BIBLICAL TRUTHS AND COMMANDS FOR MARRIAGE

Many people ask if what really is marriage all about; if what really its purpose. Today, I would like to share to all of you, about Biblical truths and Biblical commands for marriage. The reason why there must be a wedding ceremony in front of God and the people because we want to honor God to receive the blessing from Him.

If you really want to honor God, then you must believe in the sanctity of marriage. If you really believe in the sanctity of marriage, you must believe in the Bible, where God gives commands and instruction regarding marriage. True blessing is just a result of obedience to the command of the Lord. If you want a result that is from God, then follow the instruction that is from Him. If you want blessings that come from God, then follow the principles of the Bible that are from God.

FIRST OF ALL, GOD DESIGNED MARRIAGE AND MARRIAGE IS A PERMANENT RELATIONSHIPAccording to the Bible in Matthew 19:4-6 4Sumagot si Jesus, “Hindi pa ba ninyo nababasa sa

kasulatan na sa pasimula'y nilalang ng Diyos ang tao na lalaki at babae? 5At siya rin ang nagsabi, ‘Dahil dito'y iiwan ng lalaki ang kanyang ama't ina, at magsasama sila ng kanyang asawa at sila'y magiging isa.’ 6Hindi na sila dalawa kundi iisa, kaya't ang pinagsama ng Diyos ay huwag paghiwalayin ng sinuman.”

This passage tells us that God designed the marriage since during the creation. He created male and female and God designed them to be united as husband and wife.

This means also that once the male and female were united as husband and wife, they are no longer two but one. In marriage, God is the one who is joining the husband and the wife and no one must separate them. It means, in the design and in the will of God, marriage is a permanent relationship.

SECOND, MARRIAGE IS A SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIP (not just a legal relationship) because it is designed based on the relationship of Jesus Christ and His church

According to the Bible in Ephesians 5:21-33, 21Pasakop kayo sa isa't isa bilang tanda ng inyong paggalang kay Cristo.

22Mga babae, pasakop kayo sa sari-sarili ninyong asawa tulad ng pagpapasakop ninyo sa Panginoon. 23Sapagkat ang lalaki ang ulo ng kanyang asawa, tulad ni Cristo na siyang ulo ng iglesya, na kanyang katawan, at siyang Tagapagligtas nito. 24Kung paanong nasasakop ni Cristo ang iglesya, gayundin naman, ang mga babae ay dapat pasakop nang lubusan sa kanilang asawa.

25Mga lalaki, mahalin ninyo ang inyong asawa na gaya ng pagmamahal ni Cristo sa iglesya. Inihandog niya ang kanyang buhay para sa iglesya 26upang ialay ito sa Diyos, matapos linisin sa pamamagitan ng tubig at ng salita. 27Ginawa niya ito upang ang iglesya ay maiharap niya sa kanyang sarili bilang isang maluwalhating iglesya na walang anumang dungis ni kulubot man upang ito ay maging banal at walang kapintasan. 28Gayundin naman, dapat mahalin ng mga lalaki ang kanilang asawa tulad ng sarili nilang katawan. Ang lalaking nagmamahal sa kanyang asawa ay nagmamahal sa kanyang sarili. 29Walang taong namumuhi sa sarili niyang katawan. Sa halip, ito'y kanyang pinapakain at inaalagaan, tulad ng ginagawa ni Cristo sa iglesya. 30Tayo nga'y mga bahagi ng kanyang katawan. 31Gaya ng sinasabi sa kasulatan, “Dahil dito'y, iiwan ng lalaki ang kanyang ama't ina, at magsasama sila ng kanyang asawa; at sila'y magiging isa.” 32Ito ay isang dakilang hiwaga na aking inihahayag tungkol sa kaugnayan ni Cristo sa iglesya. 33Kaya't kayong mga lalaki, mahalin ninyo ang inyong asawa gaya ng inyong sarili; mga babae, igalang naman ninyo ang inyong asawa.

