Biblical Marriage Ruling from the 2015 General Assembly

 

 

Rationale: Due to the departure of societies all over the world from biblical guidelines, we, your Questions & Subjects Committee, would like to submit the following recommendation to reaffirm and complement our current standing on marriage.

Recommendation: When one biological man and one biological woman (from birth) present themselves before the proper authority, in a God ordained heterosexual relationship, meeting all the requirements of the Word of God, the Lord becomes the "Witness" to that commitment and covenant, and He makes them "one flesh" for life. The Church of God reiterates its renunciation of all biblically unlawful unions such as same-sex (Gen. 1:27, 28; 5:1, 2; Matt. 19:4-6; Rom. 1:26, 27), incestuous (Lev. 18: 6-18), common law (Isa. 62:5; Mal. 2:14), polygamous (Deut. 17:17; 1 Kings 11:4; Matt. 19:4-6; 1 Cor. 7:2; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12), and divorce and remarriage unions that constitute the sin of adultery (Ex. 20:14; Matt. 5:32; Mark 10:11,12; Luke 16:18) and fornication (Matt. 19:9; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Cor. 7:2). Our ministers are only authorized to solemnize the rites of matrimony in legal marriage that is within the limits of the rulings and advice of the General Assembly of The Church of God. In addition, the use of our church facilities should reflect our biblical stand by limiting their usage to that which honors God and reflects the established doctrine of The Church of God (QSC, 2015).

HOW TO WIN AN UNSAVED SPOUSE TO CHRIST

HOW TO WIN AN UNSAVED SPOUSE TO CHRIST

The Bible gives important instructions as to how to win an unsaved spouse to Christ.

1 Corinthians 7:12-14 “...If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbe­lieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband...”

1 Peter 3:1, 2, 7 “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may with­out the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear... Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife...”

Ephesians 5:21, 22, 25 “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord... Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”

1 Corinthians 7:16 “For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?”

The biblical principles of sub­mission, holiness, respect, and love are essential to win an unsaved spouse to Christ.