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This is the ninth sermon in a series on the Ten Commandments. This message discusses the seventh commandment regarding adultery. The sermon was given in two parts. This is part two.
Written Excerpts:
Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Introduction:
If you were here last week you know that we didn’t finish our discussion on the seventh commandment regarding adultery. So, we are continuing that discussion today with the help of God’s Spirit. We mentioned the fact that the commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” really teaches us the principle that marriage is sacred and holy in the sight of God. That is the reason I chose the title that I did… Holy Matrimony.
Last week we were talking about the kinds of things that are an assault or an attack on the sacredness of marriage and thus would be a violation of the basic principle of this commandment. There were three ways that the sacredness of marriage is violated that we covered last Sunday:
1. Any sexual infidelity of a spouse.
2. All other sexual conduct outside the proper bounds of marriage, which is defined in the Bible as one man and one woman.
3. Emotional bonding and fantasies of the mind that do not include physical intimacy.
Let’s continue our look at the things that violate the sanctity or sacredness of marriage.
4. Divorce and remarriage, as defined in the Bible, violates the sacredness of marriage.
Now I can imagine many of you sending mental messages to me right about now to leave this topic alone and “don’t touch it with a ten-foot pole.” I certainly acknowledge that this has been a controversial topic in church life for years, and it probably will continue to be. However, I don’t believe that the appropriate response is to ignore the issue. If it was important enough for Jesus and the Apostle Paul to speak on, then it’s important enough for us to address it.
Divorce is another plague in America
Our culture tells us that divorce is the answer to a host of marital problems. Just get out of the marriage and start over again. But, anyone who has ever had to go through a divorce can tell us that there is so much heartache and pain involved with divorce. In some respects, it can be worse than a death.
I know that I don’t have many answers to the questions people have raised about divorce and remarriage. But I know at least two things:
(1) Divorce isn’t the unpardonable sin. God’s grace is able to forgive all the sins of the past whether that includes divorce, adultery or any other transgression of God’s will.
(2) It is absolutely vital that we let our young people know that God intended marriage to be a life-long commitment between one woman and one man. In Matthew 19, when he was asked about the issue of divorce, Jesus replied with the words, “In the beginning it was not so.” He was simply explaining the fact that God’s original design and purpose for marriage was that it be permanent.
To all the young people who are here today, I would say to you, do not even approach marriage in the future with the idea that you can quit and start over again if you don’t get it right the first time.
Now, I recognize that fact that there are scores of people who are innocent victims of divorce. They not only entered their marriage with the intention of staying married for life, but they fought hard to keep their marriage intact. However, there were circumstances beyond their control, and their marriage ended against their own desires and efforts. Nevertheless, I re-emphasize my point to our youth. Marriage, as God designed it, is a life-long, permanent commitment. Don’t plan for failure!
This is where all the adults need to say, “Amen!”
D. God’s Remedy: A message of hope and healing.
One of the problems that has developed in the church today, is that far too many people have been so discouraged by the attitudes of others in the church that they just give up hope for a better future.
Let me tell you, dear friends, the church is supposed to be a place of hope and healing. This is supposed to be a “hospital for the spiritually sick and injured.” If we don’t have anything but condemnation to offer, then we might as well close our doors!
What is the message of hope and healing?
1. God’s forgiving grace goes deeper than the stain of sin.
As I stated before, divorce is not the unpardonable sin, and neither is adultery, fornication or any other sexual sin. The Bible is clear about the grace of God and the forgiveness that is available to anyone and everyone who truly repents and seeks a new life in Christ.
Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
2. God’s delivering grace is stronger than any temptation or bondage.
1 Cor. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Cor. 6:11 And such were some of you, but you are washed, …sanctified, …justified.
3. God healing grace mends and restores the broken.
Isaiah 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Isaiah 65:17-18 “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem
After describing judgment and suffering that would come because of their sin, God describes the new creation that would result in rejoicing and joy.
There are innumerable stories of individuals who had completely messed up their lives by their disobedience to God’s commands, but after turning their lives over to the Lord and growing in his grace day-by-day, they have experienced a wonderful rebirth of joy and happiness in life.
If God can create the original universe out of nothing, and create a new heavens and a new earth, then He is certainly able to create beauty from ashes. He is able to renew and restore lives that have been broken and scarred by the consequences of sinful choices.
Conclusion:
As we close this message, I urge all of us to have a renewed commitment to God’s law, and a renewed commitment to “holy matrimony.” I have tried to present a picture that realistically addresses a major problem in our society without being too negative. There are a lot of people in our world who are faithful and true to the Lord and their spouse. I even read a recent statistic in the news stating that the number of youth who are making the decision to save sexual intimacy until they are married has risen by a couple of percentage points in the last year or so.
There are signs for hope.
Let us close our service today by standing together and singing the hymn: "Trust and Obey."
You know, that is the best advice that I can give to anyone who has questions about how to live out this commandment in this modern age.
I know that the standards of the Bible and God’s will are considered “out-of-date” and irrelevant for these days. But I challenge you that if you will just TRUST GOD and OBEY His Word, you will never regret it.
Next sermon in this series is: What's Mine Is Mine (link available in blog archive on right)
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