The Importance Of Eternal Life

Dr. Andreas Kostenberger is the Director of PhD Studies and Professor of New Testament at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Kostenberger uses the Word of God from the Old and New Testament on marriage, gender roles, headship, sex, child-rearing, divorce, and homosexuality. In the second edition of God, Marriage, and Family, by Köstenberger and Jones investigate the most recent contentions, social movements, and teachings inside both the congregation and society and further apply Scripture 's immortal standards to contemporary issues. We live in a time period of a crisis in regards to marriage and the family, and the only way the institution of marriage can be rebuild is by the biblical foundation in the Word of

Looking at Marriage today, as the age of enlightenment has hit America, Timothy Keller says in his book The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God, “Marriage was seen as a contract between two parties for mutual individual growth and satisfaction. In this view, married persons married for themselves, not to fulfill responsibilities to God or society.” Although marriage is only between two people, the concepts can be applied to any community, as God ordained marriage as the holy community, sealed by and through him. Marriage is supposed to be all about serving one another, and growing spiritually and morally through the years, not about feeding off of sexual gains and other individual desires. This is why divorce rates are so high, and why so many fights happen. It is because America has lost the definition and beauty of marriage, as it is often portrayed as a trap, or a “settle down” type thing. Not at all, because marriage is all about spiritual growth through each other and the

Joan K. Kinnaird states that, “God had ordained marriage. And further he had willed that man should rule the family”(Kinnaird 67). Therefore

There are fundamental differences between a God-made marriage and a man-made marriage. Marriage is a reflection of God’s love and Christ’s relationship with the church is likened to a marriage. You cannot take God out of marriage because marriage was His idea. It is difficult to manage what you did not create. Just as a car cannot run without an engine, a marriage cannot work without God and His principles. He is the only One able to help you manage your life and your marriage effectively. God started by saying “It is not good for a man to be alone…” What God intends for every married couple is a marriage of unending love, joy, peace and fruitfulness. God never intended for marriages to fail. His plan is for marriages to last until death do us part. Marriage is God’s idea and divorce is man’s idea. Since marriage is God’s idea, He alone has the power and tools to keep it. God says He hates divorce, not the people getting the divorce. Why? Because Divorce is devastating for everyone involved, especially the children and the consequences often last a lifetime. God hates to see what Divorce does to lives and families which is the opposite of what He wants for every family. Let us take a look at some of the differences between a man-made marriage and a God-made marriage.

Principles and covenants are received by a covenant. Couples who go to the temple to be sealed, receive the sealing ordinance and making sacred covenants in the temple. As the couple remains faithful they will continually receive the blessings of eternal marriage and exaltation. One blessing of a temple marriage is the assurance that a couples’ relationship will continue forever if they are true to their covenants. Covenants are the foundation of an eternal marriage. As stated in the The Family: A Proclamation to the World, “marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” The greatest joy one can obtain is found in the family. When a man and woman are sealed in the temple their family can live together for eternity. The covenant of a temple marriage provides eternal happiness. In the talk “Covenant Marriage”, Bruce C Hafen discussed in depth the meaning of a covenant marriage. Hafen explained, “… when troubles come to a

Christian ideology is often associated with strict guidelines for marriage. According to common Christian thought, marriage must be between a man and a women, and they must remain in a monogamous marriage. Today, many people wish to challenge this traditional view of marriage and reenvision marriage through a new lens. Maguire gives several points in his article that specifically challenge the traditionalist view of marriage. Ellison and Martin also had their own views that combatted with the Christian ideal of marriage. Personally, I have my own views on the matter and have an open opinion on what the institution of marriage should be in the future.

