HOW LONG IS YOUR FIRST MARRIAGE TO LAST?

HOW LONG IS YOUR FIRST MARRIAGE TO LAST?

The Bible is very clear in it's teaching concerning how long God wants you to stay married to the first person you marry. The inspired apostle Paul wrote, "A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord". Isn't this clear?  When you marry, you are bound by God's law to be married to your spouse as long as both of you are living. According to God's law you are free to marry someone else ONLY AFTER your spouse dies.

Paul again addresses this subject in the book of Romans. "For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man" .  This passage teaches the same thing that  teaches but in addition tells us that the woman who marries someone else while her husband is living is guilty of adultery.  You are bound by God's law to your spouse as long as he/she lives.  If you marry someone else while your spouse is living you are guilty of adultery.  If your spouse dies, you are free to marry someone else and will not be guilty of adultery (provided the person you marry can scripturally marry).

So, according to these two passages, God's law is that you remain married to the first person you marry, and only that person, "as long as you both shall live."  These two passages give no exception to this rule. Thus, when you enter in to marriage, you must do so with the intent of it being a lifelong commitment and relationship. It is "in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, so long as you both shall live." 

There is another thing that we learn from these passages.  God's will is that a MAN and a WOMAN marry each other.  This means that the two people who enter into a marriage must be mature enough to be considered a man and a woman. In other words, children are not to be marrying.  Too many marriages end in divorce because those people who enter into it are just too immature to handle the responsibilities.  So, you young people who are reading this and considering marriage: Be sure you are mature enough to handle the responsibilities!  If you are not, then put that marriage off for a while. Give yourself time to "grow up" so that you can deal with the various problems and joys of marriage.  

There is one more thing we need to point out: God's law specifies that marriage is to be between a male and a female .  God's law does not recognize homosexual marriages. Those marriages are an abomination to Him. Paul shows God's disapproval of homosexuality .  He wrote, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."  Here, the Bible clearly teaches that homosexuality does not please God.  In fact, you can see the terrible sins it is listed with and the terrible consequences of it's practice. Homosexuality will keep one out of heaven.  It's just that simple.  The Holy Spirit through Paul clearly describes homosexuality.  Then in verse thirty one he says, "who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."  If those who practice such things as homosexuality are worthy of death, do you think God would approve of homosexuals marrying each other?  Of course not!  According to God's law, marriage is to take place between two adults, one of which is male and the other a female.