What is marriage? How can you
have a happy, loving, lasting marriage?
Marriage is a divine institution and covenant (agreement) given by God to humanity in the beginning at the time of the creation of man and woman (Gen 1:27-28,31; 2:18,20-25).
Consequently societies from that time to the present have recognized and, according to Webster's dictionary, defined marriage as: "the institution whereby men and women are joined in a special kind of social and legal dependence for the purpose of founding and maintaining a family." To marry then is "to join as husband and wife according to law or custom...to enter into a close or intimate union."
What does the biblical marriage covenant entail? What are the conditions of the covenant, as given by God in His Word, the Holy Bible, for a happy, loving, lasting marriage relationship?
The following wedding ceremony is one that is commonly used by ordained ministers of God. It should be noted, however, that this covenant requires that both the man and woman accept God and His written Word as the Devine authority in their marriage relationship, for the Scriptures forewarn:
"Be not unequally yoked together with unbelivers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord (agreement) has Christ with Belial (a term for Satan)? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? ...Therefore, 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.' 'I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty'" (2 Cor 6:14-18).
"There is no more joyous ceremony than this we now enter. Marriage is a natural union, but a divine institution, ordained of God. It was established, not by man, but by the Eternal God at creation and derives its authority not from civil codes of man, but from the divine laws of God, immutable, unchangeable, from creation.
"Therefore it is fitting that we should consider the laws of God governing this union, as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. When God had created the first man upon the earth, the Eternal God said,
"It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him" (Gen 2:18). "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth..." (Gen 1:28).
And Jesus said,
"...from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh: so then they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate... And He said unto them, Whosoever shall divorce his wife, and marry another, commits adultery against her. And if a woman shall divorce her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery" (Mark 10:6-9, 11-12).
"Thus it is revealed that it is God, not man or the laws of man, who joins together husband and wife as one flesh, and what God has so united and bound for life, man is commanded on that authority, which transcends and supercedes all authority, not to separate or marry to another; and any lesser codes of man granting such separation or remarriage are in defiance of, and rendered null and void by the higher laws of Almighty God the Creator. Marriage, therefore, by authority of the Supreme Court of Heaven, is inexorably binding until broken by death.
"Let us now notice God's instruction regarding the marriage state.
Submit "yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: ...Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word (of God), that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives... Let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband" (Eph 5:21-28,33)."Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; ...Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, as long as you do well... Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge (of God's laws), giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered" (1 Pet 3:1,6-7).
"Since marriage is a divine institution, and we are asking God to join you as husband and wife, it is fitting and right that each should faithfully promise before God to accept the sacred marriage covenant according to the divinely ordained conditions imposed by Almighty God.
The bridegroom is then asked, "Do you, then, ____________ faithfully promise and covenant with God, in the presence of these witnesses, to take (the bride) to be your lawful wedded wife, and to cleave to her unto death, to love her, cherish her, honor her, and provide for her?
And the bride is asked, "Do you, then, _____________ faithfully promise and covenant with God, in the presence of these witnesses, to take (the bridegroom) to be your lawful wedded husband, for the remainder of your natural life, and, as God has ordained, to submit yourself unto him as unto the Eternal God, to be subject to him in everything and to reverence him?
The ceremony is then concluded by following "the Scriptural example in all cases of ordination, or setting apart, by the laying on of hands." "I now join your right hands, and by the laying on of my hands, ask the Eternal God to unite you as husband and wife." They then kneel and a brief prayer is given.
And the minister pronounces, "By the authority of Jesus Christ, I pronounce you HUSBAND and WIFE!"
For the perfect gift from God to bring your marriage happiness forever after - see "The Greatest Gift...LOVE!"
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Latest Update: 5/14/09