God made his heart concerning marriage and the family unit clear in the book of Genesis as it states that, “But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together let not man separate.’’(KJV)

Homosexuality continues as a controversial topic of conversation amongst the civil society and church worldwide. Although in recent decades the homosexual agenda appears to gain territory in legislation and so called civil rights we (Bible believing Christians) should understand that even though gay marriages are supported by the legal system the body of Christ is under a different governing system. As ambassadors of the Kingdom, imitators of Jesus Christ, and Image bearers of God we must acknowledge marriage as a sacred institution between one man and one woman not between the same sex. Meaning we do not condone homosexuality but our love toward homosexuals honor God’s word (NIV, Mr. 10: 6-9; Jn. 3:16). Therefore, the body of Christ should

God has never authorized any other union as being marriage. The Bible also clearly teaches that a union between a man and a man or a woman and a woman is sin and unnatural in God's eyes and design. Therefore, we don't perform such unions or recognize such unions as holy within the context of the church of Christ. We know that culturally those civil unions exist and happen legally. We are called to love everyone and understand that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. However, we don't promote or encourage such relationships and unions, or any other sin, for that matter, but since you asked about this specific issue, I am speaking towards it

In this scholarly article, Jackson discusses the biblical foundation for marriage and divorce. He begins in speaking about the origin of marriage, contending against the ideal that marriage transpired from an evolutionary beginning. He argues for the supernatural, later promoting the biblical view of the origin of marriage. After, he promotes a scriptural view of the traits of marriage: a lifelong, monogamous, and hierarchical arrangement between a man and a woman. He states that any other view relies on “completely abandoning reasonable hermeneutics.” He later talks about the purposes of marriage as the sacred union. These purposes include, but are not limited to, accommodating our social needs, gratification of sexual desire, creating an ideal environment for the rearing of children, and to facilitate God’s divine plan for human redemption.

After creating Adam, God realized that it is “not good for the man to be alone”, so he made Eve to be Adam’s wife (New International Version, Genesis 2:18). Just as Adam is God’s child and a rib was taken out of Adam to create Eve, “ ... a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” (New International Version, Genesis 2:21-24). Before a couple gets married, they are two separate entities, a man and a woman from two different families. However, once the vows have been exchanged and a kiss solidifies their marriage, the couple become one entity. This notion that you become united as one with your spouse has been incorporated into today’s ideology and traditions of marriage. The standard traditional vows ask couples to promise to honor and keep their significant other for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to them (Rev.Leah). In short, the vows ask couples to promise to stay together forever as one entity.

Overtime, marriage has been a pivotal part of civilization. A man and a woman that are in love with each other, chose that they want to spend the rest of their lives together and they stamp this choice by becoming one in marriage. This is a very sacred ritual, that can only be performed when two people want to merge with the vow of love, piety, loyalty, consistency, trust, care, and to start a family together. In the Bible, this sacred act possesses all the qualities mentioned above but also urges married couples to honor, love, and grow closer to God. In addition, the Bible also urges husbands and wives to raise their family like Jesus would, by abiding to Gods word. In recent times, the traditional

Despite being what seems as two opposing ideas presented in the Bible, the two different viewpoints of marriage becomes a basis on how to live our lives, no matter who is involved with them. No matter one’s calling on how to live, the Bible provides different applications tailored to fit a specific province to fulfill. As it first appears contradictory on the surface, more focused attention reveals that, in fact, the two passages compliment each other, giving different specifications of life, no matter the way you are called to live.

In today’s sermon I want to tackle a very complex issue for many Christians and non-Christians alike. The topic of divorce and remarriage. It is a topic which may cause many to feel uneasy, myself included. So I write this sermon out of my own concern and to possible help others to enlighten as to what the bible has to say about this ever growing issue.

The terminology used in this scripture can lead you to believe that it is only about marriage, but marriage is not the focus here. God uses this scripture to show emphasis on the relationship between Christ and the church. God is showing the body of Christ as the church in this scripture. God is using the description of husband and wife to show Christ’s attitude about the church. A husband is used as a verb and not a noun. The husband is the care taker of the church and is meant to tend to it. Christ love for the church was the most sacrifical love in that he died for it. Christ’s role in regard to the church was to protect and covered it. The necessity of the church is shown through this scripture even as it relates to the Lord’s sacraments. We are not able to baptize ourselves or serve ourselves the Lord’s Supper. These are elements that must be done through the church’s distribution. We are also able to see Christ and the church are one flesh through this scripture. Paul doesn’t make any distinctions between the church and Christ. We learn that amazing things can happen through the church and that the revelation of God is given through the Church when God reveals his