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First of all,
let me say that I
believe in the Scriptures
as the authority for direction to mankind, not self-made
organizations as the Protestants,
Roman
Catholics and Orthodox.
I believe in the exercise of elders,
bishops
and deacons
as the Apostle Paul taught, and the purity of officials in the
house of the living God, the ground and pillar of the truth.
The subject today is
marriage
It is illusory
to think marriage
is instituted by mere
contract
[or vow]!
Marriage
is a physical sex act between a virgin female and a male (Ex.
22:16, Dt. 22:13-21, 28, 29)--biblical revelation [and there is
agreement
with the bridegroom and acceptance
by the father of the girl]. The virginity of a woman is proof
of a woman's eligibility
to marry--natural
revelation. The male
partner by either sharing or violating the virgin female's
chastity becomes either a husband or a polygamist (although
legally disallowed in many places), the latter sexual status is
in contradiction
to a new testament principle
of monogamy
(I Cor. 7:27). Nature and God's written word, natural and
biblical revelation, harmonize
as to the enlightenment of the essence of marriage
and encourage the continuance of a chaste
relationship.
Marriage is a physical
and mental act between a man and woman as Adam and Even, the
progenitors of mankind.
When
Eve married Adam, through having sex and uniting physically and
spiritually, her intellect and mentality changed, she obtained
and possessed a one-male
cognizance. Of course, the male who became intimate with
her was Adam, the only other human being on earth.
Intellectually, he became more than co-existent, he became one
with her. They were a clean and undefiled, marital entity, a
united body, each became part of the other, one
flesh (Gn. 2:24).
As
to male sexual enlightenment
The
Old Testament fortified this female virginity (zero male
cognizance factor) and purity concept with law (biblical
revelation). The natural (physical) and the spiritual
(biblical) attest to the essence of marriage. However, the
parent of a daughter, due to the circumstances, was given
authority
to approve or negate
marriage. Regardless, the daughter was obligated to chastity
either through life time marriage, or singleness
(damage control) through the parent's decision. Unfaithful
women, who attempted to deceive
and work around chastity law, were judged as criminals to be
executed with capital punishment. Adam discovered and was
awakened to Eve's purity, he “knew” her,
experiencing her and a marriage bond physically and spiritually
from virginity to a chaste wife, having a one-female
cognizance. This is part of acceptable marriage,
discovering the virginity and purity of a woman: natural
revelation. During the old covenant, the male was
eventually allowed several wives, having a two-or-more female
cognizance (polygamy).
However, this stopped and monogamy was restored in the new
covenant.
Eventually, as time
progressed and further laws of the old testament were made, due
to the hardness of the Hebrew people's hearts, remarriages
(with women of more than a one-male cognizance factor) became
acceptable according to the law of Moses (the second
law, the redaction). Nevertheless, the Lord Jesus Christ
reproved part of the second law of Moses at Dt. 24: 1-3, and
remarriage (such as that of Hosea
and Gomer) was no
longer tolerated in the new covenant. Furthermore, the
defilement abomination and non-return
law at Dt. 24: 4 has never changed.
The
former female purity and chastity standard was renewed, and
also established marriage for chaste
widows, who were allowed to marry (being no longer married
to a dead man, the widow's cognizance of a deceased husband did
not impute liability upon her). The
new covenant is a better covenant than the old testament: it is
a fulfilling
covenant, wherein God's desire for perfection of his people is
apprehended.
Mystery of Christ and
the Church
Marriage is related to
the mystery of Christ and the church. (Eph. 5:25)
It is a unity with
mental love to be at its center and physical love as the source
for reproduction.
Marriage is a bond
which can help the mate
as to salvation (1 Cor. 7:12-16).
A believing partner
gives cleanliness to the family and children.
Virginity or widow
chastity
is required for the
marriage of a female.
The male must not be
obligated to any former virgins so as not to leave a female to
fornication.
As to a wedding,
it can generally be
accomplished through two guarantors and the marrying couple.
I would prescribe things to assure purity and be
simple: One guarantor (the daughter's father
or guardian) say, "I give this bride in respect of chastity
according to Ex.
22 and Dt. 22." Another (the son's father or guardian)
say, "I give this groom in respect of monogamy (I Cor. 7:27
and I Timothy. 3:12), and that he has no obligations
to any former virgins. You will be joined together at
consummation
(Gn. 2:24)."
An unchaste woman never has an opportunity to marry.
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