Biblical Mysteries 9

THERE IS MUCH CONFUSION IN THE CHURCH TODAY CONCERNING MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE. EVERY CHURCH AND DENOMINATION HAS DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT, THE CATHOLICS ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE, HAVE A VERY STRICT VIEW CONCERNING DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE, AND THE LIBERAL PROTESTANT VIEWPOINT, CASUALLY ACCEPTS DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE AS AN ALMOST NORMAL OCCURRENCE IN TODAY’S SOCIETY.

GOD CREATED MAN, AND THEN LATER HE CREATED WOMAN FROM MAN. IT WAS GODS INTENTION FROM THE BEGINNING THAT ONE WOMAN AND ONE MAN SHOULD SPEND THEIR LIFETIME TOGETHER. HE SHOWED HIS INTENT BY CREATING ONLY ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN, NOT ONE MAN AND MANY WOMEN OR ONE WOMAN AND MANY MEN. JUST ONE PAIR.

Genesis 2:19-25 NIV Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the
man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, ' for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Genesis 3:20 NIV Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.

GOD HIMSELF PERFORMED THE FIRST MARRIAGE CEREMONY WHEN HE CREATED EVE AND GAVE HER TO ADAM TO BE HIS WIFE. HE THEN COMMANDED THEM TO CONSUMMATE THEIR MARRIAGE AND HAVE CHILDREN, AND FILL THE EARTH WITH HUMAN BEINGS.

Genesis 1:27 NIV So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

ADAM AND EVE THEN OBEYED GODS COMMAND (AFTER FALLING INTO SIN) AND BEGAN TO POPULATE THE EARTH WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

Genesis 4:1-2 NIV Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.

AT THIS TIME THERE WAS NO COMMAND OF GOD AGAINST MARRYING A BROTHER OR A SISTER, SO ADAM AND EVES CHILDREN MARRIED EACH OTHER, AND THEY TOO WERE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLIED.

Romans 4:15 NIV And where there is no law there is no transgression.

WHAT IS MARRIAGE?

IN MANS EYES A MARRIAGE LICENSE AND A CEREMONY PERFORMED BY A PASTOR OR A JUDGE CONSTITUTES A LEGAL MARRIAGE. IN MANY STATES LIVING TOGETHER FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME AS MAN AND WIFE CONSTITUTES A “COMMON LAW” MARRIAGE. A COMMON LAW MARRIAGE GIVES THE PARTIES RIGHTS TO EACH OTHERS ASSETS SHOULD ONE OF THEM DIE OR IF THEY SEPARATE.

BEFORE WE CAN LOOK DEEPER INTO THE SUBJECT WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT CONSTITUTES MARRIAGE IN GODS EYES.

Exodus 22:16-17 NIV "If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT GOD SHOWS US THAT IN HIS EYES SEXUAL INTERCOURSE CONSTITUTES MARRIAGE. IF A MAN SEDUCED A WOMAN AND HAD SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH HER, THE FATHER OF THE GIRL HAD THE RIGHT TO DEMAND THAT THE MAN MARRY HIS DAUGHTER. IF THE FATHER OF THE GIRL WHO WAS SEDUCED DISLIKED THE MAN WHO VIOLATED HIS DAUGHTER AND DID NOT WANT HER TO BE MARRIED TO HIM, THEN THE MAN WHO DID THE SEDUCING STILL HAD TO PAY THE FATHER THE PRICE FOR A BRIDE, WHICH WAS 50 SHEKELS OF SILVER. THIS ALSO INCLUDED NOT ONLY SEDUCTION, BUT RAPE.

Deuteronomy 22:28-29 NIV If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl's father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.

IN DEUTERONOMY GOD SAYS THAT IF A MAN RAPES A WOMAN WHO IS NOT ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED, HE MUST MARRY HER, AND CAN NEVER DIVORCE HER ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE. THIS ORDER WOULD AGAIN BE CONDITIONAL ON THE FATHER OF THE GIRLS APPROVAL TO ALLOW HIS DAUGHTER TO MARRY THE MAN. THE GIRL COULD DISCUSS WITH HER FATHER WHETHER OR NOT SHE DESIRED TO MARRY THE MAN.

MUCH OF THE TIME IT WAS NOT A STRANGER WHO WAS THE RAPIST, BUT A BOYFRIEND, SIMILAR TO WHAT IS KNOWN TODAY AS "DATE RAPE." IN THE CASE OF A DATE RAPE, OR ANY RAPE, THE FATHER OF THE GIRL HAD THE OPTION OF FORCING THE MAN TO LEGALLY MARRY HIS DAUGHTER, WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF HIM EVER DIVORCING HER. THIS ONCE AGAIN SHOWS THAT GOD VIEWS SEXUAL INTERCOURSE AS THE ACT THAT CONSUMMATES A MARRIAGE, WITH OR WITHOUT A LEGAL CONTRACT, EVEN IN THE CASE OF RAPE.

