Light in the House
Love & Marriage • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsMarriage and Divorce is one of the hottest topics in the church today. What is right? What is wrong? This sermon takes an honest look at living in the reality of life today which ironicly was exactly the situation when Paul wrote this epistile.
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Introduction
Marriage has always been a source of contention in the church. This contention stems from a lack of understanding of the heart and nature of God toward marriage and a lack of or misinterpretation of the scriptures God has given us.
Here is what we need to understand about marriage.
Marriage doesn’t last forever. Therefore, marriage is a tool that God has given us to accomplish our purpose here on earth.
The standard for marriage has been set by God himself with the first marriage of Adam and Eve. God’s view on marriage has not changed and will not change.
The practice of marriage in a sin cursed society is subject to that society and must be dealt with in a way that is in God’s character of mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
When God made Adam and Eve they were without sin.
They were naked and unashamed.
They were open, honest, and vulnerable with each other.
Shortly after creation and Adam and Eve walking away from God the marriage relationship immediately became more difficult.
They were accusing each other of sin and deception.
They were kicked out of the garden of Eden to fend for themselves.
When God established a new nation for himself (Israel) he again instituted a proper form of marriage of one man and one woman for a lifetime.
Although the standard was reestablished, people were still functioning in their sin which caused many divorces much as we see today.
Laws were created to control the evil and the hurt that would come from these broken relationships of marriage.
When God then opened salvation up to all the world the marriage practices were not the standards set from the beginning.
This is where we find ourselves today.
No one is perfect, and therefore, no marriage is perfect.
The goal is to learn to live in spite of our imperfections and brokenness and somehow bring honor and glory to God through our marriages.
This morning I want to dispel some of the myths of marriage that have been holding people down and caused some to even walk away from the faith.
It’s not an easy topic but we can navigate it if we pay close attention to the scriptures God has given us.
The Creation Standard
The Creation Standard
“One man with one woman for a life time.”
10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband
The teaching of Jesus on Marriage.
The teaching of Jesus on Marriage.
2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”
Mark 10
According to laws are created to control the evil of this world.
If a law is created it is because something is wrong not to make something right.
3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” 5 And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.
Mark 10:
Moses was the giver of the law. The laws were ment to control the evil of the sins of men.
The bill of divorcement from Moses was given as a final act of separation between a man and his wife forever.
He was protecting the rights of the women from being tossed around from guy to guy.
The husbands were kicking out the wives while they were mad. Someone else would marry them get mad and kick them out and the first one would take her back again.
The Law of Moses in was once she has defiled herself with another guy you can no longer take her back.
6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
Mark 10:
This law of Moses was given specifically to the Hebrew nation.
They were not to marry outside of their Hebrew race in order to insure the purity of their religious beliefs.
They were to be the example to the rest of the world of what Love and Marriage looked like.
10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
Mark 10:
10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her,
Jesus, recognizing the sin of Man, left room for divorce if there was sexual immorality.
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Mark 10:10
32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Ideally this is the type of marriage you want to have in the kingdom of God.
One Man one woman for a lifetime.
I don’t believe people get married to get divorced. There is a desire to stay together forever. It is the brokenness and sinfulness of people that cause some to get a divorce.
Practically it not always the situation you find yourself in. So how do you live in peace, love, and safety in this current era of life.
The Current Standard
The Current Standard
The standard would only be modified because of extenuating circumstances.
Paul is now dealing with both Jew and Gentiles that are forming a new thing called the Church. This standard is now set for the world and not just for the Hebrew people.
12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.
1 Cor 7:12
Paul is not pitting himself against the Lord, but rather making the point the the idealism of the Lord is not the reality that we live in today.
Now you have Jews marrying Gentiles.
You have some Jews that are Christians and some that are not.
You have some Gentiles that are Christians and some that aren’t.
You have Jew and Gentiles that were married before they even knew about Christ.
Searching for a mate in today’s world.
Searching for a mate in today’s world.
If you are single and searching for a spouse you should find someone that will help you build God’s kingdom.
If you choose the marry someone that is hostile to God’s kingdom you will have struggles.
Not everyone is hostile to the kingdom of God.
This usually becomes evident when you start raising kids.
The Blessing of Light in the house.
The Blessing of Light in the house.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Matt 5;
As a Jesus follower you are the light of the world. And that light starts in your home.
14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.
14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
1 Cor 7:
God still honors the marriage relationship even through our brokenness.
God still counts you as one because his faithfulness doesn’t depend on your faithfulness.
The Benefits to the Unbeliever in a Christian Home.
The Benefits to the Unbeliever in a Christian Home.
1. Your whole house is set apart by God for Himself.
2. You receive the blessing of God’s promises because of his child.
3. Your children are under the blessing and protection of the Lord.
4. You have an opportunity to see the light of God and respond to it.
15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
1 Cor 7:15-
Navigating a Hostile Christian Home.
Navigating a Hostile Christian Home.
The unbelieving partner wants nothing to do with christianity.
1. Realize that you chose or changed the game.
Always be open and honest about your faith so that the unbeliever knows what he or she is getting into.
Share your experience of what has happened to you without judgement or expectation on your unbelieving partner.
2. Humbly illustrate the love of Christ with your actions and your words.
Love is always the agent Christ uses to win the lost, never judgement.
You actions speak louder than your worlds. If you’re not going to live it, don’t claim it. You will just look foolish.
3. Pray, Pray, Pray.
Pray that God would reveal himself to your spouse in a very real way.
Pray that God would draw their spirit back to him through the power of His Holy Spirit.
Pray that you would walk in the power of the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh in your own life.
4. Submit to the marriage as much as you can without compromising your faith toward God.
When you can’t submit be ready to give the biblical reason why not.
As much as possible live in peace, love, and safety.
Closing Thoughts
If God has placed one of his children in your home, understand that he is drawing you to himself through that family member. How are you responding to His light?
If God has placed one of his children in your home, understand that he is drawing you to himself through that family member. How are you responding to His light?
If God has placed you as the light in the home, understand that you have the responsiblity to share the light of the gospel through your love, patients, kindness, and self control as you point them to the source of the light which is Jesus.
If God has placed you as the light in the home, understand that you have the responsiblity to share the light of the gospel through your love, patients, kindness, and self control as you point them to the source of the light which is Jesus.