Our society has become increasingly confused about the meaning of marriage. This confusion reflects itself in rampant violation of principles of sexual
purity: principles that are based on the meaning of true marriage. In fact, it appears that efforts to confuse the meaning of marriage are often motivated by a desire to lower the standard of sexual conduct.
In order to emphasize the divine standard for marriage, let us summarize some basic teachings regarding marriage and the principles of sexual conduct that are based on marriage. But it must be emphasized that these teachings are revealed by the Creator and Ruler of the universe. All people are required to obey them and will be judged by them.
Genesis 1:26-28 - At creation God made male and female and instructed them to sexually reproduce.
Genesis 2:18-24 - God created woman to be a companion for man. Then He ordained marriage saying a man should cleave to his wife (woman) and they become one flesh (sexual union). And everything God made at creation (including marriage) was "very good" (Genesis 1:31).
Matthew 19:3-9 - Jesus quoted the Genesis account of creation of male and female and that man should cleave to his wife. He used this principle to show that marriage is a lifetime bond, joined by God, which should not be broken by divorce (except for fornication). So Jesus confirmed that marriage is defined by God, not man, and that marriage is a bond joined by God between male and female. Sexual union outside this Scriptural marriage bond is adultery.
Ephesians 5:22-33 - Paul also cited the Genesis account of creation to show that marriage is a relationship between a man and his wife (woman). He used that relationship to illustrate the relationship of Christ to the church. So we have no more right to change marriage as a relationship between man and woman than we do to change the relationship between Christ and the church.
Romans 7:2,3 - Marriage is again described as a lifetime relationship between a man and a woman.
1 Corinthians 7:2-4 - To avoid fornication, a man should have his own "wife" (i.e., woman). God expressly confirms that the sexual relationship should be within marriage, which is a relationship between a man and woman.
Hebrews 13:4 - Marriage is honorable and the sexual relationship (the "bed") is undefiled only within marriage. Any sexual relationship outside marriage constitutes "fornication," which God will judge. But remember that marriage is honorable only between a man and a woman (male and female).
Proverbs 1:8; Ephesians 6;2,3 - Children should be raised in a family with both a father and a mother. And remember that God instituted marriage as the proper relationship for reproduction, so children would have a family with both a father and a mother to raise them (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:24).
1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:9-11 - Homosexuals and sodomites are listed among practices that are "contrary to the gospel" and cause people to not inherit the kingdom of God. Note that such people can be cleansed and justified through Christ, but only if they cease the practices described ("such were some of you").
Romans 1:26-28 - When men leave the natural use of the woman and exchange the natural use for what is "against nature," men burning in lust for other men, God says they have rejected the knowledge of God and commit "vile passion," "shameful," and "error."
[Genesis 19:1-11; Leviticus 18:22,23; 20:13,15,16; 2 Peter 2:6-8; Jude 7]
1 Corinthians 10:13 - With every temptation (including homosexuality) there is a way of escape. Remember that Jesus will forgive those who repent and cease sinful practices.
Isaiah 5:20 - Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
Note carefully: No teaching anywhere on this web site is intended or should ever be construed to justify or to in any way incite or encourage personal vengeance or physical violence against any person.
(c) Copyright David E. Pratte, 2016; gospelway.com
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Scripture quotations are generally from the New King James Version (NKJV), copyright 1982, 1988 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. used by permission. All rights reserved.