The Bible Explained, part 40/40: Appendix C: Marriage
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THE BIBLE EXPLAINED
A Guide to the Holy Bible
for Parents and Teenagers
-----<back cover text>
Where did you come from?
What is your purpose?
What happens when you die?
These questions--and more--are answered in 'The
Bible Explained', which is based on the teachings
of the Holy Bible. The Holy Bible is a collection
of ancient books which claim to be the word of the
one and only God. This one and only God claims to
be the sole creator, owner, and sustainer of all
things; he further claims to hold the one and only
key to eternal life. Are these claims true? Get
the facts and then decide for yourself.
This document is meant to be understood by everyone,
and is therefore written in plain, simple language,
avoiding complex religious jargon.
Understand the Bible like never before.
-----<table of contents>
Introduction
Quest for Truth
The Holy Bible
Origin and Destiny
The Big Picture: Good and Evil
The Story of Man
The Purpose of the Earth
The Standard and the Test
Work: The Key to Success and Life
Pyramid Society
Failure of Man
Male and Female
Family Relationships
Marriage and Family
Sexual Immorality
The Value of Life
Multiplication and Overpopulation
Racism
Creation and Evolution
Government
Politics
Justice
Words, Speech, and Censorship
Church Matters
Monotheism, Jews, and Christians
Temptation
The Nature of Evil
Life and Death of Satan
Reincarnation
The Rapture
The End Times
The Near Future
Preparing for the Future
Groups and Labels
Understanding Judgement
Preparing for Death
Conclusion
Appendix A: Questions and Answers
Appendix B: The Ten Commandments
Appendix C: Marriage
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Appendix C: Marriage
In Genesis 2:24, God defined marriage as the
lifelong union of one man and one woman to the
exclusion of everyone else. Marriage teaches us how
to relate to God: the last thing a man wants to do
is offend his wife -- and vice versa. God gave man
marriage as a foreshadow of things to come: After
the Day of Judgement, God will marry his faithful
followers and they will live happily ever after in
the restored creation (eternity).
Freedom and Covenant: God has given men the freedom
to do as they please. There is only one
circumstance under which the freedoms of a man are
restricted: when he chooses to obtain life eternal
as prescribed by the LORD God, he is obligated to
live the remainder of his life in accordance with
the law of God as a testimony to his decision. One
of God's laws is the law of marriage.
Confusion: What is marriage? Man's definitions of
words tend to change from time to time and from
place to place. Man is free to define 'marriage' as
he pleases, but is his definition valid? If a human
government grants its citizens licence to do a
thing, is the licence valid? The licence is
certainly valid in the courts of said government.
But will the licence be valid in God's appointed
Day of Judgement? God has appointed a Day of
Judgement in which all will be judged according to
his standard. If you are a follower of the LORD God
and wish to ensure the validity of your union in
the Day of Judgement, it is imperative that you
understand and keep God's requirements for
marriage, lest you receive the judgement due an
adulterer.
Legitimate Authority: The owner of a thing is the
only legitimate authority over said thing. Who owns
humans? Their creator. If God is the creator and
owner of humans, he is the only one qualified to
define human relationships, such as 'marriage' and
'family'.
Marriage Defined: God has given his definition of
marriage: "Therefore a man shall leave his father
and mother and be joined to his wife, and they
shall become one flesh." [Genesis 2:24] According
to God, marriage is the lifelong union of one man
and one woman. However, man is free to define
'marriage' as he pleases; nevertheless, no one will
be judged by the word of man, but all will be
judged and sentenced in accordance with the word of
God. Every union not made in accordance with the
law of God will be deemed null and void in the Day
of Judgement, and the participants will be charged
accordingly. If you wish to ensure the validity of
your marriage, marry in the name of the LORD God
the sole creator and only giver of absolute eternal
law by which all will be judged.
Separation of State and Religion: Marriage has
traditionally been a religious institution of the
union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of
all others, but the state is currently seeking to
redefine marriage to include homosexual unions.
Should a secular state possess the right and/or
authority to redefine a religious ordinance which
existed prior to the foundation of said state? And
if the state should do such a thing, will the state
then become a de facto religious institution? For
its own purposes, why does the state not simply
define a new relationship? Why should the state
feel it necessary to redefine an existing religious
ordinance? The objective of the state is to fund
itself through the extraction of resources from a
productive citizenry. By compromising the integrity
of marriage through the inclusion of unproductive
unions, does the state wish to destroy itself by
undermining its own foundation -- marriage and
family?
