Marriage and Divorce: Exploring God’s Heart for Marriage

Today we talk about God’s heart and design for marriage and the difficult topic of divorce. Marriage is difficult and takes work.

What is marriage?

“Marriage is a sacred bond between a man and a woman instituted by and publicly entered into before God.”

1. It was God’s idea. Genesis 2:18-24
2. It is a covenant not a contract. Genesis 2:24, Malachi 2:13-14, Proverbs 2:17, Ephesians 5:22-33
3. It is a picture of the gospel.  Ephesians 5:25-32

If marriage is a picture of the gospel we have to ask ourselves: under what circumstances would Christ leave his church?

“The grass isn’t greener on the other side, it’s greener where you water it.”

Rick Warren

What about divorce?

1. God hates it. Malachi 2:16
2. It’s not a part of God’s Plan. Mark 10:1-12, Luke 16:18
   Is there an exception?  Matthew 19:1-9
   • Porneia – general term for sexual immorality; fornication
   • Moicheia – unfaithfulness within marriage – “adultery”
3. One who divorces must be able to say: “I love you in Christ, I forgive you, but I’m divorcing you.”

God’s heart for marriage:

1. One man, one woman, for a lifetime.
2. What God joined together, do not separate.
3. Your marriage is a picture of the gospel.

Desertion of unbeliever

1 Corinthians 7:10-16: If unbeliever wants to leave, “You are not bound”

• Not required to hold on to them.
• Free to remarry.