|
Christian
Marriage Advice & The Bible
"a
man should leave his father and mother, and be forever united to his
wife."
 
What the Bible says about Christian Marriage
Marriage
was instituted in Paradise when man was in innocence (Gen.
2:18-24). Here we have the Christian marriage service its original
charter, which was confirmed by our Lord, as the basis on which all
regulations are to be framed for marriage (Matt. 19:4,
5).
Christian
Marriage is a permanent, committed relationship
Matthew 19:5-6, TLB.
'And that a man will leave his father and mother, and be forever united
to his wife. The two shall become one - no longer two, but one in matrimony!
And no man may divorce what God has joined together'.
What importance is given to Christian marriage?
"Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage
bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually
immoral." Hebrews 13:4.
Our Lord corrected many false notions then existing on the subject of
marriage (Matt. 22:23-30), and placed it as a
divine institution on the highest grounds. The apostles state clearly
and enforce the nuptial duties of husband and wife (Eph.
5:22-33; Col. 3:18, 19; 1 Pet. 3:1-7).
Marriage
is said to be "honorable" (Heb. 13:4), and the
prohibition of it is noted as one of the marks of degenerate times (1
Tim. 4:3). It is is used to represent the union between God and
his people (Isa. 54:5; Jer. 3:1-14; Hos. 2:9, 20).
In the New Testament it represents the love of Christ to his saints
(Eph. 5:25-27). The Church of the redeemed is
the "Bride, the Lamb's wife" (Rev. 19:7-9). Marriage
should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will
judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Hebrews 13:4
is
there marriage in heaven?
Those
who are considered worthy of taking part in the resurrection from the
dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage (Luke 20:35). At the
resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they
will be like the angels in heaven. matthew 22:30
marriage
inevitably divides attention between God and spouse!
1 Corinthians 7:34
As with an unmarried man, an unmarried woman is concerned about the
Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and
spirit. But a married woman (or man) is concerned about the affairs
of this world - how he/she can please her partner. Note that the Bible
is not saying being concerned for husband or wife is bad, just that
your time will be shared - how else could you care for your spouse!
if
only one partner is unbelieving . . .
If
a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live
with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has
been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been
sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would
be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.1 Corinthians 7:14. Corinthians
7:13 How do you know, husbands and wives, whether you will save yourpartners?1
Corinthians 7:16
what
are marital duties for men and women?
To the men . .The husband should fulfill his marital
duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.(1
Corinthians 7:3). Since there is so much immorality, each man
should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.(1
Corinthians 7:2). So,
if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is
called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from
that law and not an adulteress, even though she marries another man.
The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband
and wife, it is better not to marry."Matthew 19:10
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself,
and the wife must respect her husband.Ephesians 5:33.
By law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives,
but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.Romans
7:2 The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband.
In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but
also to his wife.1 Corinthians 7:4
Christian
Marriage requires submission of both partners!
"You wives must submit to your husbands' leadership
in the same way you submit to the Lord. For a husband is in charge of
his wife in the same way Christ is in charge of His body the church.
(He gave His very life to take care of it and be its Savior!) So you
wives must willingly obey your husbands in everything, just as the church
obeys Christ." Ephesians 5:22-24, TLB. A wife
must not separate from her husband. (1 Corinthians 7:10)
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head
of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.Ephesians
5:23 . Ephesians 5:21, NIV. "Submit to one another out of reverence
for Christ."
How
should husbands relate to their wives?Ephesians
5:25-28, TLB.
"And you husbands, show the same kind of love to your wives as Christ
showed to the church when He died for her. . . That's how husbands should
treat their wives, loving them as parts of themselves. For since a man
and his wife are one, a man is really doing himself a favor and loving
himself when he loves his wife!
Husbands
should honour their wives. Peter 3:7, TLB.
"You husbands must be careful of your wives, being thoughtful of their
needs and honoring them as the weaker sex. Remember that you and your
wife are partners in receiving God's blessings, and if you don't treat
her as you should, your prayers will not get ready answers."
God
promised a virgin for Christ!
I
promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you
as a pure virgin to him. 2 Corinthians 11:2
The
seventh and the tenth commandments guard marriage.
