"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." Genesis 2:24
Why do we as Christians teach that marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman? Why do we oppose same-sex marriage, sexual relationships outside of marriage and all forms of adultery? It all goes back to Genesis and God's creation of the first man and the first woman (cf. Genesis 1:26ff.; Genesis 2:7.18ff.).
God created mankind male and female and gave them the command and the blessing to be able to have children and populate the earth. He created woman for the man -- from Adam's rib -- and brought her to the man to be a helper and companion comparable to him. And it is for this reason "a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" -- a new family unit in which children can be conceived and born and brought up to know and walk in the ways of the LORD God (cf. Ephesians 5:22-33; 6:1-4).
Why is divorce wrong and prohibited in the commandment against adultery? Jesus said (Matthew 19:4-6): "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, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, sodomy, bestiality and even lusting are not in accord with God's purpose and design in marriage and are therefore a form of adultery -- a perversion and abomination to our Maker (cf. Genesis 18-19; Leviticus 18; Matthew 5:27ff.; 19:3ff.; Romans 1:18ff.; Jude 7). And those who practice such things will not be a part of God's eternal kingdom (Revelation 21:8; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
What hope is there for those who have failed to live up to God's purpose and design in marriage? Our hope is in Christ Jesus who fulfilled all righteousness for us and then suffered the just punishment for all our sins (cf. 1 John 1:8-9; 2:1-2; Ephesians 1:6-7; 2:8-9). We repent of our sinful ways, look to Christ and His cross for forgiveness and then, as a fruit of our faith, seek to live in accord with His will and do those works He created us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
O LORD God, You created woman for the man, brought her to the man and thus instituted marriage as the lifelong union of a man and a woman unto one flesh. Forgive us, for Christ's sake, for our failures to live up to Your purpose and design in creation and strengthen us to live for You. Amen.
[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]
Religion on 06/07/2018