Christian marriage is a union of love between husband and wife, in which, God who is
love, is the binding force (Matt 19:6). In other words, God unites husband and wife. In His
plan they are no longer two, but one (Gen 2:24; Matt 19:5; Eph 5:31). This means that
they have to surrender their entire being to the other and husbands have to love their wife
as Christ loves His Church (Eph 5:25). In fact their bond is stronger than that between
them and their parents; they therefore, leave their parents and unite with their spouse
(Mark 10:7). Because God is the binding force in their union and God is unchanging
(Malachi 3:6), it is impossible to break the bond (Matt 19:6). Jesus clearly tells us that no
one should separate what God has joined together (Matt 19:6). Therefore, when divorced
people remarry, except for marital unfaithfulness (Matt 5:32), their first spouse is the only
real spouse. Therefore, sexual relationship with any other person becomes adultery (Luke
16:18). Since God is the binding force, an attempt at rejecting the bond is an attempt at
rejecting God. Divorce is therefore, against God. God therefore, hates divorce (Malachi 2:16)
and is not pleased with the offerings of those who divorce their spouse (Malachi 2: 13-14).
Divorce is absolutely prohibited by Jesus (Mk 10:11-12, Luke 6:18), except when the
marriage was illicit (Matt 5:32).
Forgiveness is the very heart of Christianity, because, Christianity has to do with
redemption and redemption has to do with forgiveness. The whole redemption history
revolves around God’s forgiveness. Although we are continually unfaithful to God He does
not abandon us; on the contrary He sacrificed His own life to compensate for the sins we
committed against Him (Matthew 26:27-28). If we have to accept His forgiveness we have
to believe in it by showing the same type of forgiveness to others when they are repentive,
(Matt 6:12) especially our spouse. Sometimes, the stresses of marriage may seem
unbearable, especially if our spouse is alcoholic, abusive, mentally ill or unfaithful. In such
situations, we should seek the Lord’s help. By remembering, how Jesus compensated for
our wrong doings, when we were unfaithful to him and wronged him. We should
continually pray and make sacrifices for the conversion of our spouse. In our prayers, we
should surrender ourselves completely to God’s will, and ask Him to be our thoughts,
feelings, desires and actions. Only to this end and with every effort being met should we
then consider a divorce from our spouse. It is written (Matthew 5:31-32) ‘Anyone who
divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who
divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and
anyone whom marries the divorced women commits adultery. There you have it, you give
it your all for God and when your spouse has done the unforgivable, broke the marital
covenant and won’t repent, God has left you a means to leave him or her and start out
fresh. This is the only reason for divorce from your spouse. All other problems in your
marriage can be repaired through prayer and faith in God. Pray without ceasing because
(Matt 7:8) “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks,
the door will be opened.” If what you ask from God does not manifest for you, it’s because
you did’t really want it and God knew it, or you lacked faith in God. So pray with all faith
to have your spouse restored and God will deliver. Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, blessed are You my Lord. We give to You all our praise and
thanksgiving for our blessed life. We truly trust in You Lord that you guide us through
our lives with Your blessed love everyday. Keep us strong Lord and bless our marriage
with your knowledge and wisdom as we trust in You for all things all the days of our
lives. Keep our marriage strong through faith and trust in You Lord. In the name of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ we pray. Amen
May God bless you all dearly beloved!
love, is the binding force (Matt 19:6). In other words, God unites husband and wife. In His
plan they are no longer two, but one (Gen 2:24; Matt 19:5; Eph 5:31). This means that
they have to surrender their entire being to the other and husbands have to love their wife
as Christ loves His Church (Eph 5:25). In fact their bond is stronger than that between
them and their parents; they therefore, leave their parents and unite with their spouse
(Mark 10:7). Because God is the binding force in their union and God is unchanging
(Malachi 3:6), it is impossible to break the bond (Matt 19:6). Jesus clearly tells us that no
one should separate what God has joined together (Matt 19:6). Therefore, when divorced
people remarry, except for marital unfaithfulness (Matt 5:32), their first spouse is the only
real spouse. Therefore, sexual relationship with any other person becomes adultery (Luke
16:18). Since God is the binding force, an attempt at rejecting the bond is an attempt at
rejecting God. Divorce is therefore, against God. God therefore, hates divorce (Malachi 2:16)
and is not pleased with the offerings of those who divorce their spouse (Malachi 2: 13-14).
Divorce is absolutely prohibited by Jesus (Mk 10:11-12, Luke 6:18), except when the
marriage was illicit (Matt 5:32).
Forgiveness is the very heart of Christianity, because, Christianity has to do with
redemption and redemption has to do with forgiveness. The whole redemption history
revolves around God’s forgiveness. Although we are continually unfaithful to God He does
not abandon us; on the contrary He sacrificed His own life to compensate for the sins we
committed against Him (Matthew 26:27-28). If we have to accept His forgiveness we have
to believe in it by showing the same type of forgiveness to others when they are repentive,
(Matt 6:12) especially our spouse. Sometimes, the stresses of marriage may seem
unbearable, especially if our spouse is alcoholic, abusive, mentally ill or unfaithful. In such
situations, we should seek the Lord’s help. By remembering, how Jesus compensated for
our wrong doings, when we were unfaithful to him and wronged him. We should
continually pray and make sacrifices for the conversion of our spouse. In our prayers, we
should surrender ourselves completely to God’s will, and ask Him to be our thoughts,
feelings, desires and actions. Only to this end and with every effort being met should we
then consider a divorce from our spouse. It is written (Matthew 5:31-32) ‘Anyone who
divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who
divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and
anyone whom marries the divorced women commits adultery. There you have it, you give
it your all for God and when your spouse has done the unforgivable, broke the marital
covenant and won’t repent, God has left you a means to leave him or her and start out
fresh. This is the only reason for divorce from your spouse. All other problems in your
marriage can be repaired through prayer and faith in God. Pray without ceasing because
(Matt 7:8) “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks,
the door will be opened.” If what you ask from God does not manifest for you, it’s because
you did’t really want it and God knew it, or you lacked faith in God. So pray with all faith
to have your spouse restored and God will deliver. Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, blessed are You my Lord. We give to You all our praise and
thanksgiving for our blessed life. We truly trust in You Lord that you guide us through
our lives with Your blessed love everyday. Keep us strong Lord and bless our marriage
with your knowledge and wisdom as we trust in You for all things all the days of our
lives. Keep our marriage strong through faith and trust in You Lord. In the name of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ we pray. Amen
May God bless you all dearly beloved!
| The Lords Church.org Ministries Website All Rights Reserved 2005-2008 |
| By Rev. Mark E. Vatcher |