Exodus 20:14, 17, NIV. "You
shall not commit adultery." And "You shall not covet your neighbor's
wife."
settle
misunderstanding fast! Ephesians 4:26, TLB.
"If you are angry, don't sin by nursing your grudge. Don't let the sun
go down with you still angry -get over it quickly."
the
Bible forbids physical or verbal spouse abuse Colossians
3:19, NIV. "Husbands, love your wives and do not
be harsh with them."
Keep
the relationship growing in unity and understanding.
Ephesians 4:2-3, TLB. "Be
patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because
of your love. Be led together by the Holy Spirit to be at peace with
one another."
is
there an acceptable reason for ending a marriage? Matthew
5:32, NIV. "But I tell you that anyone who divorces
his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to commit adultery,
and anyone who marries a woman so divorced commits adultery."
how
long is marriage intended to last?
"By law a married woman is bound to her husband as long
as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she
wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.1 Corinthians
7:39
who
should we marry? II Corinthians 6:14, RSV.
"Do not be mismated with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness
and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with dark?"
what
about romance?Proverbs 5:18-19, TLB
"Let your manhood be a blessing; rejoice in the wife of your youth.
Let her charms and tender embrace satisfy you. Let her love alone fill
you with delight."
was
one partner Gods' original plan?
It is evident that monogamy (1 wife) was the original
law of marriage (Matt. 19:5; 1 Cor. 6:16). This
law was violated in after times, when corrupt usages began to be introduced
(Gen. 4:19; 6:2). We meet with the prevalence of polygamy (more
than 1 wife) and concubinage in the patriarchal
age (Gen. 16:1-4; 22:21-24; 28:8, 9; 29:23-30).
Polygamy was acknowledged in the Mosaic law and made the basis of legislation,
and continued to be practiced all down through the period of Jewish
history to the Captivity, after which there is no instance of it on
record. It seems to have been the practice from the beginning for fathers
to select wives for their sons (Gen. 24:3; 38:6). Sometimes
also proposals were initiated by the father of the maiden
(Ex. 2:21). The brothers of the maiden were also sometimes consulted
(Gen. 24:51; 34:11), but her own consent was not required. The
young man had to give a price to the father of the maiden (31:15;
34:12; Ex. 22:16, 17; 1 Sam. 18:23, 25; Ruth 4:10; Hos. 3:2) On
these patriarchal customs the Mosaic law made no change. In the pre-Mosaic
times, when the proposals were accepted and the marriage price given,
the bridegroom could come at once and take away his bride to his own
house (Gen. 24:63-67). But in general the marriage
was celebrated by a feast in the house of the bride's parents, to which
all friends were invited (29:22, 27); and on the
day of the marriage the bride, concealed under a thick veil, was conducted
to her future husband's home.
 the
dictionary definition of marriage
marriage
1. The act of marrying, or the state of being married; legal union of
a man and a woman for life, as husband and wife; wedlock; matrimony.
Marriage is honorable in all. -Hob. xiii.
2. The marriage vow or contract. [Obs.] -Choicer.
3. A feast made on the occasion of a marriage. The kingdom of heaven
is like unto a certain king which made a marriage for his son. -Mat.
Xxii. 2.
4. Any intimate or close union. Marriage brokage. (a) The business of
bringing about marriages. (b) The payment made or demanded for the procurement
of a marriage. Marriage favors, knots of white ribbons, or bunches of
white flowers, worn at weddings. Marriage settlement (Law), a settlement
of property in view, and in consideration, of marriage. Syn: Matrimony;
wedlock; wedding; nuptials. Usage: Marriage, Matrimony, Wedlock. Marriage
is properly the act which unites the two parties, and matrimony the
state into which they enter. Marriage is, however, often used for the
state as well as the act. Wedlock is the old Anglo-Saxon term for matrimony.
Christian marriage advivce source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary,
© 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Related Christian topics
Christian
Marriage help | Christian
Divorce | Christian singleness | Christian
Marriage Services
Maritial Closeness | Christian
marriage books | The four Loves
| The noble wife
Christian
commitment | fusion
101 friends | The Godly Husband
| what is love? | falling
in love | Romance
Tips
Christian marriage advice service &
what the bible says about marriage @ Christian advice 2006 |
