THE MARRIAGE LAW: (NKJV is used unless otherwise noted)
Gen 2:24
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Jesus was ‘tested’ on this subject by the Pharisees,
“The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, saying to Him, ‘Is it lawful (present tense) for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason.’ And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' 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'? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (divorce) Note: The marriage law was given ‘at the Creation’, not with Moses, nor with Christ nor with the Apostles, but instituted by God Himself ‘in the beginning’,
The ‘beginning of Creation’ as found in Mark’s account, chapter 10 verse 6.
THE LAW GIVEN THROUGH MOSES:
Deut 22:13-14
“"If any man takes a wife, and goes in to her, and detests her, and charges her with shameful conduct, and brings a bad name on her, and says, 'I took this woman, and when I came to her I found she was not a virgin,'” God through Moses gives various regulations in this chapter in reference to adultery, incest and rape, including the consequences for violations. Death by stoning was the usual punishment for such sins, with few exceptions. Example: A man takes a wife, marries her, and brings a charge of fornication against her. There is a trial before the elders. If she is found innocent, the man must pay a fine to the father and he can never divorce her. But if the evidence is true, “then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones. Vs 14-21.
Duet 24:1-4
"When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, when she has departed from his house, and goes and becomes another man's wife, if the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife, then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before the LORD, and you shall not bring sin on the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.”
Note: In verse one, above, the word ‘uncleanness’ is italicized, because the meaning was uncertain, this word being nowhere else found in the Hebrew text. In the days of Jesus two schools of thought prevailed: The school of Hilel taught that one could divorce and remarry for any cause. The school of Shammai taught a divorce could only be granted for marital unfaithfulness. The text will not permit us to translate this word as ‘sexual immorality’. If she was guilty, then the law required that she be stoned. Since death only dissolves the marriage bond, the man had a right to remarry after her death, thus no need to ‘write a bill of divorcement’. She became ‘defiled’ after living with another man, thus the reason that God would not permit her first husband to take her back again. That would be an abomination! Upon careful examination, the ‘certificate of divorce’ was her document of exoneration, so she could become another man’s wife. Because of the HARDNESS OF HEART on the part of the husbands, Moses ‘suffered’ or ‘permitted’ the putting away by this ‘certificate of divorce’. “But from the beginning it was not so”, replied Jesus.
“Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' "But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.” Going back to Deut. 22, the guilty wife should have been stoned to death according to the Law, which freed the man to marry again. But if he divorced her for any other reason, how could he cause her to become an adulteress? The inference is strong that she would re-marry or earn a living by prostitution. The apostle Paul used a similar argument for not putting younger widows on the list to be supported by the church, as he said,
“For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry…”(then he gives a list of what these sensual desires are) and concludes by saying, “ Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.” I Tim. 5:11-15.
It is further evident that during the time of Jesus, the Jews were not stoning the guilty party, as commanded by God, but instead wrote them a ‘bill of divorcement.’
The Jews were quite knowledgeable about the law of stoning as the following states:
“…they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."
Jesus didn’t fall for their trap by teaching something contrary to the Law of Moses. He, in effect, said “Stone her”! But He did admonish her to repent and sin no more.
THE PHARISEES PUTS JESUS ‘TO THE TEST’!
“The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' 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'? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."
Just because the Jews were not following the commandment of God to stone the guilty party, did not negate His law. Death only breaks the bond. Jesus put the blame on these Jews because of the hardness of their hearts. Women, even some today, are treated like chattel property. For the most part, men had no hesitation to bring a false charge against their wives, if they found another woman whom they wanted to marry. What husband today, or wife, would acknowledge having a hard heart as an excuse for getting a divorce? I haven’t known any. (Please read W. E. Vine’s comments on the above statements.)
MARK’S ACCOUNT:
Here is almost word for word the exact account of the Pharisees tempting Jesus as reported in the 19th chapter of Matthew:
“In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
What is very important for us to consider in this account, is that his disciples didn’t fully understand the answers Jesus gave the Pharisees, so Jesus, no longer needing to avoid the ‘trap’ of the Pharisees, never mentioned the “exception clause”.
LUKE’S ACCOUNT:
“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.” That’s it. It has been suggested the reason Mark or Luke did not mention the ‘certificate of divorce’ as given by Moses, was due to the fact that these books were addressed to a Gentile audience, who knew nothing about Jewish law. Some think the book of Matthew was the only gospel written originally in Hebrew. Therefore, the ‘exception’ as given by the Law of Moses, could not be ignored in His discussion with the Pharisees because they were, as usual, trying to set a trap for Jesus. They never succeeded. The Scriptures makes it very clear that the ‘Old Law of Moses’ would end at the cross and the New Testament Law would be announced and proclaimed by the Apostles.