PAUL TAUGHT THE SAME THING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THAT A PERSON WHO HAD SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH ANYONE OTHER THAN THE ONE THEY WERE MARRIED TO, WAS IN EFFECT MARRYING THE PERSON THEY WERE HAVING ILLICIT SEXUAL CONTACT WITH.

1 Corinthians 6:13 & 15-17 NIV "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"--but
God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a Prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, " The two will become one flesh." But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

THE WORD PROSTITUTE DOES NOT APPLY ONLY TO THOSE WOMEN OR MEN WHO SELL THEIR FAVORS FOR MONEY, IT INCLUDES ANYONE WHO AGREES TO A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT AN AGREEMENT TO MARRY, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.

John 4:7-9 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" ( For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. )

John 4:16-19 He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back." "I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, " You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true." "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet.

THE IMPLICATION ABOVE IS THAT THE SAMARITAN WOMAN HAD LIVED WITH OR HAD RELATIONSHIPS WITH FIVE OTHER MEN BEFORE HER PRESENT LOVER. JESUS INDICATED THAT IN GOD’S EYES SHE HAD BEEN MARRIED FIVE TIMES.

TO GOD, SEXUAL INTERCOURSE CONSTITUTES MARRIAGE. ANYONE WHO HAS SLEPT WITH MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN THEIR LIFETIME, UNLESS THEIR FIRST PARTNER HAD DIED BEFORE THEY DID SO, IS MARRIED AND DIVORCED.

MARRIAGE, IN GODS EYES IN NOT COMPLETED WITH PAPERWORK. SEXUAL INTERCOURSE ALREADY MAKES A PERSON MARRIED, FROM GODS POINT OF VIEW.

THE ACT OF TAKING THE VOWS OF MARRIAGE IS A PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION OF THE COUPLES INTENT TO REMAIN TOGETHER FOR A LIFETIME. IF THE COUPLE HAS SLEPT TOGETHER BEFORE THEY SPOKE THEIR VOWS, THEN THEY WERE ALREADY MARRIED ACCORDING TO GODS DEFINITION.

FROM THE SCRIPTURES IT APPEARS THAT EVEN AND AGREEMENT TO MARRY, AN ENGAGEMENT, IS CONSIDERED TO BE BINDING UNLESS PRIOR SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH ANOTHER PERSON IS DISCOVERED TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

Matthew 1:18-19 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE JOSEPH WOULD HAVE HAD TO DIVORCE MARY TO ANNUL HIS ENGAGEMENT TO HER. FROM THIS IT APPEARS THAT EVEN THE AGREEMENT OF TWO PEOPLE TO MARRY IS CONSIDERED TO BE SACRED FROM GOD’S VANTAGE POINT.

Matthew 1:20-25 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from
their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, " God with us." When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord
had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

HAVING A MARRIAGE LEGALIZED BY THE CHURCH AND THE GOVERNMENT IS SIMILAR TO BEING BAPTIZED AFTER A PERSON COMES TO FAITH IN CHRIST. BAPTISM IS A PUBLIC DISPLAY OF WHAT HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE IN A PERSONS LIFE, AND A MARRIAGE CEREMONY IS THE SAME THING.

VOWS AND OATHS

AN AGREEMENT TO BE MARRIED IS NEARLY AS BINDING AS THE MARRIAGE ITSELF, AND THIS NOT ONLY INCLUDES MARRIAGE, BUT ALL CONTRACTS, VERBAL OR WRITTEN.

Matthew 12:36-37 NIV But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Ecclesiastes 5:4 NIV When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.

BE CAREFUL IN WHAT YOU SAY, BECAUSE GOD WHO SEES AND HEARS ALL THINGS WILL HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY CARELESS WORD YOU SPEAK.

Numbers 30:2 NIV When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

WHEN A MAN MADE A VOW TO GOD OR AN OATH TO OBLIGATE HIMSELF IN SOME WAY IT WAS AS BINDING AS A WRITTEN CONTRACT. WHEN A SINGLE WOMAN LIVING IN HER FATHERS HOUSE MADE A VOW IT HAD TO BE SECONDED BY HER FATHER BEFORE IT WAS BINDING ON HER. HER FATHER HAD THE RIGHT TO OVERRULE HER, AS LONG AS SHE WAS LIVING IN HIS HOUSE.

