Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- We started this Chapter a fortnight ago - looking at singleness and marital intimacy
- There are advantages of being single - examples
- Marital intimacy is a safeguard to immorality - there are other reasons
- Marriage is about giving not getting
- Looking now at v10-16
- This is not all the Bible teaches
- Remember that Paul is answering questions - examples
- v10-11 is about Christian marriage and then switches in v12 to mixed marriage
- Overview:
- Christian Marriage
- Mixed Marriage
- God has placed us in the state we find ourselves - no situation is unredeemable
Christian Marriage
- This is a great blessing
- Paul wants to address a marriage that goes wrong
- He says what Jesus says
- God established the marriage unit - it is the binding of two people to each other by God
- True of all - a Creation Ordinance
- The words of Jesus - He speaks of the sanctity of marriage
- It should not be entered lightly
- It mirrors the relationship between Christ and the Church
- God will give us grace to overcome by the Holy Spirit
- The Christian Marriage
- Malachi 2:16
- Matt 5 & 19 - because of the hardness of men's hearts - divorce was permitted
- There is real pain in divorce
- People do not always stay together
- There is the hope of reconciliation and remain in an unmarried state
- Both are expected to obey this - there is equality
- Paul is not speaking of every scenario - examples
- People can be saved from very raw/rough backgrounds
- Paul is not dealing with the exceptions but giving the rule
Mixed Marriage
- v10 - different interpretations
- Not just Paul giving his own view
- Rather this is an area on which Christ has not taught
- v17 - He gives teaching that is binding on the Churches
- 14:37
- These commandments are binding - they are from God
- Do not divorce an unbeliever if they are willing to live with you - v12
- What witness would that be?
- 1 Pet 3:1 - the husband can be won over
- Said to both husband and wife - v13
- Encouragingly, there is a Godly influence upon your spouse and children - v14
- There is a blessing to them because of your faith in the Lord
- Not speaking about child baptism - but children are blessed if they have believing parents
- What about where there is an intolerable strain on the relationship? - v15
- There comes a time when they might go
- Not just the bondage of an oppressive relationship but the bondage of desertion
- Where a marriage is dissolved - it is over and there is freedom to remarry
- God has called us to peace
- Three concessions: adultery, desertion and death (Romans)
Closing Remarks
- God wants people to be together
- We are to work hard and pray that our marriages are God honouring
- No situation is unredeemable - God gives grace
- Paul is burdened that Christians live God honouring lives
- v16 - the most important thing is that you are saved