A marriage between a Christian man and a Christian woman is most solemn. When contemplating marriage in a relationship, a Christian should earnestly seek out what the Bible says concerning the joining of man and woman as "one flesh". This covenant is serious and is not meant to be broken by the man or the woman. The divorce rate in the United States has actually fallen over the past decade but only because the marriage rate also has. Marriage can bring out the very best in people, but unfortunately, it can also bring out the very worst. Because we are sinners, being two biologically unique individuals, we struggle at times to live as "one flesh" righteously before our Heavenly Father. There are circumstances, undoubtedly, when it is wise for a couple to separate. This is actually what the word divorce really means: separate or dissociate. 1 Corinthians 7:10-16, speaks on the matter of divorce and the conditions for it.
As a married couple, we are to be obedient to our Heavenly Father, love Him together, and live out our lives together in a way that brings glory to God. Under the law of Moses, divorce and remarriage were authorized. Jesus said because it was "the hardness of your hearts". Let's remember that Moses never commanded divorce. He permitted it. It protected women from being taken advantage of by a verbal divorce. Moses permitted A "writing of divorcement", an official written contract allowing divorce and remarriage. In Matthew 19:9, Jesus gives an exception for divorce which is sexual immorality. The legitimacy of the divorce does not necessarily establish the legitimacy of remarriage. Scripture never commands that one MUST divorce an unfaithful wife or husband. God makes it very clear where He stands on divorce. The Bible says He "hates divorce". Christian men and women must have faith in the Lord to lead them to the right person for marriage. If we do our part through constant prayer and communication with God, He will bring those to the right companion. Ultimately, we make the choice to stay in the relationship with whom God, through constant prayer and communication, has selected for us. If we choose a companion based on our own presumptions and the opinions of others, we choose outside the will of God.
1 Corinthians 7:14-15 "The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband.........But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace". The unbeliever and the children are considered Holy in a positional sense. Together with the believer, they share in God's blessing and are more likely to become converted. But if the unbeliever were to "depart" or divorce, the believer's divine standard cannot be imposed on the unregenerate. There is nothing the believer can do but submit to the divorce. A Christian's Divine standard cannot be compromised.
Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." The marital responsibility of husbands is to "love your wives." The Greek word rendered "love" is Agapao, which denotes the willing sacrificial giving on the husband's part for the benefit of his wife, without thought of return. Jesus, "gave himself" for the church, so there is no sacrifice, even laying down his life, that a husband should not be willing to make for his wife. God intends for a marriage to be between a man and a woman and that the man will have ONE wife and the woman will have ONE husband. God instituted the first marriage and sanctified and blessed the first home with Adam and Eve. No matter the burdens, responsibilities, tests and trials, or sickness and health, God intends for them to be faithful to each other until death.
Authority of the husband in the home
The Bible is clear. God's plan for the family is that the husband is subject to Christ, the wife be in submission to the husband, and the children be in submission to the parents. The husband is not to rule over his wife as a dictator, but he has the heavy responsibility of making decisions based on family matters. However, those decisions should include his wife. Colossians 3:18 says, "wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord." It is upon God's authority that the wife submits to the leadership of her husband as long as he does not violate God's will. When everyone is living their lives according to God's principles for a Christian home, one will always find a happy, strong, and stable family.
1 Peter chapter 3, talks about the behaviors of the husband and wife toward each other. When these Godly principles are violated, then there becomes a tendency for the Christian family to break down. There will become a lack of respect between the husband and the wife. This in turn will affect the children. Children notice. They are aware of more than parents realize. They may not fully understand what is going on, but the negative attitudes the husband and wife have toward one another are recognized and creates a rebellious tendency among the children.
Friction in the family is generally rooted in the husband's failure to love his wife and the lack of respect the wife gives to her husband. It is a huge myth that people learn from television that men need sexual intimacy in order to feel loved by their wives. It's actually respect that men need. Respect is how men interpret love from their wives. If they don't feel respected by their wives, then they don't feel loved. How women interpret love from their husbands is not through materialistic things as seen on tv. They require intimacy. Not always physical intimacy but also emotional. When the husband can express his emotional desires for his wife and share his most intimate feelings with her, it allows her to see the love her husband has for her. Television and the internet have greatly corrupted the minds of the Christian family and have interrupted their fellowship as husband and wife with the Lord. A fulfilled marriage for a man and woman is finding the will of God for their lives according to God's principle values of marriage.