Numbers 30:3-5 NIV "When a young woman still living in her father's house makes a vow to the LORD or obligates herself by a pledge and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all her vows and every pledge by which she obligated herself will stand. But if her father forbids her when he hears about it,
none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; the LORD will release her because her father has forbidden her.

WHEN A WOMAN MARRIED THE RIGHT OF APPROVAL OR REFUSAL OF HER VOWS THEN FELL TO HER HUSBAND.

Numbers 30:6-8 NIV "If she marries after she makes a vow or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. But if her husband forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the LORD
will release her.

ANY VOW MADE BY A WOMAN BEFORE SHE MARRIED COULD BE NULLIFIED BY HER HUSBAND, AND IT WOULD NOT BE COUNTED AS A SIN FOR HER TO BREAK IT.

Numbers 30:10-16 "If a woman living with her husband makes a vow or obligates herself by a pledge under oath and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her
and does not forbid her, then all her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. But if her husband nullifies them when he hears about them, then none of the vows or pledges that came from her lips will stand. Her husband has nullified them,
and the LORD will release her. Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself. But if her husband says nothing to her about it from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or the pledges binding on her. He confirms them by saying nothing to her when he hears about them. If, however, he nullifies them some time after he hears about them, then he is responsible for her guilt."
These are the regulations the LORD gave Moses concerning relationships between a man and his wife, and between a father and his young daughter still living in his house.

ANY VOW MADE BY A MARRIED WOMAN AFTER SHE WAS MARRIED, COULD BE NULLIFIED BY HER HUSBAND, PROVIDED THAT HE DOES SO SOON AFTER HE HEARS OF THE MATTER. IF HE KEEPS SILENT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN LATER CAUSES HIS WIFE TO BREAK HER WORD, THE GUILT BEFORE GOD FALLS TO THE HUSBAND.

Numbers 30:9 NIV "Any vow or obligation taken by a widow or divorced woman will be binding on her.

ANY VOW MADE BY A WIDOW OR A DIVORCED WOMAN WAS AS BINDING ON HER AS IF SHE WERE A MAN.

IT IS BETTER NOT TO MAKE A VOW, SIGN A CONTRACT, OR CASUALLY AGREE TO SOMETHING, THAN TO DO SO AND LATER CHANGE YOUR MIND. ONCE YOU HAVE GIVEN YOUR WORD ON SOMETHING IT IS A SIN TO REFUSE TO DO WHATEVER IT IS YOU AGREED TO.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23 NIV If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow
to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the LORD your God
with your own mouth.

Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 NIV It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?

ACCORDING TO THE VERSES ABOVE LOOSE AND LYING LIPS CAN LEAD TO POVERTY IF WE ANGER GOD BY OUR SIN AND HE DESTROYS THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR BECAUSE OF IT.

JESUS EXPANDED ON THE TEACHING THAT WE ARE BOUND BY WHATEVER WE SAY TO INCLUDE THINGS WE SAY WITHOUT AN OATH. WHAT JESUS WAS TEACHING HERE IS THAT EVEN CASUAL TALK IS AS BINDING AS AN OATH, AND THAT ALL THAT IS REQUIRED IS FOR A PERSON IS TO LET THEIR YES MEAN YES, AND NO MEAN NO.

Matthew 5:33-37 NIV "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, HE SAYS THAT WHAT HE HAS SPOKEN IS AS GOOD AS ALREADY DONE. WE ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, AND HE EXPECTS US TO KEEP OUR WORD. THE OLD SAYING THAT "A MAN IS ONLY AS GOOD AS HIS WORD," IS TRUE.

SO THEN, THE SUMMARY OF THE MATTER IS THAT THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT CONSTITUTE A LEGAL MARRIAGE IN GODS SIGHT, AN AGREEMENT TO MARRY, A RELIGIOUS OR CIVIL MARRIAGE CONTRACT OR VOWS, AND SEXUAL INTERCOURSE. IF YOU HAVE DONE ANY OF THESE THINGS WITH MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN YOUR LIFETIME, THEN YOU HAVE BEEN MARRIED AND DIVORCED, UNLESS YOUR FIRST SPOUSE HAS DIED.

SO THEN, SINCE ALL OF US ARE GUILTY BEFORE GOD IN SOME MANNER OF SIN, LET’S NOT BE TOO QUICK TO JUDGE OTHERS FOR THEIR FAILURES.

Matthew 7:1-4 NIV "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

Luke 6:37 NIV "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.