Col 2:13-14 “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross.” (NIV) The old law of Moses was not ‘done away with’, as some teach, but it was fulfilled (completed). Jesus said as recorded in the book of Matthew, 5:17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill them”.
“Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." The above phrase, ‘while I was still with you’, may refer to, or at least include the 40 days spent with them after His resurrection, giving them instructions and commandments through the Holy Spirit.
THE GREAT COMMISSION:
Matt 28:18-20
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
Mark 16:15-16
“And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
We must then take into account all of the instructions Jesus gave to His disciples just before he ascended back to heaven:
“And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but wait (tarry) in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.” (They waited).
Sometime before this, Jesus had promised the apostles they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit, to be their guide and teacher and to bring back to their remembrance all things which he had taught them. We read from John 14:26, Jesus said, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” Next, we go to John 16:13,
“However, when He the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will
tell you things to come.” The Holy Spirit has no doctrine of His own, but will reveal to us exactly everything that Christ wishes taught in the New Covenant.
HISTORY; The book of Genesis is a historical account from Creation to the time of Moses, encompassing a period of apx. 2,500 years. God used Moses to go back to the beginning and bring history current to his own time. (The Patriarchal Age) How did God do it? Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit! How else could Moses write, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”? The apostle Peter said, “…Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” II Peter 1:21.
Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, referred to as the gospels, are historical books which were written many years after the church had been established. Most gospel preachers teach that the New Law (Testament) began at Pentecost. If we would agree and teach this truth, the answers to many questions will become very clear and easy to understand. In many discussions over the past 60 years, divisions have been caused due to a host of sincere, honest, and dedicated preachers contending that some things Jesus taught as recorded in these four books belong in the New Testament. If this be so, then what things do we accept as New Testament teachings but were not revealed and taught by the apostles after Pentecost? Jesus’ teachings on marriage and divorce are included in this category. The whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is God’s Inspired Word. All of the books of the Old Testament, including the gospels, are given to us so that we may reap from them many wonderful and powerful principles, examples and admonitions for our learning and edification. The new disciples on Pentecost followed the apostle’s doctrine. Herein lies the ground for the need of much discussion.
One argument always amuses me when brethren try to defend this position. Here it is: Mathew 19:3-12, is argued that the ‘bill of divorce’ as permitted by Moses may be used as a valid reason today for allowing a brother or sister to re-marry if their spouse is found guilty of adultery. They say it applies to the ‘New Testament’ law because Christ quoted it from the Law of Moses. Let’s read, in this same chapter, verses 16-22, concerning a question which a rich young man asked Jesus: “Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'’ (Referring to Moses’ laws). The young man asked, “What do I still lack?”
Our Lord has not required this of all rich people, but he knew where this man’s heart was. Jesus replied, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, because he had great possessions. Matt. 19:21 Paul told Timothy to warn the rich not to put their trust in their riches but be willing to share. I Tim. 6:17
The point is this: If the first half of this chapter 19 can be applied under the Christian dispensation, why doesn’t the second half? No one has given me a reasonable explanation. When preachers are asked today, “What must I do to have eternal life?” A true gospel preacher will not tell them to keep the Law of Moses. Not for a moment! But instead they will tell the inquirer, “You must believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God, repent of your sins, confess the blessed name of Jesus and be baptized for the remission of your sins.” You see my point. Preachers know that Jesus taught the young man what to do to have eternal life, yet they quickly put His answer ‘under the law of Moses’. Is it not reasonable then, that all of Mathew 19 should be applied to Moses’ law? The context demands we do so.
Experience has taught us when a preacher says, ‘I believe in the one cause.’ In most cases it is a subterfuge to accept all cases of sexual immorality. With over 60 years of being active in the Lord’s church, my experience has been that if the brethren allow just one brother to ‘take part’ in the services, using the ‘one cause’ position, then it won’t be long until other brethren will flock into the church expecting to‘be called on’ who are in a questionable position. The reason, according to my experience: Each brother will consider ‘his case’ just as scriptural as any other. If the leaders choose to ‘call on’ some but not others, most likely there will be a division in the congregation. The ‘one cause position’ (with the stoning) was never intended for the church. So, when churches try to practice it, which is impossible to do, many other insurmountable problems become an added burden to the congregation.
