Diane Avenue Church of Christ

1. Diane Avenue Church of Christ Opening Verses Deuteronomy 8:6 (NIV) 6 Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.

2. Diane Avenue Church of Christ Romans 5:19 (NIV) 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

3. A Honorable Marriage Our Scripture text is from Hebrews 13:4 4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

4. A Honorable Marriage OBJECTIVES: Each of us should know what God has defined as an honorable marriage. AIM: To teach the truth regarding honorable marriage and to embolden the listener to teach that message to others.

5. A Honorable Marriage There are three main point we will discuss Marriage is honorable when: 1) God says it is honorable. * 2) It respects God's pattern for marriage. 3) Its not being used to legitimize adultery.

6. A Honorable Marriage Let’s be clear so far “ A Honorable Marriage” was created by God not Man? This is God's law of marriage. From the beginning, Jesus says, God made them male and female. Neither Adam nor Eve had been in a marriage before. God joined them together. Jesus says that when a man and a woman leave their father and mother and are married for the first time to each other, that is acceptable to God. Once they are married, God joins them together. No MAN can separate them. Gen. 1:27; 5:2, Matt 19:4-5

7. A Honorable Marriage This marriage , this union , that God has brought together “6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Is a perfect picture of what a marriage should be. When ever you see marriage or husband and wife mentioned in the Bible this is what it should look like.

8. A Honorable Marriage Marriage is honorable when ....... II. IT RESPECTS GOD'S PATTERN FOR MARRIAGE. What is that pattern? Let’s read - Genesis 2:18-25

9. A Honorable Marriage Commentary: Gen.2: 18-24; God’s creative work was not complete until he made woman. He could have made her from the dust of the ground, as he made man. God chose, however, to make her from the man’s flesh and bone. In so doing, he illustrated for us that in marriage man and woman symbolically become one flesh. This is a spiritual union of the couple’s hearts and lives.

10. A Honorable Marriage Commentary: Gen.2: 18-24; Throughout the Bible, God treats this special partnership seriously. If you are married or planning to be married, are you willing to keep the commitment that makes the two of you one? The goal in marriage should be more than friendship; it should be oneness.

11. A Honorable Marriage Commentary: Gen. 2:21–23 God forms and equips men and women for various tasks, but all these tasks lead to the same goal—honoring God. Man gives life to woman; woman gives life to the world. Each role carries exclusive privileges; there is no room for thinking that one sex is superior to the other.

12. A Honorable Marriage Commentary: Gen. 2:24; God gave marriage as a gift to Adam and Eve. They were created perfect for each other. Marriage was not just for convenience, nor was it brought about by any culture. It was instituted by God and has three basic aspects: (1) the man leaves his parents and, promises himself to his wife; (2) the man and woman are joined together by taking responsibility for each other’s welfare and by loving the mate above all others; (3) the two become one flesh in the intimacy and commitment of sexual union, which is reserved for marriage. Strong marriages include all three of these aspects.

13. A Honorable Marriage WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MARRIAGE Genesis 2:18–24   Marriage is God’s idea Genesis 24:58–60   Commitment is essential to a successful marriage Song of Songs 4:9–10   Romance is important Jeremiah 7:34   Marriage holds times of great joy Malachi 2:14, 15   Marriage creates the best environment for raising children ** Matthew 5:32   Unfaithfulness breaks the bond of trust, the foundation of all relationships

14. A Honorable Marriage Malachi 2:14-15 (NIV) ** 14 You ask, “Why?” It is because the Lord is the witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. 15 Has not the one God made you? You belong to him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth.

15. A Honorable Marriage WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT MARRIAGE Matthew 19:6   Marriage is permanent Romans 7:2, 3   Ideally, only death should dissolve marriage Ephesians 5:21–33   Marriage is based on the principled practice of love, not on feelings Ephesians 5:23, 32   Marriage is a living symbol of Christ and the church Hebrews 13:4   Marriage is good and honorable

16. A Honorable Marriage Is that pattern still active today? Or Has “ man” tried to changed it?

17. A Honorable Marriage What happens if we don't respect GOD’S pattern?

18. A Honorable Marriage Man marrying other men. Women marrying women. Adults marrying children. Multiple partner marriages, both men and women. In short, anything goes. Sounds like what was going on before the flood during the time of Noah.

19. A Honorable Marriage Marriage is honorable when . . . III. IT IS NOT USED TO LEGITIMIZE FORNICATION OR ADULTERY. Let's define adultery. Adultery is when a person who has an honorable marriage seeks and obtains sexual activity outside of that marriage.

20. A Honorable Marriage Bible Dictionary, Eston Adultery definition  conjugal infidelity. An adulterer was a man who had illicit intercourse with a married or a betrothed woman, and such woman was an adulteress.  Intercourse between a married man and an unmarried woman was fornication.  Adultery was regarded as a great social wrong,  as well as a great sin. (Num. 5:11-31)   

21. A Honorable Marriage Bible Dictionary Adultery definition It has been inferred from John 8:1-11 that this sin became very common during the age preceding the destruction of Jerusalem.  Idolatry, covetousness, and apostasy are spoken of as adultery spiritually (Jer. 3:6, 8, 9; Ezek. 16:32; Hos. 1:2:3; Rev. 2:22) An apostate church is an adulteress (Isa. 1:21; Ezek.23:4, 7, 37), and the Jews are styled "an adulterous generation"(Matt. 12:39). (cf. Rev. 12.)

22. A Honorable Marriage Ezekiel 16:32 defines adultery. It says, "A wife that committeth adultery taketh strangers instead of her husband!" Same could be said of the husband. Romans 7:3 "So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man."