Blessings and Success: All blessings come from the
LORD God. The blessings of God produce peace,
success, and happiness. God blesses all unions made
in his name in accordance with his law: "He who
finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour
from the LORD." [Proverbs 18:22] God condemns
homosexual unions as an abomination in his sight;
and God cannot bless that which he condemns: "If a
man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both
of them have committed an abomination. They shall
surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon
them." [Leviticus 20:13] The primary purpose of
marriage is to produce healthy progeny within a
stable environment of self-sacrifice (love). The
homosexual union is based on lust and self-
centredness, as is evident by its passion to pursue
its own desire rather than do the will of God: "Be
fruitful and multiply." [Genesis 1:28] The
homosexual union is fruitless, unhealthy, and leads
to desolation. If left unchecked, homosexuality
will spread, corrupt, envelope, and destroy any
society which tolerates it.
Cloaked in the Law: While it is possible for
homosexuals to live unhindered lives, they instead
choose to seek special protection under the law, so
that when people finally realize just how
destructive homosexuality is, the homosexuals will
be protected under the law, sanctioned by the
previously-ignorant state. Thus, the homosexual
agenda includes the coercion of the government into
the sanctioning, protection, and defence of their
perverted, unhealthy, desolate, destructive, and
deadly lifestyle.
Guaranteeing Social Benefits: Although socialism is
a great evil, many governments practice it. Part of
the homosexual agenda is the guarantee of social
support via the government. This support is
necessary because homosexuals cannot support
themselves; they cannot support themselves because
they do not receive blessings from God, since God
cannot bless that which he condemns as an
abomination in his sight. Nothing can prosper
without God's blessing: "Unless the LORD builds the
house, they labour in vain who build it." [Psalm
127:1] If one does not receive blessings from God,
he cannot prosper -- and must therefore subsist off
the avails of others.
Who Can Marry: From God's definition of marriage
given in Genesis 2:24, we can see that marriage is
the lifelong union of one man and one woman. Every
union which is not ordained and sanctified of God
will be invalid in the Day of Judgement, and those
involved will be charged with sexual immorality:
"You shall not commit adultery." [Exodus 20:14]
Adultery is any sexual relation outside of
marriage; and marriage is between one man and one
woman.
Penalty for Adultery: Adultery is sexual
immorality. The penalty for sexual immorality is
death eternal: "But the cowardly, unbelieving,
abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers,
idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in
the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which
is the second death." [Revelation 21:8] The 'lake
of fire' is sometimes referred to as 'hell'.
Contrary to popular imagery, hell is not a place of
everlasting fire and torment; hell is absolute and
permanent death, which is the second death. The
first death is the death of the flesh; the second
death is the death of the spirit. Everyone is
resurrected from the first death in order that they
may be judged; after judgement comes life eternal
or death eternal -- the second death, from which
there is no resurrection. If you believe in God but
have committed adultery, God will forgive you if
you turn to him in repentance. How do I repent of
adultery? By making this confession to God: 'LORD
God, please forgive me for committing the sin of
adultery.' Repentance is a free gift of God. The
repentant sinner will enter into life; but the
unrepentant sinner will die. We are all sinners
and, were it not for the gift of repentance, we
would all die. 'Repent' means 'return to God by
keeping his commandments'.
Why Marriage: Marriage is the lifelong union of one
man and one woman for their mutual benefit and for
the benefit of society. Not only does marriage
prevent society from falling into sexual anarchy,
but it also preserves society from the ravages of
sexually transmitted diseases. Fidelity in marriage
also prevents so-called 'crimes of passion'; and a
happy marriage provides a suitable environment for
the production of strong, healthy, and wise
children, who are likely to become productive
members of society.
The Undefiled Bed: Not only is sexual intercourse a
physical experience, but it is also a communion of
spirits. Those who engage in sex outside of the
sacred covenant of marriage violate each other's
spirit. If you have defiled your spirit and the
spirit of another by engaging in sexual relations
outside of marriage, God is willing to forgive you
if you turn to him in repentance. If you engage in
sex outside of marriage but desire to serve God
instead of your flesh, marry or abstain from sexual
relations: "Marriage is honourable among all, and
the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers
God will judge." [Hebrews 13:4]
Validating Your Marriage: If you wish your marriage
to be valid in the Day of Judgement, your union
must be made in the name of the LORD God. It is my
recommendation that your marriage ceremony be
performed by an elder follower of the LORD God who
has kept the Ten Commandments for at least the
previous twenty years of his life. See below for
sample text of a marriage ceremony. If you wish to
use the following ceremony, feel free to do so --
simply replace the titles 'Groom' and 'Bride' with
proper names.