LOOK AT WHAT THE ‘ONE CAUSE’ POSITION HAS PRODUCED:
1. One brother claims his re-marriage took place before he became a Christian.
2. Another, the unbeliever departed, giving the Christian a right to re-marry.
3. Another is told to remain in ‘the calling in which he/she was called’.
4. Most often we hear, ‘I was the ‘innocent’ party. Should we accept the testimony of just one party? If we accept such, then we have judged the ‘absent’ party as ‘guilty’ leaving them without having any opportunity to defend themselves. Brethren, I do not believe that God will justify such action. “In the mouth of two or three witnesses let the word be established.”
5. Recently, one young brother claimed ‘sexual incompatibility’. When the question was asked, ‘What if the second wife doesn’t satisfy him, would he be free to divorce her and find one that would?’ The answer we were given: ‘ I can’t put a number on that’. How pitiful! Satan’s work at its best!
6. Arguments in defense of divorce and re-marriage today, that is being accepted by many churches of Christ, is the doctrine that ‘breaking the vow of your first marriage covenant’ is the sin that needs to be repented of. The re-marriage is not the problem, so they teach! Both parties must make a confession before the church of the sin of breaking their first vows.
7. Also God says he hates divorce! All that is necessary is to get the transgressors to ‘confess’ and ‘repent’ of breaking their vows, ‘repent’ of divorcing their spouse, then they can continue to live with their new wives. Where in the New Testament do we read of any such teachings? Being under the ‘Apostle’s Doctrine’ where do we find in all of Holy Scriptures the Apostles teaching such doctrine in the New Testament? It is simply not there!
8. The latest I have heard to justify divorce and re-marriage is that if a brother has not been given the ‘gift’ to remain single, then he should re-marry. There is no question but Paul, in I Cor. 7, is speaking of a first marriage for each, or maybe a widow who wishes to marry again, (but only in the Lord), but the advocates of this teaching applies it to second or third marriages. How Satan is blinding the eyes of those who are trying to justify their position!
The reasons go on and on to justify divorce and remarriage. What is most surprising, when a man, not usually active before in the church, puts himself in a ‘questionable’ position, to say the least, comes into our congregation, and now he insist on being used in the assembly, even if he knows it would cause problems. Does this not demonstrate that this man’s interest is not in the truth nor the unity and peace of the congregation? How many times have we experienced this! This man’s heart is not right with God. Does he have the Spirit of Christ? Remember: Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers..” Should not this man be willing just to take his seat, even refuse to take part if called on, for the sake of peace and harmony?
ACTS OF THE APOSTLES:
Acts 1:2-4 (Actually a continuation of Luke 24)
“He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” These verses are often overlooked, but yet are so important to our understanding of the New Testament. Christ had died and was resurrected, completing all of the requirements of the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Him. He spent 40 days with His apostles giving them instructions through the Holy Spirit concerning the Kingdom of God (the church and the church age). Was this like an immersion course to prepare them for the coming kingdom (church)? I think so. But I am also sure they were not taking notes. The Holy Spirit would bring back to their remembrance the things Jesus wanted taught during the New Testament dispensation as He had promised.
PENTECOST:
The 12 apostles did not have to wait long. Pentecost was the great feast day of the Jewish year. Devout men and women had gathered from all over the known world to participate in this grand event.
“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
The Holy Spirit was in charge of this meeting and the preaching of the apostles. If you notice “each of them began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.” No doubt they were all preaching Jesus, the gospel, in the various languages which were represented ‘from every nation under heaven’. Acts 2:8-9 “And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?”
We may never know who preached the first gospel sermon on the day of Pentecost, but we have Peter’s sermon recorded. He preached the death, burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as follows:
Acts 2:36-47 (Peter continues:):
“"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Notice: They devoted themselves to the ‘apostle’s doctrine’. They were not devoting themselves to the Law of Moses. My beloved brother, my friend, and all who may read this presentation, being offered with much humility and prayer, we too, today, must obey the apostle’s doctrine. The Holy Spirit had no doctrine of its own, (John 16:13-14) “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
THE APOSTLE PAUL TO THE ROMANS:
Rom 7:1-3 (The apostle Paul was guided by that same Holy Spirit)
“Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 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. 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.”
The apostle Paul used two examples. The first, a man is under law as long as he lives. Secondly, he uses the ‘marriage law’, though it is a fleshly bond, to teach a truth concerning a spiritual marriage, (Only death breaks a marriage bond).
Rom 7:4-6
“Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another-- to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.”
