Day 315

Of Marriage.

Chapter 25, Paragraph 4.

“…nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful, by any law of man or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife.”

Scripture Lookup

Mark 6:18

1 Corinthians 5:1

Reflection

Any scan of the news should put to rest any doubts one might have concerning the need for a chapter on marriage in the Confession. Accusations concerning executives in Hollywood and Washington toward women abound. Same-sex “marriage” is no big deal, and protected by the government. A politician’s son dates his widowed sister-in-law and the family publicly approves of the relationship. Sexual restraint has been tossed to the wind, and the winds in turn pelt our society with the hurt and damage such indulgence has created.

Lust isn’t new. And marriage alone will not quench all temptations. Yet it is the only institution ordained by God for the fulfillment of sexual desire. No matter how you attempt to sanitize other arrangements, they will always be sinful. One man and one woman, from different families, freely joined together for mutual aid, the creation of children, and the enjoyment of physical intimacy, is the only lawful union under God.

Marriage should not be feared, nor should it be glamorized. It is a beautiful relationship, reflecting Christ and His church, and it is a blessing to be a husband and wife. It is, however, work. We cannot exemplify godly marriages on our own; we must depend on wholly on the Lord to sustain us. Let us strive to keep our own purity, and that of our neighbor’s, by knowing what marriage is, calling out sexual immorality, and sharing the gospel to those who fail to keep the marriage bed undefiled.

Questions to Consider

• How can you honor the institution of marriage?