Marriage in the Afterlife

There probably hasn’t been a loving spouse who has faced the death of a beloved husband or wife who hasn’t been consoled by the thought of seeing that precious loved one again some day. Those of us who believe in the Word of God and have the hope of resurrection can know that the end of this life is not “goodbye forever,” but only a waiting period until we meet once again in the glorious life to come. And yet this hope is somewhat tempered for the grieving widow or widower by the commonly held belief that there is no marriage in the afterlife. This view is based on the statement of Christ given in the story in Matthew 22, Mark 12, and Luke 20. Yet is this really what Christ was saying? Will those whose marriages were such a success and whose love and devotion to each other mirrored the love of Christ for His people not be allowed to restore that marriage and continue that love in the life to come? Will they be forced to relate to and treat each other just as they would everyone else? This doesn’t seem quite fair, and raises a significant question about the resurrection.

What’s Wrong with Sex Before Marriage? Part 2

In my first message on “Sex Before Marriage,” I discussed what the Bible has to say about sex before marriage. I pointed out that the purpose of sex before marriage was that two people should be joined together and become one flesh. God desires that we only have one sexual partner because He wants us to have godly children. He desires us to remain pure until we can create a permanent, committed union with another person. Vague promises of future marriage are not enough, because they often end up in our defrauding the other person.

But now we consider the question from a different point of view. We consider the question: what about sex itself? Is sex better before marriage or after marriage? Can sex before marriage affect or damage my sexual fulfillment after marriage? Is there any way that ignoring God’s commands about marriage can ruin my chances to have a happy and fulfilled sex life after marriage and for the rest of my life?

I am not going to answer these questions from the Bible. Rather, these are things I have read, have heard in classes on this subject, or just picked up over the years. Yet I think that these things I am about to warn you about are real, and can and will affect you if you ignore God’s commands and indulge in sex before you are married. Let’s look at these things together.

What’s Wrong with Sex Before Marriage?

A few years ago a friend wrote to me and asked an important question. What does the Bible say about sex before marriage? He was an 18-year-old, and was no doubt struggling with this issue as he got more serious with his girlfriend.

The topic of sex before marriage is a difficult one for many in our day. Teenagers and singles in their 20s and beyond face sexual pressures undreamed of a century ago. Many consider premarital sex to be fine as long as it is consensual, and some believers go along with this mentality. But it is important for the believer to consider all that God has said on the matter and all that is relevant before deciding what to do and how to behave in regards to this important issue. I have written this message to help those singles like my friend who may be struggling with this issue and desiring to know what the Lord would say on the matter, as well as what would really be best for them to do.

Husbands and Wives in Ephesians

One of the most dangerous attitudes of our day among believers is the idea that certain teachings or ideas in the Bible are no longer relevant due to the fact that they are thought to be “culturally defined” and that therefore they no longer apply to us. This is a problem because it puts our own ideas and cultural folk-wisdom in a higher position than the very Word of God, and therefore removes all authority from the Bible to guide and direct our lives. It is not only detrimental to God’s Word, but it is also arrogant, as it not only supposes that we are wiser than God, but also that our culture is better and wiser than the other cultures of the world, both of which are foolish assumptions.

The dispensationalist recognizes this as a method of division, but not a correct one. As dispensationalists we should know what IS the right manner of division, and so there should be no question in our minds as to the relevance of the book of Ephesians to the present-day believer. With that in mind, let us turn to the 5th chapter of the Book of Ephesians and see what the Spirit has to say to us.

22. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

Notice first of all not what this says, but what it does NOT say. It does not say, “women, be subject to men.” It does not say, “women, be subject to every man you come in contact with.” It does not say, “wives, become slaves to your own husbands.” What it does say is “wives, submit to your own husbands.” And this as qualified by “as to the Lord.” How does one submit to the Lord? I can think of several ways. One is by being willing to do whatever He may ask of us. Another is acknowledging what He says to us whether or not we agree with it. Another is giving ourselves to His good, not necessarily our own. What do you think of when you think of yourself submitting to the Lord? Then this is how wives should submit to their husbands, according to this passage.