Mission Above Marriage
Saints Sinners Soldiers
April 7, 2019
Rev. Gabe Sylvia
God created marriage as part of his mission—important but not essential after the Fall—and Paul calls singles and spouses to pursue God's mission by resisting sexual immorality, honoring marriage vows, seeking reconciliation over divorce, and relying on the Word, the Spirit, and church elders for guidance.
Summary
The sermon teaches that marriage was instituted as part of God's mission and, while still important, is not absolutely essential after the Fall because its purposes can sometimes be fulfilled outside marriage. Paul offers practical guidance: singles should be content and wise about sexual temptation; married couples should be steadfast, serve God rather than each other, and pursue reconciliation rather than divorce except in Biblically permitted cases (Jesus permits sexual immorality as a legitimate ground). Unbiblical divorce does not sever the covenant, and believing spouses married to unbelievers are given specific commands—including the willingness to let an unbelieving spouse go if they reject the faith, which could open the door to their repentance. Believers are encouraged to rely on three gifts—the Word, the Spirit, and the church session (elders)—for help in difficult relational seasons.
Key Points
- Marriage was created as part of God's mission; after the Fall it remains important but not essential.
- Four key pastoral principles: singles be satisfied and wise about immorality; married be steadfast, endure difficulty, and be slaves to God not each other.
- Paul's instructions about separation/divorce are concessions, not commands: separated wives should remain unmarried or be reconciled; husbands should not divorce.
- Jesus allows sexual immorality as a legitimate ground for divorce; otherwise unbiblical divorce between Christians does not dissolve the marriage covenant.
- Christians enduring serious difficulty are not automatically released to divorce; repentance and forgiveness apply to marital sin as to others.
- Believers married to unbelievers receive matched commands; if an unbelieving spouse leaves because of your faith, letting them go may be the first step toward their coming to faith.
- The church offers three gifts to navigate these complexities: the Word, the Spirit, and the session (elders) as pastoral resources.
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