Marriage

What is marriage according to the Bible? Find out below.

We believe that the institution of marriage was intended by God to be a permanent, lifelong relationship between a man and a woman in covenant commitment, regardless of trials, sickness, financial reverses or emotional stresses that may ensue and is therefore the only legitimate marriage. Matthew 19:5, 6

We believe marriage is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.

We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.

We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God’s gift of sexual intimacy. They are not unforgivable sins. We believe that God disapproves of and forbids any attempt to alter one’s gender by surgery or appearance. (Gen. 1:26,27; 2:24; 19:5,13; 26:8-9; Lev. 18:1-30; Rom 1: 26-29; I Cor. 5:1; 6:9; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; Heb. 13:4).

We believe that other alternative relationships such as “common law”, “domestic partner”, “significant other” …etc are not sanctioned marriage relationships under God and as such do not qualify for the recognition of a marriage.

We believe that weddings at Grace Community Church are Christian worship services!

We believe that divorce in the Scriptures is permitted only because of man’s sin. Christ clearly teaches this in Matthew 19:3-9. Divorce according to God’s law was allowed only because of “hardness of heart”.

We believe that although Jesus permitted divorce in some situations, God hates divorce and with His help a marriage can survive the worst sins. (Hosea 1-3; Malachi 2:14-16)

We believe that there are 2 grounds for divorce. The only New Testament grounds for divorce are sexual sin or desertion by an unbeliever (Matt. 5:32; 19:9; 1 Cor. 7:12-15).

We believe that those who divorce on any other grounds have sinned against God and their partner, and if they remarry it is adultery (1 Thess. 4:1-8; Mark 10:11-12; 1 Cor. 7:10-11; Matthew 5:23-24).

We believe that remarriage is permitted for the faithful partner when the divorce was on biblical grounds (Matt. 5:32; 19:9; 1 Cor. 7:12-15).

We believe and practice that those who pursue a divorce on unbiblical grounds are subject to church discipline (Matt. 18:15-17).

We believe that if the divorce was unbiblical and the guilty party repents (2 Cor. 7:9, 10), God’s grace is active at that point and a sign of their repentance will be the implementation of 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 which would involve reconciliation with the former spouse if possible (Deut. 24:1-4). If a remarriage is unbiblical, leading to a state of adultery, God’s grace is activated through repentance before Him and restoration to the local church body (2 Corinthians 2:1-11).