The Christian And Marriage Series

God only established two institutions on this earth: marriage and the church. Any thing else is man made and outside the sanction and blessings of God. This is not to say that all other organizations are bad or wrong. This merely means that anything outside the church that tries to hide under the sanction of the church is wrong. By the same token anything that tries to hide under the sanction of marriage but is not marriage is wrong. It is making a mockery of that which God ordained.

I. Purity is the Secret of Faithfulness and Happiness. Matthew 5:27-28

a. You are not what you think you are but what you think, You are!

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.

1. Evil thoughts are always the beginning of evil deeds.

a. Adam and Eve (saw the tree)

b. Achan (saw the riches in Jericho)

c. David (saw Bathsheba)

2. The Devil and the world put evil thoughts in your mind and before your eyes.

a. They can be dismissed.

b. They can be entertained.

b. Enoch walked with God 365 years and bare sons and daughters. Genesis 5:22; Hebrews 13:4; marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled.

1. Love and marriage and sex are part of God’s eternal plan, but they must come in God’s order and under his sanction.

II. Marriage is Preserved by Self-Sacrifice. Matthew 5:29-30

a. Pluck out your eye. Vs. 29

1. The eye is the window of the brain.

2. It is often better to be in the dark than to see or know something that is harmful to you.

3. Our eyes are one of our dearest possessions. What are you willing to sacrifice to gain harmony and peace with family and God?

b. Cut off your right arm. Vs. 30

1. This is typical of strength.

2. I would think it better to be humble and happy than to be proud and lonely.

3. Never confuse forgiveness with weakness it takes the strongest of individuals to forgive.

III. Marriage and Divorce. Matthew 5:31-32

a. Only 2 things constitute scriptural divorce.

1. Death is the natural ground for dissolving a marriage. In fact, it is not grounds for divorce, it is divorce. All earthly ties have been broken and the marriage is now impossible.

2. Adultery is the other scriptural grounds and this word here translated adultery literally means continual and habitual adultery.

a. Adultery much like death is not so much the grounds for divorce as it is divorce itself.

b. Can a marriage be saved where adultery occurs? Certainly, but with great concession and forgiveness on the part of the injured.

c. Man can forgive but only God can forgive and forget.

Summary

1. Marriage is a divine institution.

2. Marriage is God’s first-born institution.

3. The standard for marriage was established by grace in the garden of Eden. Not by the law of Moses.

4. Marriage is for life.

5. Divorce is only on the grounds of death or adultery.