2. Retaining the Standard
2 Tim. 1:13-14
13) Retain the standard of sound words which you have here from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. (NASB)
13) Hold fast the pattern of sound words…(NKJV)
13) Hold fast the the form of sound words…(KJV)
13) Keep as the pattern of sound teaching…(NIV)
13) You have a pattern of healthy words…(Greek)
14) Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. (NASB)

3. Retaining the Standard
If we do not retain the standard:
We will not know the certainty of things – Luke 1:4
We will turn to a different gospel – Galatians 1:6
We will be given to a debased mind – Romans 1:28
We will be destroyed – Hosea 4:6
There are to be no divisions in the church
1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I plead with you, brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgment.

4. Retaining the Standard
This series will include:
God’s Standard for Authority
God’s Standard for Organization
God’s Standard for Worship
God’s Standard for Discipline
God’s Standard for Evangelism
God’s Standard for Modesty
God’s Standard for Benevolence
God’s Standard for Marriage
God’s Standard for Salvation

5. God’s Standard for Marriage
RETAINING THE STANDARD
God’s Standard for Marriage

6. God’s Standard for Marriage
The Standard
One man and one woman for life – Gen. 2:18, 21-15
Only one way out – Romans 7:2-3
Divorce is not an option
God hates divorce – Malachi 2:13-16
Man cannot separate – Matthew 19:1-6
One exception – Matthew 19:7-9
Discussion:
I. God’s Standard for Marriage
A. One man and one woman for life – Gen. 2:18, 21-25
READ FROM BIBLE
B. Only one way out – Romans 7:2-3
2) 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.
3) So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.
C. Divorce is not an option –
1. God hates divorce - Malachi 2:13-16
2. Man cannot separate – Matt. 19:1-6
D. One exception, only for the cause of fornication – Matt. 19:7-9

7. God’s Standard for Marriage
The Perversion
No fault divorce/annulment
The only easy way out – Matthew 19:10
Marriage to one that has been put away – Matthew 5:32-33
Sexual Immorality
Children are to never precede marriage – Genesis 3:16
Sexual relationship only belongs in marriage – 1 Cor. 7:1-5
Some false teaching on marriage – 1 Corinthians 7:9
II. The Perversion
A. No fault divorce/annulment
1. We live in a disposable society.
a. Old days have shoes repaired
b. Today we throw them out and buy a new one
c. Same attitude towards appliances, cars
d. Unfortunately the same attitude towards marriage
2. No fault divorce – Matt. 19:10
10) His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry”
3. Marriage to one that has been put away – Matt. 5:32-33
32) Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’
33) But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except for sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
B. Sexual Immorality
1. How many marriages start because of sexual immorality?
2. God’s plan was never to have children precede marriage – Gen. 3:16
16) To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children: Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.
3. The purpose of the sexual relationship is to bring forth children – Malachi 2:15
15) But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring….
4. It only belongs in marriage – 1 Cor. 7:1-5
READ FROM BIBLE
5. Some false teaching on marriage – 1 Cor. 7:9
9) but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
6. The bible does not teach, it is better to commit adultery, than fornication.

8. God’s Standard for Marriage
The Perversion
Cohabitation
It has the appearance of evil – 1 Thessalonians 5:22
Sin behind closed doors – Psalms 90:8
Civil Unions and Alternative Lifestyles
Calling evil, good – Isaiah 5:20
Speaking against it is considered wrong – 2 Timothy 4:1-5
The Perversion
C. Cohabitation
1. More and more we are seeing couples choose to live together and not seek marriage.
2. It has the appearance of evil – 1 Thess. 5:22
22) Abstain from every form of evil.
3. Sin behind closed doors – Ps. 90:8
8) You have set our iniquities before You. Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.
4. False teaching on cohabitation
a. Many times people will urge a couple to get married because living together is sin, but will not teach any other values of marriage.
b. “But you have to live together to get to know someone first”.
5. Living together gives you some of the benefits of marriage, but none of the responsibilities.
6. Living together provides an easy way out in case you want to break up, instead of seeking a divorce from the court.
D. Civil Unions
1. We won’t let you get married, but we’ll let you have a civil union.
2. If you take God out of a marriage, what are you left with?
a. a court recognized merger of two peoples personal assets and liabilities.
b. establishes a next of kin to someone that is not blood related or related by adoption.
3. If a civil union is not a marriage, then can I be married to my wife, but civil unionized to another man?
4. If I can do that, can I have a civil union with my dog?
5. Where does the insanity stop?
E. Alternative Lifestyle
1. We’re not going to call homosexuality, cohabitation, and polygamy sin, but it’s just an alternative lifestyle.
2. Good and evil – Isa. 5:20
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.
3. What is good today is to be accepting of these lifestyles.
4. What is considered wrong is to speak out against it – 2 Tim. 4:1-5
READ FROM BIBLE
5. Whatever kind of sin you want to indulge in, there is a church for you. But it is not the Lord’s church.

9. God’s Standard for Marriage
God has provided us a standard for marriage – Matthew 19:4-6
4) And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5) 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.?
6) So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.
3. God provided us a standard for marriage – Matt. 19:4-6
4) And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5) 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.?
6) So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.

10. Retaining the Standard
Philippians 3:16
16) Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
Let us retain the standard!
John 8:31-32
31) Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32) “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”