Marriage

by Micky Galloway

The Bible is a marvelous book that reveals God’s will to us in all things “pertaining to life and godliness” (II Peter 1:3). Contained in this message is the will of God pertaining to our homes and our marriages. If we neglect this Bible teaching, we will be lost.

In the society in which we live marriage problems are a reality. Without doubt all of us have been touched by the sorrow of marriage problems, divorce, and remarriage. As this problem increases in society it will grow as a problem in the church.

God’s rule for marriage is simple: one man for one woman for life, one exception. Though most agree with this simple premise, there are many arguments made to circumvent the plan of God. In Genesis 2:24 God said, “therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” This is repeated twice in the New Testament. This rule requires “a man,” and “his wife.” This original rule of God excludes all immorality. This “one flesh” relationship would forbid fornication, including polygamy, concubines, homosexuality, and bestiality. These would desecrate the union and Jesus says “fornication” gives the innocent the authority to put away the guilty (Matthew 19:9). One who is guilty of fornication could in no way profit from his sin by desecrating one relationship and forming another.

Jesus explained God’s original marriage law in Matthew 19 when asked the question, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?” He said, “but from the beginning it hath not been so.” Jesus’ divine commentary stated, “what God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:6). The only exception that Jesus gave is “fornication.” In every other case except this one case, Jesus said if one marries another it is adultery.

While many concede this is true, it is argued that those who entered into adultery before they became Christians are somehow sanctified through baptism to keep the mate they now have. The question is, “Does baptism sanctify unlawful marriage relationships?” Some ask, “If God forgives all sin, why doesn’t He forgive people in unscriptural marriages and allow them to stay married to their current spouse?” Past sins are forgiven, but we cannot continue the sinful practice or keep that which is unlawfully taken. We understand that in every other realm of life. If we steal a man’s watch, we can’t keep it. If we steal his car, we can’t keep it, but if we steal his wife, somehow baptism makes that lawful. How can we show true repentance? Adultery involves an unlawful relationship and this unlawful relationship must cease. The issue is not forgiveness. One who is forgiven of past sins does not have his marital status changed. If the marriage was unlawful, baptism does not make it lawful. Baptism does not make that which is unholy, holy! John the Baptist was imprisoned and later beheaded for his rebuke of Herod. “For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. For John said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife” (Mark 6:17-18). We are falsely told that this was unlawful because it was incest. Would it have been lawful for him to have your wife instead of his brother’s wife? Beloved, we are not reasoning carefully. In Matthew’s account we read, “It is not lawful for thee to have her” (Matthew 14:4). What would Herod have to do to fix this? He must stop having her, for that is what John said was unlawful. In cases of unlawful marriage, the Bible requires repentance. Read Ezra 9-10. What did repentance mean when Ezra learned of the unlawful marriages of the people of God to those of foreign nations? Was this an emotional issue then? YES! It was painful for the teacher. “And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded” (Ezra 9:3). Ezra 10:6 says, “Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and (when) he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water; for he mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity.” It was obviously painful for those involved in the unlawful marriages. They “trembled at the words of the God of Israel” (Ezra 9:4). Ezra 10:1 says, “the people wept very sore.” It was also painful for those affected by the sinner and his repentance. Many of those who had taken foreign wives had children (Ezra 10:44). Yes, this was a very emotional issue. What was the solution? “Now therefore make confession unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women. Then all the assembly answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said concerning us, so must we do” (Ezra 10:11-12).

Let us ever hold high the moral standard of God’s simple rule: One man for one woman for life with one exception. Certainly, when we submit to God’s rule for our lives we are preparing for the ultimate blessing of eternal life. Though there are consequences of sin that repentance demands and forgiveness does not remove, let us be thankful to God that these consequences are temporal and not eternal.