God’s Response to the Definition of Marriage

Genesis 2:²⁴ For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” (New American Standard Bible, NASB)

Matthew 19:⁴ And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, ⁵ and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH ‘? ⁶ “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” (NASB) (Also, Mark 10:6-9)

Ephesians 5:³⁰ …because we are members of His body. sup>31FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. ³²This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.… (NASB)

From the preceding passages, the Bible clearly shows that marriage is defined as the union between a man and a woman. Since the Bible is the “inspired” (“God-breathed,” 2 Timothy 3:16) Word of God, we can truthfully say that marriage can only be defined as a relationship between a man and a woman because God our Creator says so.

But now we see a movement underway that is trying to redefine marriage. According to the scriptures, however, it’s not up to the Supreme Court, or the government, or the gay community, or even the straight majority to decide. It has already been decided by our Creator and, therefore, absurd as well as foolish to try to redefine.

God, himself, has ordained marriage as between a man and a woman since the creation of humankind. (Did you notice I said, “humankind”? At one time we’d say “mankind” but this is how political correctness has warped the language these days.) Both Old and New Testaments point out that God made them male and female for the purpose of replenishing the earth (Gen. 5:1-5; Matt. 19:4; Mark 10:6). Indeed, it has been quipped that God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.

Some think that if human judges or government legislators or a voting majority pass a law to legalize marriage between same-sex couples, then this makes everything okay. Biblical history shows the opposite result. You can read for yourself what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah and come to this conclusion: Genesis 19:1-38 (I suggest you read this from a modern translation to get the full impact of this account.).

Jude 1:7 refers to this scene: “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire,” (English Standard Version, ESV). Terms like “sexual immorality” and “unnatural desire” infer same-gender sexual relations as Genesis 19:5 and 6 suggest.

As for marriage, First Corinthians 7:2 says, “But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.” Notice the Apostle Paul’s reference to the one man/one woman or male/female relationship in connection with marriage. According to this verse, “The temptation to sexual immortality,” negatively affects the one man/one woman relationship in marriage.

“Sexual immorality” includes homosexuality among other immoral practices that Christians should avoid. Paul stated to Timothy, “The sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.” (1 Tim. 1:20, ESV).

Unlike those who assert that same-gender sex is natural, the Bible indicates it is not natural and is even considered to be a “shameless” act. Referring to the immoral conditions of the past that led to the downfall of earlier society, the Apostle Paul recalled, “And the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error,” (Romans 1:27, ESV).

The early church teaching that same-sex relations are immoral and unnatural is based on the Old Testament laws given to Israel. Leviticus 18:22 commanded, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” Keep in mind this is a direct command from God who calls it “an abomination.” It wasn’t decided by a set of judges.

To show the seriousness of this command to Israel, God said that the punishment for disobeying this law was death (Lev. 20:13). Since Israel was to be God’s holy nation, they were to abstain from the kind of perversion their pagan neighbors were living. In so doing, they were keeping the land pure from the corruption that polluted the land they were promised (Exodus 19:6; Deut. 7:6; 18:9; Lev. 18:20-22). The preservation and prosperity of Israel depended upon following God’s laws not only for establishing discipline and order but for maintaining strong marriages and families.

Punishment pertaining to same-sex relations in the Old Testament law carried undertones of future judgement as stated in the New Testament. In fact, such illicit behavior would lead to one not entering the Kingdom of God and facing eternal death: 1 Cor. 6:⁸ “On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud. You do this even to your brethren. ⁹ Or 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 effeminate, nor homosexuals, ¹⁰nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God…” (NASB).

Marriage is a holy estate and is intended by God to be honored. Dishonoring marriage is a serious violation of God’s Word. “Marriage should be honored by ALL, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and ALL the sexually immoral, (Hebrews 13:4). Sadly, these words are completely ignored or scoffed by many these days who have no regard for the sanctity of marriage.

Although God warns that those who dishonour marriage will not enter his Kingdom, the Good News is that one can change by the Power of God and be forgiven of sin. Paul commends those in his day who gave their lives to Christ and, by God’s grace and power, gave up their immoral style of living so they might be saved. This includes the converted Christians who once lived the same-sex lifestyle but turned to Jesus Christ and the transforming Spirit of God.

According to First Corinthians 6:⁹ “Or 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 effeminate, nor homosexuals, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God,” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, NASB).

At a time when people are out to change the institution of marriage, God is out to change people so as to preserve the institution of marriage that he, himself, has ordained from the beginning of time. From the scriptures, we see that God definitely has the answer to the true meaning of marriage. In fact, what is so-called “marriage” today is not really marriage at all if it does not fit the Biblical definition of a man and woman joined together under the blessings of God.

Christians need to take a strong stand to make sure that regardless of the changes taking place today, we will not back down from following the truth of God’s Word, particularly when it comes to marriage. And, at the same time, we have the opportunity to extend the Good News of God’s grace to those who are willing to change and make marriage as God has intended. Salvation is at stake.

Good News to You,

Pastor Michael