Mark 10:6-9 From the beginning–God's original plan was that men and women should marry. Therefore, marriage is good if carried out in God's way. Sin has depraved the lives of men and women until in our day they have strayed far from God's way. God's way is that husband and wife cleave to one another. The word "cleave" holds within it two meanings, that of holding fast and the exact opposite idea of separation. Joined, these meanings reveal the strength and permanent bond of marriage as God planned it. In marrying, one separates from all others and holds fast to husband or wife. This sheds the light of Heaven upon the bond of marriage. Marriage is not just a contract; marriage is the completion of God's creation in the bringing together of two lives until now incomplete.

In marrying, one separates from all others and holds fast to husband or wife. They are no more twain. Divorce may divide husband and wife but can never erase completely the ties which made them one. Any act to separate a man and wife or any act tending to damage their union is a sin, whether coming from one of them or from an outside party. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. A contract can be repealed or abolished, but let no man lay defiling hands upon this holy union which God ordained from the beginning.

Dishonoring Marriage

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable–it was made to fit good people in a good society. It is not a yielding to man's sinful tendencies. But whoremongers and adulterers God will judge, because they are sinning. Adultery dishonors and destroys this holy relationship. At the same time our Lord honors marriage, He condemns, in a strong manner, the sin of uncleanness. Let no one think that sexual sin is a human weakness that God overlooks. It is a violation of God's purpose to such an extent that it constitutes defilement of His divine plan. We are living in an age of moral looseness. This can be attributed mostly to wars that drew many women into industrial employment, a decline in the Bible standard of Christian faith, and the disregard of the authority of God's Word. This has opened the door for shameful literature, motion pictures, and television that glorify vice, picturing vice as smart if one can get away with it.

Yoked Together

Second Corinthians 6:14-16 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. What yoke binds more closely than marriage? This command of Scripture covers all yokes of believers with unbelievers. No saint should enter into any union that links him or in any way makes him yoked to the unrighteous influence of any person, group, or organization. This prohibits marriage of a saved person to an unsaved. The width of the chasm separating Christ and Belial (the spirit of evil or lawlessness) is the measure of the chasm which should separate every believer from every infidel (a disbeliever, one without faith in the truth) in all matters of spiritual approval or cooperation. Each of us is plainly on one side or the other. On one side stand believers ... righteousness ... light ... Christ ... the temple of God. On the other are unbelievers ... unrighteousness ... darkness ... Belial ... an infidel ... idols. If we stand with Christ, He will receive us and be our God.

The Purpose of Marriage

1 Corinthians 11:11-12 Neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man. Neither is complete or self-sufficient without the other. Man needs woman and woman needs man to fill out those qualities which each lacks. No man or woman can reach the highest development without a mate. Marriage furnishes a physical, mental, and moral development that lifts to the highest attainments. The marriage state provides the natural and holy way to gratifying the strongest of human emotions. It gives character to men and protects the honor of womanhood. It is a suppressor of lust and therefore a protector of society.

As the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman. Men and women equally owe their being in this earthly life, in part, to one of the opposite sex. Man is born of a woman. The woman was formed from a rib of the man. She came from under his arm, and she is never satisfied until she returns to the place from which she was removed. These verses teach us the basic equality and the mutual dependence of the sexes. Since this is true, each should honor and respect the other, in the Lord. Both came from God.

The Propagation of the Race

Genesis 1:28 A natural result of marriage is offspring. In the sacred work of reproduction, parents approach very near the creative work of God. God commands, Be fruitful, and multiply. The home is the place for the beginning of this new life and for the rearing of the youth until they reach maturity and start homes of their own.

JUST A THOUGHT

Beauty of face cannot lend beauty to the spirit, but
beauty of spirit does grow beauty of face.

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