23. A Honorable Marriage Romans 7:3 is better understood if we read v1-2 7 Do you not know, brothers and sisters —for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? 2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him.

24. A Honorable Marriage The people of Jesus' day were seeking to legitimize adultery through marriage. Jesus didn't tolerate it. Matthew 5:31-32 (NIV) 31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

25. A Honorable Marriage Luke 16:18 "Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery." 3) Matthew 19:9 "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery."

26. A Honorable Marriage When you look at God's law of marriage and apply it to the same sex marriages of today it is less than honorable. Even the scriptures recognize same sex marriages as anything but fornication. Romans 1:26-27 (NIV) 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

27. A Honorable Marriage We note that those who approve of such actions fall under God's condemnation as well. Romans 1:31-32 - NIV 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

28. A Honorable Marriage What do you have when the laws of the land recognize a marriage that is really based upon adultery or fornication? You have a "marriage" that God does not honor. You have a "marriage" that is in name only. You give mere lip service to the word "marriage." You debase that which God has made holy. You make a mockery of God’s word.

29. A Honorable Marriage An Honorable Marriage is one that made by God’s Law of Marriage as it was made at the beginning. As Christians, we must learn from His word to respect the His prescription for “An Honorable Marriage”.

30. Divorce Forbidden from Creation Did Moses give the rules for divorce without God's authority?

31. Divorce Forbidden from Creation Before we answer that question , let’s not loose sight of what God has prescribed as a honorable marriage.

32. Divorce Forbidden from Creation What are Biblical grounds for divorce?“ When discussing what the Bible says about divorce, it is important to keep in mind the words of Malachi 2:16

33. Divorce Forbidden from Creation Malachi 2:16 (KJV) 16 For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. Malachi 2:16 New International Version (NIV) 16 “The man who hates and divorces his wife, ” says the Lord, the God of Israel, “does violence to the one he should protect,” says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.

34. Divorce Forbidden from Creation “I hate divorce, says the Lord God.” Whatever grounds the Bible possibly gives for divorce, that does not mean God desires a divorce to occur in those instances. Rather than asking “is a mouthy wife grounds for divorce,” often the question should be “is a mouthy wife grounds for forgiveness, restoration, and/or counseling?”

35. Divorce Forbidden from Creation Q. When it’s obvious that a Christian husband and wife is having marital problems; a member of your congregation, a close friend should you step in and offer assistance in restoration, and/or counseling?” Or Should you just pray about it? Or Do Nothing God will take care of it.

36. Divorce Forbidden from Creation The Bible gives two clear grounds for divorce: (1) sexual immorality (Matthew 5:32; 19:9) and (2) abandonment by an unbeliever (1 Corinthians 7:15). Matthew 19:9 (NIV) 9 I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

37. Divorce Forbidden from Creation 1 Corinthians 7:15 (NIV) 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.

38. Divorce Forbidden from Creation Even in these two instances, though, divorce is not required or even encouraged. The most that can be said is that sexual immorality and abandonment are grounds (an allowance) for divorce. Confession, forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration are always the first steps. Divorce should only be viewed as a last resort.

39. Divorce Forbidden from Creation 1 Cor.7:1-5 - Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. 

40. Divorce Forbidden from Creation 1 Cor.7:1-5 In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. But then in v6 Paul say’s - I say this as a concession, not as a command

41. Divorce Forbidden from Creation 1 Cor.7:1o-11 10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

42. Divorce Forbidden from Creation Are there exceptions to sexual immorality and abandonment as grounds for divorce? Did Moses give the rules for divorce without God's authority or did God give this authority?

43. Divorce Forbidden from Creation We read in Deuteronomy 24:1, "When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house."

44. Divorce Forbidden from Creation The simple answer to this question is that when God gave Moses the rules for divorce under the Law of Moses, it was authorized by God at that time and for those people. The question, no doubt, arises as a result of what Jesus said in Matthew 19:7, 8 . In this passage the Pharisees were questioning Jesus regarding marriage and divorce. After Jesus clearly taught that man has no right to sever what God has joined together (Matthew 19:6),

45. Divorce Forbidden from Creation Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?" Jesus replied, "He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so." So what Moses wrote was authorized by God. However, what was authorized under the Old Law was not always necessarily that which pleased God..

46. Divorce Forbidden from Creation Under the Old Covenant and prior to the Law of Christ, there is a distinction to be made between that which God authorizes and that which is satisfying or pleasing to God. For example, under the Old Law, God authorized animal sacrifices. However, from the New Testament we read, "In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure" (Hebrews 10:6). While animal sacrifices were authorized by God, these sacrifices did not please God in respect to sin. They could not take away the sin of man

47. Divorce Forbidden from Creation What was the sacrifice that was made with which God was satisfied in this respect? It was the sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 10:12-14). So while God authorized animal sacrifices for a time, they were not the final authority in dealing with sin. The sacrifice of Jesus is the final authority in dealing with sin.

48. Divorce Forbidden from Creation So, under the Old Law, God authorized some things that were not pleasing to Him. But why did He do that? Why would God authorize something that was not pleasing to Him?

49. Divorce Forbidden from Creation We read in Acts 17:30, "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.“- KJV We also read in Acts 14:16 "Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.“ Why would God allow the people of the past to be ignorant? Why would he allow them to "walk in their own ways?"

50. Divorce Forbidden from Creation …God had not completely revealed His will to man. The Old Law that was revealed was a shadow of that which was to come; it was, therefore, incomplete in that it could not make the worshipper perfect (Hebrews 10:1). In Romans 16:25, Paul said that the full revelation of God's will was kept secret since the world began until the time of the gospel.