There is only one spiritual marriage and that will be in heaven, and that is with the Lamb: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7).
Therefore, it is the will of God that one should remain celibate to love and serve Him in totality.
But for those who are not strong enough to practice celibacy, they can marry as advised by Paul. Yet, their aim in life should be to give importance in becoming disciples or followers of Jesus instead of simply believers. That was exactly the call of Jesus,
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14: 26-27).
Furthermore, He clarifies, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (v.33)
There cannot be any complacency or staying put in our belief in the living God. There were all kinds of people in the churches established by Paul. Yet he found a few who were devoted and dedicated to the work of the Lord in an exemplary manner, and he recognized them as saints in his epistles: “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7).
Consequently, it is the sainthood one should seek throughout one’s lifetime as walk with Jesus continues daily to gain the spiritual knowledge.
Therefore, it follows that fuller edification is not possible with a marital relationship and responsibilities because it means divided love between God and one’s family.
Paul says, “But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none” (1 Corinthians 7:29).
He follows this with, “But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife” (v.33).
It follows that Christendom is simply making a spiritual mountain out of a molehill of a carnal bondage!
It is interesting to notice that neither Jesus nor His apostles performed marriages at any time in their ministry. This is a clear indication that their ministry never gave importance to marriage when it comes to spiritual growth and salvation. Whereas priests, pastors non-believers and the world give so much importance to that with their extravagant expenditure and arrangements! One can be certain that Christendom has never received any authority from the Son of God to perform marriages! It is simply an honorable societal norm that is recognized, but wrongly given spiritual color to practically a secular agreement.
If matrimony is really considered holy, look at the way God asked Hosea, the prophet, to marry a harlot:
“The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD” (Hosea 1:2).
George Bernhard Shaw once remarked that marriage is a ghastly public confession for strictly private intentions!
Another cynic has compared the marriage to a golden cage. He indicates that those who are outside of it want to get inside, and those who are inside want to get out for the sake of freedom!
To be continued in Part 3
Therefore, it is the will of God that one should remain celibate to love and serve Him in totality.
But for those who are not strong enough to practice celibacy, they can marry as advised by Paul. Yet, their aim in life should be to give importance in becoming disciples or followers of Jesus instead of simply believers. That was exactly the call of Jesus,
“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14: 26-27).
Furthermore, He clarifies, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (v.33)
There cannot be any complacency or staying put in our belief in the living God. There were all kinds of people in the churches established by Paul. Yet he found a few who were devoted and dedicated to the work of the Lord in an exemplary manner, and he recognized them as saints in his epistles: “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7).
Consequently, it is the sainthood one should seek throughout one’s lifetime as walk with Jesus continues daily to gain the spiritual knowledge.
Therefore, it follows that fuller edification is not possible with a marital relationship and responsibilities because it means divided love between God and one’s family.
Paul says, “But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none” (1 Corinthians 7:29).
He follows this with, “But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife” (v.33).
It follows that Christendom is simply making a spiritual mountain out of a molehill of a carnal bondage!
It is interesting to notice that neither Jesus nor His apostles performed marriages at any time in their ministry. This is a clear indication that their ministry never gave importance to marriage when it comes to spiritual growth and salvation. Whereas priests, pastors non-believers and the world give so much importance to that with their extravagant expenditure and arrangements! One can be certain that Christendom has never received any authority from the Son of God to perform marriages! It is simply an honorable societal norm that is recognized, but wrongly given spiritual color to practically a secular agreement.
If matrimony is really considered holy, look at the way God asked Hosea, the prophet, to marry a harlot:
“The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD” (Hosea 1:2).
George Bernhard Shaw once remarked that marriage is a ghastly public confession for strictly private intentions!
Another cynic has compared the marriage to a golden cage. He indicates that those who are outside of it want to get inside, and those who are inside want to get out for the sake of freedom!
To be continued in Part 3