What God Hath Joined Together “…Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.“ {Matthew 19:6} Title Slide: What God Hath Joined Together (Matt.19:6)…

Husband and Wife Husband Wife “And said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?” {Matthew 19:5} Wife “For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband.” {Romans 7:2} Husband/ Wife. When God joins two people in marriage, that marriage is not to be put asunder. (Matt.19:5,6; Eph.5:25,28) Wives are to love their husbands (Titus 2:4; Rom.7:2). This relationship is a lifetime commitment. God joined—God looses. Only by death (Rom.7:1-4) and adultery (Matt.19:9).

Faith and Works Faith Works “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” {Hebrews 11:6} Works “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only... For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” {James 2:24,26} Faith/Works. God joined FAITH and WORKS. We cannot have one without the other. FAITH—Heb.11:6; Jno.8:24; Rom.10:17. WORKS—Heb.11:30; Jam.2:14-26. Sadly, men who believe in “faith only” (Jno. 3:16) forget about the works of obedience! One cannot please God without BOTH of these traits.

Christ and the Church Christ Church “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” {Colossians 1:18} Church “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” {Matthew 16:18} Christ/Church. We hear people say, “preach more about Christ and less about the church.” One can be saved by Christ; he doesn’t need the church. How do we preach Christ without preaching the church? Christ promised to build the church (Matt.16:18). He will deliver it up to the Father at the end of time (1 Cor.15:24-26). He is the head of the Church? (Col.1:18; Eph.1:22,23). He died for the church (Eph.5:25; Acts 20:28). If one is going to preach CHRIST—he must also preach the CHURCH!

Baptism and Salvation Baptism Salvation “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” {Mark 16:16} Salvation “There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” {1 Peter 3:21} Baptism/Salvation. The religious world tells us that we can be SAVED without Baptism. But that is a difficult proposition to prove from the Scriptures. All conversions ended at the WATER. Water contacts the blood (Rom.6:3,4; Col.2:11-13). Jesus said to go into the world (Mk.16:16; Acts 2:38). Salvation is accomplished through obedience (1 Pet.3:21; Acts 22:16). How can we separate Baptism from salvation? The record says He didn’t!

What God Hath Joined Together Husband and Wife Faith and Works Christ and the Church Baptism and Salvation Would you seek to separate these things? Summary—Invitation…