God's Marriage Law
by Joe R. Price

"For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man" (Romans 7:2-3).

Marriage ought to be honored by all (Heb. 13:4). Our passage teaches several divine truths about marriage. First, marriage exists between a woman and a man ("the woman who has a husband"). Same-sex marriage is not approved by God, and no amount of redefining marriage will make it so. Next, we learn that marriage is for life ("bound...as long as he lives"). Too often marriage is viewed as a temporary relationship, even though the vow is made "till death we do part." Marriage is for life, so, choose wisely. Finally, we learn one commits adultery by marrying another while his or her original mate is alive (v. 3). Jesus gave one person in marriage one exception to this rule - that is, putting away for the cause of fornication (Matt. 19:9). Otherwise, only death allows for sinless remarriage. God hates divorce and will not hold guiltless those who dishonor marriage (Mal. 2:16; Heb. 13:4). We have no right to sunder what God joins together (Matt. 19:6).