Holy marriage matters . . . Especially on valentine’s day
Perhaps you have heard the expression “older than sin.” Well, that expression fits holy marriage too, that is, marriage instituted by God. Holy marriage is the lifelong union between one man (a biological male) and one woman (a biological female). That a writer must add the descriptor holy in front of the word marriage and define man and woman as “biological male and female” shows that “dark times have us o’ertaken.” Once the term marriage was self-explanatory, or so nostalgia would tell us. Yet the institution of marriage has been under assault by the devil since his temptation of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, and the assault continues to this day.
The devil teaches mankind to value things that are not holy marriage as its equal because the devil calls evil good and good evil. But sex outside the lifelong union between one man and one woman is sinful, even though world governments may say it is legal. Legality does not trump the morality of God’s holy Law. Adultery, homosexual unions, and living together before marriage, whether you are engaged or not, are equally sinful and break the Sixth Commandment, despite their legality in the civil realm.
Holy marriage was instituted by God in the garden of Eden as part of His creative work. “And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man (Gen. 2:21-23).” Holy marriage is grounded in creation and is the fountain from which society and civilization springs. For after God gives the woman to be Adam’s wife, He adds this, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Some have argued against the traditional definition of marriage saying it is old fashioned or too narrow for our modern times. They argue falsely, that Jesus didn’t have much to say on the subject. On the contrary, it is Jesus, the eternal Son of God, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit created the marriage estate. During His earthly ministry, Jesus quotes the above passage from Genesis 2 to the Pharisees when they ask whether it is lawful to divorce (see Matthew 19). To these words Jesus adds, “Therefore, what God as joined together let man not separate.”
Holy marriage is the way that God intended for man and woman to live on earth, both before and after the fall. After man’s fall into sin, holy marriage was intended to keep us from sexual immorality, that we might live a chaste and decent life in word and deed, and each love and honor his spouse. In short, holy marriage allows us to keep the Sixth Commandment namely, “You shall not commit adultery” (in thought, word, or deed). Holy marriage was also intended for the procreation of children; children are the natural fruit of the mutual love that husbands and wives have for one another.
Finally, dear friends, it must be stated that pious spouses and children are blessings given by God in His good time. We, according to our sinful nature, deserve no good thing, but we are nevertheless granted these earthly blessings for the sake of Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church, whom He redeemed by His blood, “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish (Eph. 5:26-27).”
The Rev. Winston Grieser in pastor of the Apostolic Lutheran Church, Moses Lake, WA.
Be Informed
When did being pro-life become cool? Check out a Washington Examiner article to learn more.
Be Equipped
“Children aren’t products, even if our society increasingly views them as such. Children aren’t manufactured. They are conceived and born, and that requires a man and a woman, not two men or two women.” Learn more from Rev. Peter Gregory.
Be Encouraged
“Today we confess that God gives life to all things. God makes, and we are made. He makes life, and we leave alive.”