How could one be married to Moses and to Christ at the same time? Wouldn’t that be spiritual adultery? Since death breaks the marriage bond, Paul makes it clear that two ‘deaths’ have taken place. One, the Law was dead, so that freed them from being under it. Secondly, they had become dead ‘spiritually’ through the Body of Christ, the church, so that they could be ‘married to another’, which was Christ. A beautiful analogy.
PAUL ON MARRIAGE TO THE CORINTHIANS:
1 Cor 5:1-7
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality (fornication-KJ) among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles--that a man has his father's wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”
Note: The word ‘fornication’ according to W.E. Vine, and other Greek scholars is translated ‘sexual immorality’, or elicit sexual activity, which would include adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, incest, bestiality, etc. It is also used in a spiritual sense to denote any form of pagan idolatry.”
The apostle Paul rebuked the church for permitting this man to remain in their fellowship. They should have been in mourning. The withdrawal of fellowship from this brother was to be done in open assembly. Although any withdrawal is painful, we should not take the easy way out by sending him a letter or notifying him by phone. This type of action should be done in love, after all scriptural efforts have failed, to bring him to repentance, so that ‘his spirit might be saved’. We must also remember that if we allow one case of sexual immorality to remain in our fellowship, soon there will be others. A little leaven (sin) leavens the whole church.
Take special note that Paul did not write to the erring brother, but he wrote to the church. The congregation had not exercised discipline.
“For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore put away from yourselves the evil person." The last verse of I Cor. 5.
He admonished the church to take action, to repent! By allowing this sin to remain in their fellowship, the whole church stood in jeopardy. Praise God, the majority (NIV) of the church did repent, taking proper action to bring him to repentance, so therefore Paul commended them as follows: 2 Cor 7:11: (Notice: ‘the majority’ exercised discipline…there always seems to be a minority that objects to discipline).
“For observe this very thing, that you (the church) sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
EXHORTATIONS TO HUSBAND AND WIVES:
1 Cor 7:8-11
In the first 7 verses Paul addresses the marital duties that husband and wife have to each other. They are ‘bound’ to each other, obligated to one another, no longer two but one flesh. His body belongs to her, her body belongs to him. Beginning with verse 8,
“But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” The context will permit only a first marriage.
Surely no one could read into this that Paul is speaking of second or third marriages. God forbid!
“Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.”
Paul doesn’t state the reason for a separation, but we know from all other verses that it is not God’s will that a husband and wife separate, much less divorce. Prayer for strength and forgiveness should seriously be considered before a husband and wife separate from each other. Should we not safely conclude, that ‘ from the beginning it was not so.’ If separation or divorce occurs, especially where there are children, the result is disastrous. In most cases a second marriage occurs.
What permanent damage is caused by separation! The effect is the same as divorce. What a pity! Why does a family have to break up? Is not forgiving one another God’s will? In this area the church has no better percentage record, concerning divorce, than the world. Current reports indicate that over half of marriages, whether in the religious community or out of it, are in a broken home situation. What a shame! The trend is growing. Housing developments are being constructed and designed to cater to the single parent. It is admitted that the pulpits in the church of Christ, over the past 50 years, have not taught against this sin as they should. I know personally it is a touchy subject. But be that as it may, today, we are reaping what we have sown. (or have failed to sow). There seems to be a tendency, presently, for our younger generation of evangelist to rise up and begin pounding the pulpit and proclaiming the truth about marriage. Praise God!
Often times we are asked to give an answer to this question: Since my spouse was unfaithful, does God expect me to live single the rest of my life? Jesus answered this by saying,
“His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry." But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it."Mat. 19:10-12 Jesus, Paul, Barnabas and others made themselves a eunuch (they remained single) for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. Moses chose to suffer the affliction of God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Heb. 11:25
1 Cor 7:12-15
“But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Nothing is said or implied in these verses about permitting the believer to remarry. But if they do then what are the chances of saving the departed spouse? This doesn’t make sense. The first 6 verses of this chapter (I Co. 7:1-6) speaks of the kind of ‘bondage’ the apostle is talking about. Again, the context of the whole chapter will not permit the application to allow a re-marriage of either party.
REMAINING IN THE ‘CALLING IN WHICH YOU WERE CALLED’
The apostle further writes whether or not one is circumcised, whether or not one is a slave, or married or single. His advice is to remain in the same calling in which they were called. But none of these things he has mentioned are sinful within themselves. Surely, Paul would not encourage anyone to continue to live in a sinful condition. Yet some will try to justify continuing to live in a state of adultery upon obedience to the gospel, arguing that they are permitted to remain in ‘the calling in which they were called.’ The big issue my brethren, is what constitutes repentance? Would it not include a ‘ turning away’ from the sin of sexual immorality?
