MARRIAGE: God’s Gift to Man & Woman Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. [By Ron Halbrook]

I. In the Beginning Gen. 1:1, 24-27 Man & Woman Unique: In God’s Image Gen. 2:18-24 Woman: God’s Crowning Work— She Has No Equal in Her Role! Genesis 2:18, 24 18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

II. Gift of Children Ps. 127:3 God Ordained Birth & Nurturing of Children in Marriage B. Eccl. 4:9-12 God Blesses Father, Mother, & Child in This Intimate Relationship Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases. III. Friends In Love Song of Solomon Celebrates Steadfast Love from Courtship to Marriage. The Bride Extols Value of True Love. Song of Solomon 2:7 Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases. Song of Solomon 8:6-7 6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

C. Experiences of Friendship Deepen in Marriage. Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

IV. Permanent A. God Hates Divorce. Malachi 2:13-16 13 And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. 14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 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.

B. Lawful to Divorce for Every Cause? Annie’s Mailbox: Man With Dying Wife— Divorce Her, Marry Cora (Courier-Journal 9-1-03) Matt. 19:3-9 Jesus Gave Different Answer 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 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.

C. “Except It Be for Fornication” Porneia: Unlawful Sexual Intercourse in General Fornication Including: Harlotry, Prostitution Adultery Incest Homosexual Acts Unlawful Marriages All Such “‘sexual intercourse’ in gen. without more precise definition” (Kittel, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament VI:584, 587)

IV. Permanent D. God’s Gift of Marriage Given to a Man & a Woman: If Never Before Married (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-5) If Mate Died (Rom. 7:2-3) If Divorce Mate for Fornication (Matt. 19:9) E. God Does Not Sanction Man’s Sinful Desires: Easy Divorce (Mal. 2:16; Matt. 19:1-9) Homosexual Acts—Against Nature (Rom. 1:26-27)

V. Marriage Holy, Honorable When God Joins a Man & a Woman, Marriage Is Holy, Honorable. Look to God for Guidance: Eph. 5:22-33 Roles Given to Husband & Wife Col. 3:18-21 Duties of Parents & Children Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

V. Marriage Holy, Honorable C. Divine Law Overrules Human Law & Social Standards. God Gave Man & Woman Marriage: NOT Bestiality NOT Fornication Outside Marriage NOT Adultery In Violation of Marriage Vows NOT Homosexual Acts NOT Incest NOT Pedophilia NOT Pornography NOT Divorce on Demand

MARRIAGE: God’s Gift to Man & Woman Conclusion: It Is Time for Our Nation to Repent— Or Face God’s Judgment! It Is Time for Each Sinner to Repent & Obey the Gospel: Jn. 3:16 Christ, Perfect Sacrifice for Our Sins Acts 2:38 Repent & Be Baptized 2 Thess. 1:7-9 Reject Gospel, Punished in Flaming Fire for Eternity