“Will
You Marry Me?”
Part II
How much do you know about marriage?
In observance of humanity, I am persuaded to believe that too many know too
little about this subject. I invite you to study this very important theme
as God has instructed and instituted this union.
The need is obvious. It is obvious by the fact that two out of three
marriages end in divorce today (a stat that has even found its way into the
“Body of Christ”). It is obvious
by the advice given by marriage counselors, preachers, in-laws, lawyers,
advice columnists, and by this entire like. It is obvious by the attitude of
many of our civil authorities, Senators, representatives, and so on. It is
obvious by the teaching that our children are exposed to in our public
schools.
It is interesting to note that none of the above, including most preachers,
refer to God’s word in dealing with marital problems, or even teaching in
advance the understanding of marriage as God has revealed it. God’s word
affirms that there is not a problem that a husband or wife may have that God
doesn’t answer.
The key is:
APPLICATION!!!
In lesson one; we studied the
importance of marriage and the importance of God’s word as a guide or as
instruction for marriage. In this lesson, we will continue with our study by
taking a brief look at three important facts concerning marriage.
Marriage is Instituted by God –
Moses would provide a window into the sixth day of creation as God would
form man and woman. Prior to the creation of woman, Adam recognized, as God
gave him the daunting task of naming the animals, that among these animals
there were none that were his equal (Genesis
2:20). God would also recognize that it was not good for man to
be alone (Genesis
2:18). The solution:
Genesis 2:23-24
“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.”
24
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,
and they shall become one flesh.”
With the
provision of an equal for man, the natural recourse was to join them in
order to complete the nature of the family nucleus.
As the
Lord would come in the flesh, He would be tested by the religious leaders of
the day concerning this original intent by God, His response is worth
noting:
Matthew 19:4-6
“And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made
them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’
5
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’?
6
So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined
together, let not man separate.””
The Lord
not only confirms the original intent, but likewise confirms that the origin
of this united family nucleus was in fact God!
Can it be
conceived from this understanding that marriage is simply something that man
has dreamed up for his own convenience?
Absolutely not!
Marriage
is of God! Therefore, this institution ought to be highly respected;
however, we know that it is not! Man thinks that he is smarter than God who
created him and therefore he can alter God’s plans for him, or set them
aside completely. Man now argues that he is happier living with a woman
without marriage; or perverting the process completely by seeking
satisfaction of the flesh with those of the same gender. Man believes that
he is happier not being tied down, he is free to do as he pleases, and is
not responsible for or to a woman (she likewise feeling the same way).
However,
as they attempt to dismiss the original intent by their Creator; it violates
the sanctity and purpose of the family nucleus (and speaks little to the
damage caused to this family core by the reckless ignorance of their
choice).
This is
largely based on the prideful arrogance of men and women who outright reject
the very nature of their creation and the will of their Creator! It exists
in the vast majority of those who have not been instructed concerning God’s
intent; however, it is also found among those who know God’s intent and yet,
still choose to reject His wisdom!
There
Are Two Parties Involved –
When God
instituted marriage, He involved only two parties in addition to Himself (He
is the joining force for the other two).
As we
have already shown from the very beginning, these two parties are MAN and
WOMAN. These two he joined together in marriage. Marriage then is a joining
of male and female together by God. This original precedence dismisses
anything else as profane and is condemned in no uncertain terms:
Romans 1:26-32
“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women
exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27
Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their
lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and
receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God
gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29
being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit,
evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30
backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil
things, disobedient to parents,
31
undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32
who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such
things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of
those who practice them.”
Remember
that in marriage, God does the joining (we will speak to the importance of a
marriage joined by God in future lessons). He will not join together parties
contrary to His own instructions, and He emphatically stated that man and
woman were to become one flesh. Imagine trying to remove yourself from your
own flesh! This is to be the God trained attitude towards marriage.
The
Duration of Marriage –
The God
Who instituted marriage also placed the DURATION upon marriage! Man has
written something into the marriage unification that God did not write or
authorize.
Divorce
is not of God, but is of man (as are all deviations from the natural, moral,
and spiritual laws of God). This was the teaching of the Lord to the Jews
who tested Him on this subject:
Matthew 19:8
“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.”
It is
also important to note that the Lord would state the only exception to the
precedence of the original intent that God would consider to the universal
duration He has stamped on the marriage unity:
Matthew 19:9
“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.””
The
Apostle Paul would use the established duration of marriage by God to
illustrate that all those who have obeyed the Gospel of Christ are able to
be married to Christ’s law, because the Law of Moses has passed away (died
to them). The death of one
portion of the spousal relationship fulfills the covenant joining and allows
the remaining half to remarry and be rejoined.
Romans 7:1-4
“Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that
the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?
2
For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as
long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of
her husband.
3
So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she
will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that
law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.
4
Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the
body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised
from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
The
duration of the marriage relationship is simply two (male and female)
becoming one flesh for life. This is God’s will and it cannot be
improved upon, it is complete!
Next: “The Three Primary Causes of Divorce!”