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Last time we looked at the first 2 precepts regarding God’s design for marriage

·        Firstly, it is God who instituted marriage and

·        Secondly, he designed it to be between two people. 

·        Third, Marriage is between a man and a woman.

So, God created mankind in his own image,
 in the image of God he created them;
 male and female he created them.

(Gen 1: 27)

When you understand this verse sits with the same phrase as the preceding verse and we see that God intended marriage to be between a male and a female. God original plan for marriage is that it was a joining together of a man and a woman. Two people, one man and one woman. What could be more straight-forward than that? Modern Christianity is challenged more on this issue in recent years than on any other. People are of course legally free in most countries to choose to live in other types of relationships. But my job as a Christian Pastor and Bible teacher is to simply say what I believe the bible teaches about marriage. We can’t escape the fact that there are stories, statements and teaching in the bible that clearly indicate that marriage is between 1 man and 1 woman. 

There are many stories that point this out, we don’t have time to look at them today. I’m just focusing on the core teaching today but Genesis 19 and Judges 19, those are example of those stories. Go read those stories and then you conclude what the scriptures say. There are also statement about marriage in Lev 18, Lev 20, 1 Kings Ch 15 and 20, 2 Kings. There is teaching, in the New Testament in Romans Ch 1, and 1 Cor Ch 6. Go read those statements and then you conclude for yourself what the scriptures say. 

Here in the UK Parliament and the House of Lords have decided that in our country people of the can marry in all sorts of different arrangements.  Marriage between two people of the same sex is now legal in this country. That is a fact and that is what this society decided in the 21st century to be right. 

Let’s look for a moment at what Jesus said about this in Matthew Ch 19. 

Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh]? So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. (This is Jesus speaking here and he is talking about marriage). Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

(Matt 19: 4-6)

When challenged by people about this issue I just say, considering the issue of marriage I simply defer to what Jesus said and I recommend if you find yourself in that position, you just do the same and say no more on the matter. 

My point is simply that what Jesus said, and he also said that was God’s design for marriage from the very start.  Three straightforward points I have made today.We will look at precept number 4 next time.