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Colossians 2:14 002:014 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Hebrews 8:7-10 008:007 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

008:008 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

008:009 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

008:010 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Why was divorce allowed then (under the Old Testament)?

Jesus said, "Moses because of the hardness of Your hearts suffered (allowed) you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. Matthew 19:8. Even though God  allowed it for a time, He never did approve it. That is shown by the statement '...from the beginning it was not so. ' Malachi wrote about a man putting away (divorcing his wife) said, 'the Lord, the God of Israel, hateth putting away... ' Malachi 2:1 16.

Matthew 19:8

 019:008 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
Malachi 2:1 16 002:001 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.

The marriage relationship for God, is only dissolved by death.

'For the woman which hath an husband is bound bv the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. ' Romans 7:2. But what if a husband and wife divorce and remarry? Paul answers this question in the next verse. 'So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress., though she be married to another man. ' Romans 7:3.

If a man or woman divorce their mate and marries another (without scriptural justification for such an act), they are guilty of adultery. And if one marries another who is divorced (without scriptural justification), they commit adultery. " ' Matthew 5:32v. "And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso  marrieth her which is put away, doth commit adultery. " Matthew 19:9.

Romans 7:2 007:002 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
Romans 7:3 007:003 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
Matthew 19:9 019:009 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

The marriage relationship is to be cemented together with love.

'Husbands, love your uives, even as Chfist also loved the church, and gave himselffor it. ' Ephesians 5:25. The love that the husband and wife are to have for each other, is a sacrificial love. It is to be the same kind of love that Christ had for His Church, when He gave His live for it.

Our word "love" is translated from the Greek word "agape" or "agapao." In the Bible, it describes the attitude that God has toward: His Son, the human race, ; and especially to those who believe and obey Him, (Although  God loves all men, ).

Ephesians 5:25 005:025 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

God's divine command for order in the marriage.

'...the head of every man is Chfist; and the head woman (wife) is the man (husband) - and the head of Christ is God. ' I Corinthians I 1: 3. And in Ephesians 5:21 , 'Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. ' This written to the husba and the wife. Then Paul continues, 'Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the  wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. '

I Corinthians 11: 1-3 011:001 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

011:002 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

011:003 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Ephesians 5:21 005:021 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

The word "head" does not mean "a dictator."

The man does not have God's authority or permission to dictate to his wife anything and everything that she is to do. If the original word in the Bible that is translated "head" (kephale) had been translated to say "final authority," then there would not be so much rebellion against the idea that 'the husband is the head of the wife. ' Verse 21 tells the husband and wife to "submit yourselves to one another. ?"

How can this be done? Here is an example: If there is a problem to be solved in the marriage, and the husband and wife discuss their ideas about how to solve that problem, and there is a real difference of belief between them, as to how to solve that problem, the husband by the authority of God, must make the final decision. Sometimes, the wife might have a much better idea about how to solve that problem than the husband does. It is then his right and dutvyto agree with her and use her idea to solve the problem. In this way, he makes the final decision, but he also submits to her in a loving and acceptable way, without any hard feeling and with compromising his headship (if I may use, that word). Also, it will show (demonstrate to her) his love, concern, and compassion for her.

THE PURPOSE OF MARRIAGE

God ordained marriages for man's benefit and happiness.

After the creation was finished (except for woman), God looked upon it and said that everything was good. After man was placed in the Garden of Eden, God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. ' Then God put Adam to sleep, took a rib from his side, and made woman, who was to be his help meet. I call your attention to the fact that the word here is "meet" (which means comrade or companion); it is not "meat " or something or someone that man is to boss around or beat on.

Miarriage is a partnership.

Since it is a partnership, each has their specific roles to fulfill. And it takes both, working as hard as they can and giving themselves to that relationship to make it work. One person can not do everything and they should not be expected to, by the other person. It is hard work to have a loving and lasting relationship. 'I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide (rule) the house (home), give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. ' I Timothy 5:14. The word that is translated "guide," literally means "a home ruler." It means that the wife is the manager and director of their household affairs.

I Timothy 5:14 005:014 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Marriage is for procreation, the production of children.

Genesis 1:27-28, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; mate and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth... '

Genesis 1:27-28 001:027 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

001:028 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

For Sexual Satisfaction

Proverbs 5:18, 'Let thy fountain be blessed. :and rejoice  with the wife of thy youth. '

Proverbs 5:18 005:018 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

To Prevent Fornication or Adultery

I Corinthians 7:1-5, '...It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and come together again., that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. ' I Corinthians 7:9, "But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. '

I Corinthians 7:1-5 007:001 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

007:002 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

007:003 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

007:004 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

007:005 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
I Corinthians 7:9 007:009 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

(written by Bro. Jim Bowers)

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