As a married couple, we are to be obedient to our Heavenly Father, love Him together, and live out our lives together in a way that brings glory to God. Under the law of Moses, divorce and remarriage were authorized. Jesus said because it was "the hardness of your hearts". Let's remember that Moses never commanded divorce. He permitted it. It protected women from being taken advantage of by a verbal divorce. Moses permitted A "writing of divorcement", an official written contract allowing divorce and remarriage. In Matthew 19:9, Jesus gives an exception for divorce which is sexual immorality. The legitimacy of the divorce does not necessarily establish the legitimacy of remarriage. Scripture never commands that one MUST divorce an unfaithful wife or husband. God makes it very clear where He stands on divorce. The Bible says He "hates divorce". Christian men and women must have faith in the Lord to lead them to the right person for marriage. If we do our part through constant prayer and communication with God, He will bring those to the right companion. Ultimately, we make the choice to stay in the relationship with whom God, through constant prayer and communication, has selected for us. If we choose a companion based on our own presumptions and the opinions of others, we choose outside the will of God.
1 Corinthians 7:14-15 "The unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband.........But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace". The unbeliever and the children are considered Holy in a positional sense. Together with the believer, they share in God's blessing and are more likely to become converted. But if the unbeliever were to "depart" or divorce, the believer's divine standard cannot be imposed on the unregenerate. There is nothing the believer can do but submit to the divorce. A Christian's Divine standard cannot be compromised.
Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." The marital responsibility of husbands is to "love your wives." The Greek word rendered "love" is Agapao, which denotes the willing sacrificial giving on the husband's part for the benefit of his wife, without thought of return. Jesus, "gave himself" for the church, so there is no sacrifice, even laying down his life, that a husband should not be willing to make for his wife. God intends for a marriage to be between a man and a woman and that the man will have ONE wife and the woman will have ONE husband. God instituted the first marriage and sanctified and blessed the first home with Adam and Eve. No matter the burdens, responsibilities, tests and trials, or sickness and health, God intends for them to be faithful to each other until death.
Authority of the husband in the home
The Bible is clear. God's plan for the family is that the husband is subject to Christ, the wife be in submission to the husband, and the children be in submission to the parents. The husband is not to rule over his wife as a dictator, but he has the heavy responsibility of making decisions based on family matters. However, those decisions should include his wife. Colossians 3:18 says, "wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord." It is upon God's authority that the wife submits to the leadership of her husband as long as he does not violate God's will. When everyone is living their lives according to God's principles for a Christian home, one will always find a happy, strong, and stable family.
1 Peter chapter 3, talks about the behaviors of the husband and wife toward each other. When these Godly principles are violated, then there becomes a tendency for the Christian family to break down. There will become a lack of respect between the husband and the wife. This in turn will affect the children. Children notice. They are aware of more than parents realize. They may not fully understand what is going on, but the negative attitudes the husband and wife have toward one another are recognized and creates a rebellious tendency among the children.
Friction in the family is generally rooted in the husband's failure to love his wife and the lack of respect the wife gives to her husband. It is a huge myth that people learn from television that men need sexual intimacy in order to feel loved by their wives. It's actually respect that men need. Respect is how men interpret love from their wives. If they don't feel respected by their wives, then they don't feel loved. How women interpret love from their husbands is not through materialistic things as seen on tv. They require intimacy. Not always physical intimacy but also emotional. When the husband can express his emotional desires for his wife and share his most intimate feelings with her, it allows her to see the love her husband has for her. Television and the internet have greatly corrupted the minds of the Christian family and have interrupted their fellowship as husband and wife with the Lord. A fulfilled marriage for a man and woman is finding the will of God for their lives according to God's principle values of marriage.
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