But when all has been said, the apostle Paul concludes the seventh chapter of I Corinthians as follows: 1 Cor 7:39-40
“A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment--and I think I also have the Spirit of God.” So, Paul concludes the entire chapter without any contradiction.
ARE THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD
Are they amenable to the law of Christ? Many say, no! What if they desire baptism, but are known to be living with a second or third spouse while their first one is still living? The key issue here is repentance. Again, repentance is a ‘turning away’ from the immoral condition they are in. Separation? Yes! What if there are children involved? It just makes the situation more difficult, but that does not change the law of God. In the Old Testament, Ezra was faced with this same difficulty. Many of the Jews had taken wives contrary to God’s command, and had married pagan wives. Ezra and other leaders fasted, took courage and completed the awesome task of separating these unlawful wives from their husbands. And the Scripture says, “….and some of them had wives by whom they had children.” Ezra 10:1-44
The book of Romans makes it very clear that we have a ‘carnal nature’ and a ‘divine nature’. Like Paul, we are both a carnal and spiritual being. Until we die we will still posses both. It is a matter of which we allow to be in control. The carnal mind will, of itself, never submit to the will of God, as long as we live. By the Holy Spirit we can rise above the carnal nature and keep it under control.
Rom 8:5-9
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” (NIV….It is a matter of who we allow to be in control.) Yes, those who are in the world are accountable to God. Rom. 3:19,
“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.” The whole world has always been accountable to God. John the Baptist rebuked Herod, a gentile, for his committing adultery by marrying his brother Philip’s wife.
SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF GOD’S LAW. 1 John 3:4
“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.” The gentiles were not under the Law of Moses, yet God held them responsible for their sins. Read what happened to Sodom and Gommorah and Neneveh. They were gentiles!
Consequences of Homosexuality
““Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally." (that we may have sex with them). NIV).
“The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the heavens. So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.”
Rom 1:24-27 (N.T.)
“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.”
Jonah and Neneveh (Neneveh was a large gentile city)
Jonah 1:1-2 “Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me."” Jonah 3:4-5 “And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them” Jonah 3:10 “Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.”
In the Revelation letter, the candlestick represented the church. Five of the churches were in error and a warning was given them to repent or else their candlestick would be removed. Some were tolerating, even allowing, false teachers.
WHO SHOULD TAKE PART IN OUR ASSEMBLIES?
Deut 23:1
"He who is emasculated by crushing or mutilation shall not enter the congregation of the LORD.”
I insert this verse for observation as it may have a bearing on whom we should allow to ‘take part’ in our services. Such a man, as described above, was not permitted to ‘take an active part’ in the ministry of the Tabernacle, or the Temple. God wanted the ‘male ministers’ to be without defect in their bodies. Now this man was a Levite, either by birth, accident or by choice, he had a ‘defect’ even in his private parts, the Lord would not permit him to take an active part in the services. The true church of the Lord today is God’s holy family, just as were the Israelites. The following scriptures are presented to address a serious problem. That problem concerns using brethren in our services who have a ‘defect’ (questionable sin) in their life, which could have a negative effect upon the influence of the church in a local community. We must withdraw fellowship from some who do not repent of their sinful ways, and who bring a reproach upon the church of our Lord.
But there are many we patiently tolerate, but have no scriptural grounds to withdraw from them, but who should not be used in the services to lead singing, prayer, wait on the table or make talks. This requires a lot of spiritual wisdom and sound judgment on the part of the leaders of the congregation. This ‘defect’ may be found in a brother who, to say the least, has a questionable marriage situation. And there are some. I used to think that every brother, young or old, ought to lead songs, lead prayer and preach sermons. But I no longer believe that the Bible condones such practice. We have not all been given the same gifts, or talents. “Let ALL things be done unto edifying.” I Cor. 14.
Eph 5:25-28
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.” (NIV) Christ expects his Bride, the Church, to be ‘pure and holy’ to receive her as such upon His return.
1 Peter 2:4-5
“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:9-1
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
Christ is our High Priest over the true church (the true Tabernacle):
Heb 8:1-2
“The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.” Is the CHURCH not the true Tabernacle of the Lord today? So, if it was important then, in a physical sense, is it not important today that we keep out of our ministry those who have a defect in their spiritual lives? Deacons may never preach, but take care of the treasury, clean the building, or visit the sick, yet, look at the qualifications these men must have who serve in the ministry this way! The wives of both elders and deacons had to meet certain qualifications as well as their husbands. I Tim. 3:11,
“In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.” NIV
CONGREGATIONS NEED TO REPENT FOR TOLERATING SIN!
