This ninth and final message on Biblical marriage addresses mankind's perversions regarding -holy matrimony-. Paul writes to the Corinthian church to CHALLENGE their ignorance regarding the kingdom of God and their responsibilities as believers in it. His rebuke was aimed at their continued lack of knowledge when it came to being distinct from unbelievers. The choices of sinners would result in them never inheriting the kingdom of God. Paul's CHARGE involved a specific command and some serious consequences. The Corinthian believers had to- -1- stop allowing themselves to be led astray -watering down sin- and -2- clearly recognize that the unbelievers around them would never serve God. Contrary to the unrighteous, the Corinthian believers had undergone radical CHANGE. They were no longer unrighteous, but were now righteous, as they had been- washed -cleansed-, sanctified -set apart- and justified -declared righteous- for all eternity - so they were to live like it-

This eighth message on Biblical marriage explains God's position on remarriage. Since marriage is a lifelong covenant, a divorcee commits adultery if they remarry while their spouse is still alive. Paul gives an EXAMPLE, using the law in Romans 7-1-3, showing that it controls a person as long as they are alive. His conclusion is that a woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living, but remarriage before the death of her husband makes her an adulteress. The EXEMPTION in 1 Corinthians 7-15 is not about remarriage, but refers to the command to -fulfill his-her duty- sexually -v.3-. They were no longer bound sexually to an unbelieving spouse who had divorced them. Paul teaches that spiritually equal couples -both being believers- are commanded not to send each other away, no matter what. But with spiritually unequal couples, Paul commands the believer to not send their unbelieving spouse away, no matter what -they are sanctified by the believer-. Yet if the unbeliever leaves -divorces-, the believer is commanded to let them go AND they are no longer -under bondage- to give themselves sexually until marriage is restored. The EXPLANATION in 1 Corinthians 7-39 is that a wife is obligated to stay with her husband until death. After death she is free to remarry, only in the Lord, but Paul's opinion was that she stay single.

This seventh message on Biblical marriage explains God's lifelong plan for each couple. The covenant of marriage is a permanent earthly bond, only being broken when either the husband or the wife dies. In Matthew 19-3-12, Jesus responds to the Pharisees who were testing Him about divorce - attempting to ensnare Him. They laid a TRAP by asking question -1, -Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause at all-- - seeking to force Him to pick sides. In answer -1, Jesus uses Genesis 1 and 2 to clearly say -What therefore God has joined together let no man separate- - divorce is never God's will. Jesus then presents the TRUTH when they ask question -2, -Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away-- - blaming Him for approving broken marriages. He explains in Answer -2, -because of your hardness...Moses permitted you to divorce your wives- but from the beginning it has not been this way- - it protected wives, but it was not God's will. Finally, Jesus challenges His disciples to TRUST God by submitting-obeying. Their reaction was extreme, -If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry- - since marriage is permanent, avoid trouble-avoid marriage. But Jesus commanded them to give reception - unbelievers refuse to obey, but believers must -accept it-.

This sixth message on Biblical marriage describes how two individuals in a marriage submit to one another in difficult situations, such as when the husband is not a believer or when the wife is not recognized as valuable in society. WIVES were given six verses of instructions because their role was much more difficult in that day. They were to have the right attitude toward their unsaved husbands, modeling Christlikeness in order to win them to the Lord. Their adornment was not to focus on their external appearance, but on the internal - hearts that were meek and not unruly. An excellent example of this is how Sarah treated Abraham in the O.T. - obeying him, calling him lord and living without fear. HUSBANDS then received one critical verse, telling them to develop an aptitude for intelligently living with their wives - to work at knowing them intimately regarding their soul -as a female- and their body -as a weaker vessel-. Peter also gave husbands a specific assignment regarding their spirits - to grant their wives honor as fellow heirs, treating them as those who had extreme value because they are equal partners in Christ. Then God could focus on each husband's prayers rather than on their sins.

A new MP3 sermon from Cascade Bible Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details:

Title: A Tale of Two Kingdoms

Speaker: Brian Lemos

Broadcaster: Cascade Bible Church

Event: Sunday Service

Date: 10/14/2018

Bible: Luke 2:1-14

Length: 39 min.

This fifth message on Biblical marriage describes the perfect balance of submission between a husband and wife. Marriage requires that spouses HELP one another by submitting with love and respect - this simple service, when practiced daily, will make all the difference in their relationship. Wives are the HEART of the home - like thermometers they reveal the -temperature-. They must respond to their husbands exactly the same way that they would respond to Jesus Christ Himself, by lining up under his headship. Husbands are the HEAD of the home- like thermostats they control the -temperature- of the home. They must lead their wives exactly the same way that Jesus Christ Himself would lead the church, by laying down his life for her. God's goal for married couples is a unique HARMONY whereby husbands love their wives and wives respect their husbands in everything.

This fourth message on Biblical marriage describes the couples' physical relationship beginning with their honeymoon. General dating opportunities typically lead to the specific engagement of one man and one woman. Ultimately their public wedding ceremony unites them in a permanent covenant before God and man, for life. Once married, their honeymoon provides God's perfect DESIGN for this couple to unite sexually, becoming one flesh - naked and not being ashamed -Genesis 2-24-25-. Their one flesh relationship is also designed by God to bring DELIGHT to both of them - providing protection, blessing, rejoicing and pleasure -Proverbs 5-15-19-. Finally, the DESCRIPTION of their sexual relationship is presented as being mutually beautiful, beneficial and wholesome for both of them -S. of Sol. 7-1-10-.

This third message on Biblical marriage presents God 's plan for a wedding ceremony that is pleasing to Him. Previously we saw that courting-dating is an extended time of general, friendly relationships that allow individuals to get to know each other and narrow down their decision for a mate. We also saw that engagement-betrothal is a specific, best friend commitment to one individual in preparation for marriage. Now we will examine how God-designed the wedding ceremony to be a public commitment- -1- demonstrating God's VISION to all, of leaving, cleaving and becoming one flesh- -2- presenting the couple's VOWS, which declare a permanent partnership -companion- and a public pledge -covenant-- and -3- holding up God's VALUE of marriage, as being highly prized, the bed undefiled and its violation requiring severe judgment for neglecting and breaking God's commands.

This second message on Biblical marriage zeros in on the time of engagement, also known as a betrothal. Dating or courtship involves a general opportunity to get to know a variety of members of the opposite sex, whereas engagement-betrothal is a specific commitment to one individual in preparation for marriage. Four areas must be managed in this commitment- -1- the DANGER of sexual temptation- -2- the DUTY of sexual relations -only in marriage-- -3- the DEVOTION of sexual restraint- and -4- the DECISION of sexual abstinence. Marriage is a lifelong decision that is not to be entered into lightly or without serious preparation. Each believer has their gift from God -v.7-, and must act upon that gift by either pursuing marriage or by remaining single - both for the glory of God.