[Wedding ceremony. Location: A place of worship
dedicated to the LORD God. Wedding guests are
seated. Standing before the Minister, from left to
right, from the Minister's point of view: Best Man,
Groom, Bride, and Father of the Bride.]
MINISTER: Dearly beloved: We are gathered here, in
the sight of God, to witness the joining together
of this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which
is an honourable estate instituted by God himself;
and is commended in holy writ to be honourable
among all men, and therefore is not by any to be
enterprised nor taken in hand unadvisedly, lightly,
or wantonly; but reverently, discreetly, soberly,
and in the fear of God, duly considering the causes
for which matrimony was ordained: First, it was
ordained for the increase of mankind according to
the will of God, and that children might be brought
up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the
praise of his holy name; secondly, it was ordained
that the natural instincts and affections implanted
by God should be hallowed and directed aright, that
those who are called by God to this holy estate
should continue therein in pureness of living;
thirdly, it was ordained for the mutual society,
help, and comfort that the one ought to have of the
other -- both in prosperity and adversity. Into
which holy estate, these two persons present come
now to be joined by God. Therefore, if any man can
show any just cause why they may not lawfully be
joined together, let him now speak or else
hereafter forever hold his peace.
[Slight pause.]
MINISTER: [to Groom and Bride] I require and charge
ye both: As you will answer at the dreadful Day of
Judgement, when the secrets of all hearts shall be
disclosed, that if either of you know any
impediment why ye may not be lawfully joined
together in matrimony, ye do now confess it. For be
well assured that so many as are coupled together
otherwise than God's word doth allow are not joined
together by God, neither is their matrimony lawful.
[Slight pause.]
MINISTER: I beg your indulgence while I recite a
few words on love: Love is the only foundation of
any fulfilling and lasting relationship; and every
marriage is an attempt to find love. But what is
love? "Love is patient and kind; love does not
envy; love does not parade itself; love is not
arrogant; love does not behave rudely, is not
selfish, is not provoked, thinks no evil; love does
not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
love bears all things, hopes all things, endures
all things; love never fails." Love is expressed
through the keeping of God's commandments: He who
loves keeps God's commandments; he who does not
keep God's commandments does not love, nor does he
know God: for God is love. Without love, I am
nothing.
[Slight pause.]
MINISTER: Groom: Wilt thou have this woman to thy
wedded wife; to live together according to God's
law in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love
her, comfort her, honour and keep her in sickness
and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee
only unto her so long as ye both shall live?
GROOM: I will.
MINISTER: Bride: Wilt thou have this man to thy
wedded husband; to live together according to God's
law in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love
him, comfort him, honour and keep him in sickness
and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee
only unto him so long as ye both shall live?
BRIDE: I will.
MINISTER: Who giveth this woman to be married to
this man?
FATHER OF BRIDE: I do.
[Father of Bride takes Bride's right hand and
offers it to Minister, who receives it and gives it
to Groom, who takes it in his right hand, holding
it. Note: the father of the bride remains standing
by her side; he does not retreat to be seated with
the guests.]
MINISTER: The groom will now repeat after me: I,
Groom,
GROOM: I, Groom,
MINISTER: take thee, Bride,
GROOM: take thee, Bride,
MINISTER: to my wedded wife:
GROOM: to my wedded wife:
MINISTER: to have and to hold
GROOM: to have and to hold
MINISTER: from this day forward;
GROOM: from this day forward;
MINISTER: for better, for worse;
GROOM: for better, for worse;
MINISTER: for richer, for poorer;
GROOM: for richer, for poorer;
MINISTER: in sickness and in health;
GROOM: in sickness and in health;
MINISTER: to love, honour, and cherish;
GROOM: to love, honour, and cherish;
MINISTER: till death us do part:
GROOM: till death us do part:
MINISTER: according to God's holy law,
GROOM: according to God's holy law,
MINISTER: and thereto,
GROOM: and thereto,
MINISTER: I give thee my troth.
GROOM: I give thee my troth.
[Slight pause.]