The Bible is declaring that there must be only one leader in the family and that is the husband. Wife must always submit to and respect her husband. However, God commanded also the husband to always love his wife. The pattern of God for the husband and wife is the relationship of Christ and the church. That Christ loves the church and the church must always submit to Christ. If this pattern is not followed, conflicts with the husband and the wife will arise. However, if this pattern is followed, there

_____________________By Rev. Roli S. Arangote, Copyright 2013 (Free to share, just acknowledge the author)Shared at Ibajay MPS for Moral Recovery Program, 08-17-2015

will be orderliness in the family which will make the marriage strong and united. The purpose of God for this command is to have a healthy relationship within the family – which the wife will not overrule her husband and the husband will not abuse his wife. When family relationship is healthy, God’s blessings will just flow. Just take note: Husband and wife are both accountable and responsible to God.

THIRD, MARRIAGE IS A SACRED RELATIONSHIP According to the Bible in Hebrews 13:4 Dapat igalang ng lahat ang pagsasama ng mag-asawa

at maging tapat kayo sa isa't isa, sapagkat hahatulan ng Diyos ang mga nakikiapid at nangangalunya. In NIV version, 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.The Bible clearly tells us that marriage is a sacred relationship. The Bible specifically mentioned

to keep the marriage bed pure and impliedly commanding to avoid sexual immorality because God will judge the sexually immoral. Sexual immorality includes sex outside the marriage, adultery, sexual relationship between man and man, sexual relationship between woman and woman, and sexual relationship with human and animals. The Bible clearly says in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 9Hindi ba ninyo alam na ang mga makasalanan ay walang bahagi sa kaharian ng Diyos? Huwag ninyong dayain ang inyong sarili! Ang mga nakikiapid, sumasamba sa diyus-diyosan, nangangalunya, nakikipagtalik sa kapwa lalaki o kapwa babae, 10nagnanakaw, sakim, naglalasing, nanlalait ng kapwa, o nandaraya, ay walang bahagi sa kaharian ng Diyos.

Sexual immorality is included in the list of wicked things which God hates. And those who commit this are surely cannot enter the kingdom of God, unless they repent from their sins.

FOURTH, MARRIAGE IS A SHARED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUSBAND & WIFEAccording to the Bible in 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 3Dapat tuparin ng lalaki ang tungkulin niya sa

kanyang asawa, at gayundin naman ang babae. 4Sapagkat hindi na ang babae ang may karapatan sa sarili niyang katawan kundi ang kanyang asawa. Gayundin naman, hindi na ang lalaki ang may karapatan sa sarili niyang katawan kundi ang kanyang asawa. 5Huwag ninyong ipagkakait ang inyong sarili sa isa't isa, malibang pagkasunduan ninyong huwag munang magsiping upang maiukol ninyo ang panahon sa pananalangin. Ngunit pagkatapos, magsiping na muli kayo upang hindi kayo matukso ni Satanas dahil sa hindi na kayo makapagpigil.

The Bible tells us that the body of the husband belongs to the wife and to her husband; and the body of the wife belongs to the husband and to her wife. They are one flesh already so their bodies belong to each other. Marital unfaithfulness arises because they deprive their bodies to each other. That’s why the Bible says “Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer.” But even though there will problem in sharing their bodies to each other, husband and wife must not share their bodies to other. Do not let Satan destroy your marriage relationship. That’s why the Bible is also saying that prayer must be a part of marriage relationship. Do not forget that God must be always at the center of marriage and that God must always be the first priority of husband and wife.

Accept and believe that only Jesus Christ can make your marriage strong. Only Jesus Christ can supply all your needs. Only Jesus Christ can make the impossible possible. Believe in Jesus Christ and make Him the master of your life…the master of your marriage…the master of your family…and the master of your everything.

Remember this command of Jesus in Matthew 6:33: “Ngunit higit sa lahat ay pagsikapan ninyo na kayo'y pagharian ng Diyos at mamuhay nang ayon sa kanyang kalooban…” and God’s promise is “…at ibibigay niya sa inyo ang lahat ng inyong pangangailangan.”

_____________________By Rev. Roli S. Arangote, Copyright 2013 (Free to share, just acknowledge the author)Shared at Ibajay MPS for Moral Recovery Program, 08-17-2015