Today, we are faced with serious and grave issues concerning discipline in the churches, when it is evident that most churches are failing to exercise proper and scriptural withdrawal of fellowship as prescribed in the Bible.
The apostle Paul did not write to the ‘fornicator’ in 1st Cor. Ch. 5. He did write to the congregation, ‘those not guilty of this sin’, demanding that the church repent. What did the church have to repent of? Because they were allowing this immoral person to remain in their fellowship as if he were in good standing. The church stood condemned! Fortunately, the man repented, so did the church. 2 Cor 7:9-12
“Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.”
Rev 2:12-16
"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”
Take note again, that John did not write to the false teachers of the doctrines of Balaam or the Nicolaitans. He demanded repentance from the church.
Rev 2:18-21
“"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.”
As in the above cases, it was the ‘faithful’ who were exhorted to repent. Because they allowed and tolerated false teaching in their assemblies. We learn when churches fail to exercise proper discipline the whole congregation stands in jeopardy of losing their souls. With God, it is either “REPENT, OR ELSE!”
Rev 2:29"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
DATING AND COURTSHIP
To ‘teens’ and the unmarried I offer the following counsel:
For a Christian, dating and courtship involves some of life’s most difficult decisions he or she shall ever make. Many of these decisions could easily determine happiness or misery and spiritual success or failure for the rest of their life. For a start let us follow the advice of the apostle Paul as he wrote to the Ephesians: “Find out what pleases the Lord.” (5:10). Looking to the future of the church, one that the Lord will be pleased with as His Bride, will be determined, to a great extent, upon how we teach and instruct the next generation concerning this vital subject.
THE FOUNDATION:
Scriptural and spiritual ethics and morals of Christian principles must be grounded into our members, especially our young. We must educate them, from the Bible, so that they will know how to make decisions that are approved of God. Ignorance of facts enslaves one to his or her own weakness, opinions and nearsighted perspective.
The Bible has much to say about lust, sexual immorality and selfishness which are not acceptable as Christian conduct. In brief, ethics and morals are about the same. Ethics may be considered as our beliefs and convictions. Our morals may be those things which we do and practice, often times in contradiction. Do we practice what we preach? Everyone has received from Adam and Eve the basic knowledge of right and wrong. This question demands an answer: “As an obedient believer in Jesus Christ and a member of His church, how am I to act, to behave and to live?”. Our Christian foundation will equip us with an awareness that we are different from the world. Even in courtship, we must realize that we are the light and salt of the earth.
Courtship between two people of the opposite sex, usually single, are seeking to win each other’s affection in the hope of making a marriage possible. In our present day society, due to the affluency of our generation, a young boy or girl owning a car, no restrictions on privacy and usually no need for parental consent, the opportunities for indecent and immoral behavior is abundant. I remember from the 1950’s, the issues that were debated were necking, parking and petting, which was sure to stir up passions and fleshly desires. This does not happen in most all other countries.
Two families get together and agree upon giving their daughter in marriage to the son of the other, without any opportunity for courtship of the two to be married. It may be that the young man and woman will meet for the first time at their wedding. Yes, how strange. But it happens every day in other countries.
Too many young adults enter into marriage with the attitude of an experiment. If we are not happy, we can terminate it and go our separate ways.” They do not know the pain and suffering that comes from divorce. It has often been referred to as “Worse than death.” By now there may be children. One loves the other and wants to make a success of their marriage, while the other spouse has no such interest. Even those who claim to be Christian, have forgotten the sound and solid Scriptures that condemn divorce and especially second marriages. The inspired apostle Paul wrote, “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. So then if, while here husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is freed from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man.” Rom. 7:2-3.
As our young leave home and go off to college, they are at a very critical age, and will not be faced with being responsible for their own actions. The decisions will be up to them: Who they will date, what standards they will set for themselves, where they will go when invited to social parties. Courtship is a critical spiritual age because it is centered in some of the most powerful emotions and drives in human life at an age when these drives are rapidly approaching their peak. There are only three human needs which generate more powerful drives than the sexual drive; the need for air, for water and for food. But since we don’t have a problem with any of these drives, the sexual drive is the most powerful drive of which he or she is commonly aware.