MINISTER: The bride will now repeat after me: I,
Bride,
BRIDE: I, Bride,
MINISTER: take thee, Groom,
BRIDE: take thee, Groom,
MINISTER: to my wedded husband:
BRIDE: to my wedded husband:
MINISTER: to have and to hold
BRIDE: to have and to hold
MINISTER: from this day forward;
BRIDE: from this day forward;
MINISTER: for better, for worse;
BRIDE: for better, for worse;
MINISTER: for richer, for poorer;
BRIDE: for richer, for poorer;
MINISTER: in sickness and in health;
BRIDE: in sickness and in health;
MINISTER: to love, honour, and obey;
BRIDE: to love, honour, and obey;
MINISTER: till death us do part:
BRIDE: till death us do part:
MINISTER: according to God's holy law,
BRIDE: according to God's holy law,
MINISTER: and thereto,
BRIDE: and thereto,
MINISTER: I give thee my troth.
BRIDE: I give thee my troth.
[Slight pause.]
MINISTER: May I have the ring to be given to the
bride?
[The ring to be given to the bride is presented by
the best man to the minister, who takes it, places
it in the palm of his left hand and holds his right
hand over it.]
MINISTER: Bless, O Lord, this ring, which we hallow
in thy name, that he who gives it and she who wears
it may abide in thy peace, continue in thy favour,
go on and grow old in thy love, through the Spirit
of God our Eternal Father.
[The Minister offers the ring to Groom.]
MINISTER: The groom will now take this ring...
[The Groom takes the ring.]
MINISTER: ...and place it on the third finger of
the bride's left hand and, holding it there,...
[Groom places the ring on Bride's finger and holds
it there.]
MINISTER: ...repeat after me: With this ring I thee
wed;
GROOM: With this ring I thee wed;
MINISTER: with my body I thee honour;
GROOM: with my body I thee honour;
MINISTER: and all my worldly goods
GROOM: and all my worldly goods
MINISTER: with thee I share,
GROOM: with thee I share,
MINISTER: in the name of the LORD God.
GROOM: in the name of the LORD God.
MINISTER: Amen.
GROOM: Amen.
MINISTER: May I have the ring to be given to the
groom?
[The ring to be given to the groom is presented by
the best man to the minister, who takes it and
offers it to the bride.]
MINISTER: The bride will now take this ring...
[The Bride takes the ring.]
MINISTER: ...and place it on the third finger of
the groom's left hand and, holding it there,...
[Bride places the ring on Groom's finger and holds
it there.]
MINISTER: ...repeat after me: This ring I give thee
BRIDE: This ring I give thee
MINISTER: in token and pledge
BRIDE: in token and pledge
MINISTER: of my constant faith
BRIDE: of my constant faith
MINISTER: and abiding love,
BRIDE: and abiding love,
MINISTER: in the name of the LORD God.
BRIDE: in the name of the LORD God.
MINISTER: Amen.
BRIDE: Amen.
[Slight pause.]
MINISTER: O Eternal Father, creator and preserver
of all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the
author of everlasting life: Send thy blessing upon
these thy servants, this man and this woman, whom
we bless in thy name, that living faithfully
together they may surely perform and keep the vow
and covenant betwixt them made, whereof the ring
given and received is a token and pledge. May they
ever remain in perfect love and peace together, and
live according to thy law, through the Spirit of
God our Lord. Amen.
[Slight pause.]
MINISTER: [to the groom and bride] Please join your
right hands.
[The groom and bride join their right hands; the
minister wraps the ceremonial scarf around their
joined hands.]
MINISTER: Those whom God hath joined together let
no man put asunder.
[The minister removes the scarf.]
MINISTER: Forasmuch as Groom and Bride have
consented together in holy wedlock, and have
witnessed the same before God and this company, and
thereto have given and pledged their troth either
to other, and have declared the same by giving and
receiving of the ring and by joining of hands, I
pronounce that they be man and wife together, in
the name of the LORD God. Amen.
[The minister holds his right hand over the heads
of the groom and bride.]
MINISTER: The LORD God our Eternal Father bless,
preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with
his favour look upon you, and so fill you with all
spiritual benediction and grace that ye may so live
together in this life that in the world to come ye
may receive life everlasting. Amen.
[Optional: the groom and bride may lawfully kiss.]
Portions copyright 2000 Arrant Knave.
Portions borrowed from traditional wedding
ceremonies.
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The above book is available for purchase at:
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Search for:
TITLE: "The Bible Explained"
AUTHOR: "Arrant Knave"
ISBN-10: "1468197061"
ISBN-13: "9781468197068"
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The above excerpt from 'The Bible Explained' is copyright
2010 by Arrant Knave. All rights reserved. No part of this
document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system
or transmitted in any form or by any means without the
prior written permission of the publisher, except by a
reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be
printed in a newspaper, magazine, or journal.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are
taken from the New King James Version (R). Copyright (C)
1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights
reserved.
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