MARRIAGE

(1)

A. The marriage must be between a man and a woman; It is not lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband: Gn. 2:24 with Mt. 19: 5,6; 1 Tim. 3: 2; Tit. 1: 6.
(2)
A. Marriage was instituted for the mutual help of husband and wife: Gen. 2:18; Pr 2:17.; Mal. 2:14.
B. To multiply the human race through a legitimate descendants: Gen. 1:28; Psalm 127: 3-5; 128: 3.4.
C. And to avoid impurity: 1 Cor 7: 2.9.
(3)
A. lawfully can marry all kinds of people able to give their consent in his right mind: 1 Cor 7:39; 2 Cor 6:14; I have 13: 4; 1 Tim. 4: 3.
B. However, it is the duty of Christians to marry in the Lord. And therefore, those who profess the true faith should not marry unbelievers or idolaters; neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, bymarrying those who live an evil life or hold damnable heresies: 1 Cor 7:39; 2 Cor 6:14.
(4)
A. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbidden in the Word, nor can such incestuous marriages ever be legalized by any human law, or consent of the parties, so that these people can live together as husband and wife: Lv. 18: 6-18; Am . 2: 7; Mr. 6:18; 1 Cor 5: 1.

MARRIAGE

The institution of marriage was ordained and instituted by God in creation. Christ he sanctified with his presence at the wedding of Canaan and through the instructions given by the apostles in the New Testament. Most wedding ceremonies reflect this and recognize the divine origin of marriage. What is often ignored or overlooked in modern contracts is that marriage has been regulated by the commandments of God. God's law circumscribes the meaning and legitimacy of marriage.
Marriage should be an exclusive relationship between a man and a woman in which both become "one flesh", being physically united, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. The intention is to last for a lifetime. The bond is secured by a sacred vow and covenant and consummated with physical union.Scripture says only two reasons why this union can be dissolved -the infidelity and abandonment.
Infidelity is prohibited in the marriage relationship. The institution of marriage was created by God to men and women could complement each other and participate in creative work of procreation. The necessary physical union for procreation also has a spiritual meaning.
He is pointing and illustrating the spiritual union between husband and wife. Paul uses this union to symbolize the union between Christ and his church in the same way that the Old Testament describing the relationship of the covenant between God and Israel with the figure of marriage. Loyalty, affection and mutual support, must be at the foundation of marriage. Acts of infidelity break this covenant and therefore allow the injured party an opportunity to seek a divorce.
In addition, Paul in 1 Corinthians 7: 12-16 tells us that if one of the couple is abandoned or abandoned, he or she has no obligation to keep the marriage covenant. Abandonment, like infidelity, is a fundamental violation of God's intention for marriage.
Marriage is a creation ordinance. No need to be a Christian to receive the common grace of this institution. While all men and women can marry, the Christian should marry only "in the Lord". Scripture is clear in this regard and prohibits Christians marry non-Christians.
In the institution of marriage, the husband should be "head" of the woman. The woman must submit to her husband as subject to the Lord. The husband should love his wife and surrender to it sacrificially in the same way that Christ loved his bride, the church, and gave his life for her.
SUMMARY
1. Marriage was instituted by God and is regulated by God.
2. The marriage must be monogamous.
3. The permitted physical union and orderly in marriage reflects the spiritual union between husband and wife.
4. The marital status is used figuratively in Scripture to illustrate the relationship between Christ and his church.
5. Marriage, being a creation ordinance, it is possible for all human beings. The church recognizes civil marriages. Christians, however, should marry "in the Lord".
6. God has ordained the structure of marriage. Each partner has specific mandates of God must obey.
BIBLICAL PASSAGES FOR REFLECTION
Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19: 1-9, 1 Corinthians 7, Ephesians 5: 21-33, 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-8, Hebrews 13: 4.

THE DIVORCE

The question of divorce has become an urgent issue in a society where the incidence of divorce has reached epidemic proportions. Due to the radical proliferation of divorces and legal and family problems it causes, the law has moved in the direction of facilitating the process allowing divorce without any causal.By becoming increasingly easier to obtain divorce, the problem is exacerbated acceleration.
The Bible is not so superficial in dealing with the divorce. Jesus' teaching on the subject is raised in the context of a discussion of the first century between the rabbinical schools. Liberals and conservatives maintained a long disagreement on the legitimate grounds for divorce. Jesus was confronted with the following suggestion:
Then came to him the Pharisees tempting him , and saying, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause? He answered and said , Have ye not read , that he which made ​​them at the beginning, male and female made ​​them , and said , ' For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one meat? So they are no longer two, but one flesh; Therefore what God hasjoined together no man put asunder (Matthew 19: 3-6).
We note that when the Pharisees asked Jesus about the law of liberal divorce, Jesus immediately sent the Scripture and the original institution of God for marriage.
He stressed that marriage is intended to last a lifetime. He highlighted the union between man and woman one flesh, union which can not be dissolved by human decrees.
God alone is authorized to determine the grounds for dissolving the marriage. The debate continued: They said, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He told them: For your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it was not so. And I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery (Matthew 19: 7-9).
If we analyze in detail the response of Jesus, we see that questioned the way the Pharisees had to understand the law of the Old Testament. Moses had not "ordered" divorce but had allowed for special cases. (Moses, of course, was the spokesman of God. It was God who allowed this deviation from its original intent by the presence of sin that violated the marriage.) Jesus reminded them that until permission was given only because of sin (the hardness of heart) and that by itself annulling not the original intention of marriage.
Jesus then gave his pronouncement on the subject -prohibiendo divorce except for the cause of sexual immorality. His enigmatic words on a second marriage and adultery must be understood in relation to invalid and illegitimate divorces. If divorce where God does not allow it, then the couple is still married in the eyes of God you are allowed. Therefore, a second marriage between two illegitimately divorced people constitute an adulterous relationship.
Later, as expressed in the previous chapter, Paul extended permit divorce in the case of the believer who had been abandoned by the non - Christian (l Corinthians 7: 1015).
The Westminster Confession summarizes this issue. States the following: In the case of adultery after marriage, it is legitimate for the innocent party seek divorce; and that after the divorce to remarry, as if the offending party were dead. Although the corruption of man can be such that propose other improper arguments to break the ties that God has joined together in marriage; however, nothing but adultery, or voluntary withdrawal in no way can be remedied by the Church, or civil magistrate, it is sufficient to dissolve the bonds of marriage motive; therefore, it must comply with a public procedure and orderly, andthe people involved should not be left free to his will, and his discretion for his own case.
SUMMARY
1. The Bible does not endorse divorce "no grounds".
2. Jesus repudiated the liberal position held by the Pharisees regarding divorce.
3. Moses allowed, but not ordered, divorce.
4. Jesus tells allowed divorce cases of sexual immorality.
5. Jesus taught that marriage between two illegitimately divorced persons constitutes adultery.
6. Paul added desertion by the unbeliever as other grounds for divorce.
BIBLICAL PASSAGES FOR REFLECTION

Matthew 5: 31-32, Matthew 19: 3-9, Romans 7: 1-3, 1 Corinthians 7: 10-16.