Matthew 5:31-32

What God has joined together let man not separate.

1. Marriage is a gift of God to a man and a woman.

   1. The Covenant of companionship

      1. Designed in the beginning: Genesis 2:18, 24

      2. The design is maintained: Malachi 2:14; Jeremiah 3:20

   2. God desires holy seed from marriage:

• Malachi 2:15; 1Corinthians 7:14

  1. God uses marriage for sanctification of fallen man and woman.

     1. The curse, Genesis 3:16

     2. God's people who are being sanctified, Proverbs 31:11-12.

     3. The design for redeemed people, Ephesians 5:25-27

     4. This includes sexual morality, 1Corinthians 7:3-5

• Marriage reflects God's love for his people.

  1. God and Israel.

• Isaiah 54:5-6; Jeremiah 3:14; Isaiah 62:5

  1. Christ and the Church.

• Ephesians 5:25-27; Romans 7:4

  1. The Covenant of grace.

• Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 21:2; Revelation 19:7

• Divorce is a wretched consequence of unfaithfulness to God's design for marriage.

  1. Covenant unfaithfulness

     1. God always considers divorce an evil outcome, Malachi 2:6

     2. Bad marriages do not please the Lord, Proverbs 12:4; Hebrews 13:4

     3. There are only two conditions under which God allows (never demands) a divorce:

• Sexual immorality, Matt 5:32
• An unbelieving spouse that won't stay in the marriage, 1Cor 7:15

  1. Sin's division creates a deep wound in the heart

• Proverbs 6:32-35; Ezekiel 16:38; Proverbs 27:4; Song 8:6

  1. Human consequences ripple out from the center

• 2Corinthinans 11:2-3

  1. Divine consequences follow the man and the woman

• Matthew 5:32

• God's help is ever present to married people in difficulty.

  1. Imitate Christ in your marriage: lay down your life for each other.

     1. Forgive one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32; Jeremiah 3:1; Deuteronomy 24:4

     2. Speak comfort to one another. Hos 2:14-16

     3. Betroth each other in faithfulness. Hos 2:19-20

  2. Give yourselves time and attention alone from the world.

     1. Time to think, to plan, to talk, to work together, to enjoy being together.

     2. Go away from temptations and intrusions.

  3. Keep the purposes of sanctification in mind

     1. In Christ is the reversal of the curse in Genesis 3:16. Colossians 3:18-19.

     2. Even if things in your marriage are not perfect. 1 Peter 3:1, 7.

  4. Pray with each other and with each other, and forgive each other. Matthew 6:14-15

• God's grace is present to those who are the victims of divorce.

  1. The innocent party is free to remarry in the Lord.

• 1Cor 7:15; Matthew 19:9; 1Tim 5:14; 1Cor 7:8-9.

  1. Children, you suffer more than your parents in a divorce, but God will provide mercy if you cling to him.

• Matthew 18:10; Matthew 7:11; Psalm 27:10

  1. The church should be a place of shelter and love for those whot have suffered the effects of divorce.

• 2Cor 7:10