The alarming thing about this is that young adults are not very knowledgeable enough to recognize this. To make things more dangerous, our society is saturated with influences, which exist exclusively to intensify both sexual drive and the awareness of it. As a result peer pressure becomes strong to the point of being uncontrollable, and serves as a god to devour our young. With television, movies, newspapers, magazines and a host of other media, the spiritual death rate among young Christians is at an all time high. This is the saddest reality in the church today. My son, my daughter, marry a Christian, not just a church member. There is a big difference. Nothing will affect your salvation more than the one you marry.
Selective dating is important because it is your greatest single safeguard, in preserving your own spiritual standards. Avoid dating a person who has no interest in your spiritual values, by doing so you will spare yourself a lifetime of heartaches. Selective dating is your best safeguard in restricting avenues of temptation, thus preserving your sexual purity. One of your objectives is to find someone to date who will help you to become stronger, more mature in you Christian faith. It is also your responsibility to provide spiritual help to the one you date. It works both ways. When on a date, as soon as you realize that this person has no respect for your spiritual convictions, let that be your last date with that person. Go before God in prayer and ask Him through His holy Spirit to help you to set scriptural boundaries praying that He will give you the strength to safeguard those boundaries.
Ephesians 4:29 reads, “Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.” Next, set a standard or dress code for yourself. Are you going to expose your nakedness in such a way as to arouse sexual passion in your date? Usually young men have a much stronger appetite for sex than women. So you young girls be aware of this. Paul taught moderation in all things. He wrote to Timothy, “…in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.” I Tim. 2:9,10
Fornication refers to the broad range of sexual abuses. I call it, ‘the big daddy word”. It refers to any type of intercourse outside the marriage relationship for either single or married individuals. The New Testament has a great deal to say about the sin of fornication, especially to the Corinthians. One time I had the opportunity to visit Old Corinth. Within the city during Paul’s time, there was the Temple of Aphrodite built on top of a cone-shaped mountain where 1000 temple prostitutes were supported in luxury by the businessmen of the city. During the time of the Greeks and Romans, men were accustomed to extramarital freedoms, even though married, but wives or single girls were not permitted to have such behavior.
Paul wrote to this church, “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. …. For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” I Cor. 6:18-20.
COURTSHIP AND THE LIVE-IN SITUATION
In the past year we have been involved in 4 live-in, or living-together arrangements. All are church members who have been grounded in the scriptures. Two of these cases are my own grandchildren. They know better. This practice is growing more and more popular every day. It now exists as an open, accepted, respectable option to marriage in American society today. The same way with homosexuality. Our highest court has just passed a ruling that ‘gays’ must be treated on an equal basis in society, including the work place and they are permitted to marry, adopt children, while enjoying all the benefits of our government. Many denominational churches have already been accepting them into their membership. No nation of the past has survived long after it became corrupt and immoral. Unless it repents, our nation cannot stand either.
Here are some of the reasons for the now popular live-in arrangement:
1. It is evident that a life-time commitment of marriage does not work.
2. Fear of divorce. (Yet current statistics confirm a break-up between two whom
have been together for sometime, is just as taxing and traumatic as a divorce. )
3. It is an excellent way to determine if their relationship is compatible.
4. The relationship is based on true love. Not bound by a ‘piece of paper’,
5. They enjoy all the benefits of marriage yet have retained their freedom.
6. Such relationships are honest, open and their love is not pretentious.
7. If the relationship fails, there is no need for lawyers or settlements.
8. Not conclusive, but maybe the best argument in our present day society:
Such relationships have economic advantages over marriage. All bills
and living expenses are shared. They get a better tax break. Neither is
enslaved to the other, but by sharing all expenses they can live much
cheaper than going it alone. (This seems to be the big drawing card).
Live-in relationships have been going on long enough so that now we can get some real facts as to its success. The likelihood of success and happiness in marriage is less for those who live together prior to marriage.
Several have complained: “It took the romance out of our marriage. My partner didn’t live up to his/her responsibilities. There was a loss of identity, boredom, and the feeling of being dominated. They soon found out they were not compatible. Their partner wanted them to be different. They could not be just themselves.
One author wrote, “The arrangement cannot work because it breeds the mutual dependency of marriage without the mutual responsibility of marriage.” In effect, it is a way of running away from responsibility and avoiding having to make a life-long commitment ‘until death do us part.’
