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~Encouragement Site~
Standing
for the Restoration of Christian Marriages
Christian Marriage
There are many opinions
as to what is or is not a proper marriage. There are changing legal and
cultural definitions that often distort the clear picture God gave us in the
Bible. Since God Himself is the author of marriage, only His opinion matters.
Jesus said: “Have you not
read…that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female,” and said:
‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to His
wife, and the two will become one flesh?’ “So, they are no longer two, but one.
Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (Matthew 19: 4-6 NIV)
In the last
book of the Old Testament the prophet Malachi was addressing the Jewish nation
as to what God had to say about how they were ignoring His instructions. Immorality was being openly practiced by His
priests and people. Many men had divorced there wives and remarried others. To
the Priests and religious leaders he said this:
“For the lips of a priest ought to preserve
knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction – because he is the
messenger of the Lord Almighty. But you have turned from the way and by your
teaching have caused many to stumble…” (Malachi 2: 7-8 NIV)
God said
this directly to the divorced and remarried:
“Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s alter
with tears. You weep and you wail because He no longer pays attention to your
offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, ‘Why?’ It is
because the Lord is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your
youth, because you have broken faith with her, although she is your partner,
the wife of your marriage covenant.
Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and
spirit they are His. And why one? - Because He was
seeking Godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit and do not break
faith with the wife of your youth.
‘I hate divorce,’ says the Lord God of
You have wearied the Lord with your words. ‘How have we wearied Him?’ you ask. By saying,
‘All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and He is pleased with them’
or ‘Where is
the God of justice?’” (Malachi 2: 13-17 NIV)
From the
Word of God we know that a covenant marriage is between a man and a woman who
do not have another living spouse. Remarriage by anyone who has another living
spouse is forbidden adultery.
This law is
for all of mankind whether or not they are Christian. It was so right from the
beginning, and will continue right to the end.
Spirit of Hosea
Encouragement Site
Is a Ministry of
Theological Foundations
Internet Ministries
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2000 - 2005
by
Stephen W.
Wilcox
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