After a break-up there is a deep feeling of guilt. At present we are dealing with a young woman who came into the church some 4 years ago. At the time she was only 14 years old, and gave birth to a son. The young man was lazy and would get mad if you ask him to do any work. He soon left her and after years have passed he has not once made any contact with her. The she made great strides, getting a job, going to college while taking care of her son. Then satan, taking advantage of her weakness, snared her into a second relationship. Some time passed, but as soon as he knew she was pregnant with his child, he wanted nothing more to do with her. When she put pressure on him to help her out with expenses, he refused and to this day has had nothing more to do with her. He is no longer the ‘nice guy’ she once knew. How sad.
I reminded one of my granddaughters of a powerful verse found in Hebrews, 13:4,
“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” NIV. My statement to both of them was: “First of all there has been no marriage, so your bed is defiled and immoral”.
My comments have created a distance between us.
When all the arguments have been made, the conclusion is found in the Revelation letter, chapter 21, verses 6-8,
“He said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars---their place will be in the fiery lake of
burning sulfur. This is the second death”. God’s final message: Repent or PERISH! The choice is yours!
WARNING TO ALL CHURCHES
Whole congregations today stand in jeopardy this very hour of being lost because they have not exercised proper and scriptural discipline within their own congregation. We as elders, evangelists and teachers may be held even more accountable for failing to warn the churches, as the apostle James says,
James 3:1
“ My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” Although the whole congregation may stand in jeopardy, the leaders, including elders, deacons and leaders will be held in stricter judgment.
DISCIPLINE REQUIRES TOUGH LOVE
Yes, we are opposed to all innovations which have crept into the church: The class system of teaching by dividing the assembly, hiring of a ‘one-man-minister’, the use of instrumental music in our services, women speaking in the church, institutions of men, centralization and control, and other issues which have divided us. These we must ‘mark and avoid’. “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” Rom 16:17 But none of these, though unscriptural, have destroyed the home, the church and our nation as has divorce and re-marriages. According to history, all great nations of the past have fallen from within, kings, rulers and the people serving their own appetites, giving themselves over to lust and greed, not even desiring to retain the knowledge of God in their minds. Read all of chapter one of Romans.
PONDER OVER THE TRUTH OF THE ABOVE STATEMENT!
I am ashamed to confess to you that only 4 out of our 14 grandchildren, are faithful in the Lord’s church. Two of our grandchildren are just ‘living in’ with their proposed spouse without the benefit of a legal marriage, although they say they have made a commitment to each other and are making plans to get married. Yes, it breaks our hearts. We have three living sons, all of whom are in a second marriage situation. We have two daughters. One is divorced, but at the time of this writing is not remarried. She does not attend church. Our other daughter is an adopted daughter. She and her husband (formerly Catholic) are most faithful and active in the Lord’s work. We praise God for them and their two faithful children. Another grandson is single and faithful, the other is married with 4 beautiful children. He, and his wife (formerly Mormon) are strong and active. We still love our erring children unconditionally, but our relationship with them is no longer the same.
My beloved brothers and sisters, we are truly living in difficult times. I don’t know of one family in the church here that does not have similar problems. In fact, in working in Africa, Mexico, Central America or the Philippines, we find the exact problems as we have here in the States. The whole world is in a drought as far as the Word is concerned. But we must not turn back, no matter what may come, only Christ has the words of eternal life. “Be thou faithful until death (or to the point of death) and I will give you a crown of life.”
My wife and I often wonder where we failed! God knows. But we also know that He will forgive us our failings. With the help of the Holy Spirit, and the prayers and love of the brethren, we shall continue to tread the strait (difficult) and narrow way. We know many of you have experienced the same situations in your families. Let us pray for one another and encourage each other. This life will soon be past. There awaits for us a glorious and eternal home, with God and the Lamb as the Light, and there will be no more pain, disappointments or death. Just total joy! Praise God!
For many years it has been my pleasure and duty to serve as one of four elders in the congregation here in Sierra Vista , Arizona. (Also known as the Cloud 9 church of Christ). Along with brother Oliver Hazelton, Edward Anderson and Duane Cogburn, at times deacons and brothers present, we have sat through untold hours of discussions regarding discipline in all of the above matters, concerning our own congregation and in our own families. Many of you, too, have experienced many prayerful and sleepless nights, pleading with our Heavenly Father to give us the right direction and course of action and the wisdom and courage to do His will. May God through His Son Jesus be glorified in all we do! May His Mercy rest upon each of us.
Submitted in humility, with respect to all sincere brethren, and praying that this presentation will be helpful in some ways and received in the same spirit of love in which it is offered.
In His love and service,
Bill