Name: 111 Marriage Part 2
SKU: BC-E-111
Availability: InStock

Description

This course deals with whether a Christian can marry an unsaved person; whether a couple can get married if one or both have former mates still alive; whether a marriage should be based upon looks, wealth, occupations, parents, etc.; what you should look for in a young lady, and more.

Bible Study Course

Marriage Part 2

Welcome to Marriage, Part 2, in the Marriage & Family Series of the Liberty Bible Course. We trust that Part 1 was a blessing and a help to you. This study is written to be used with the KING JAMES BIBLE, otherwise your answers are going to be wrong. Please get your Bible, and begin another exciting study in God’s Word, that just might change your life!

Chapter 1

III. The Qualifications For Marriage.

A. The man and the woman must be saved.

1. The Bible tells us in II Corinthians 6:14, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with ______________________.”

Note: What is it that keeps a person out of heaven? It is UNBELIEF.

2. John 3:18 says, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that __________________ ______ is __________________ already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Illustration: A yoke is something which hooks two things together to work as one. Back in the days before there were tractors to plow the fields, they would often yoke two animals together, so they could pull as one.

3. Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be ______ flesh.”

That is exactly what marriage is — a yoke —

two become one. So it is very important that they

both pull in the same direction.

Note: The important thing about putting two animals in a yoke, was that you find two of similar size and strength. If you did not, it would put undo strain on the two animals. A shorter animal would have to take many more steps to keep up with a taller one. And the taller one would end up having to pull more of the load, etc. It would be harder on both animals.

Even so it is with a marriage. When two become one in the yoke of marriage, it puts a great strain on both of them, if they are not both saved and like-minded in serving the Lord.

4. That same verse above (II Corinthians 6:14) goes on to say, “For what ____________________ hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath __________ with ________________?”

Note: The word fellowship means “a sharing in common.” When you place a saved person and an unsaved person in the yoke of marriage, you are going to experience many problems because their lives are not going in the same direction, nor do they share common goals.

5. Proverbs 29:27 says, “An ____________ man is an ______________________ to the just: and he that is ______________ in the way is ______________________ to the wicked.”

Note: The word abomination means “extreme disgust and hatred.” (Merriam Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary)

How would you like to live with someone

who did things that were extremely disgusting

to you — things that you hated? That is exactly

what can take place in a marriage where

a saved person and a lost person are married.

It can make the home a literal battleground.

Note: A person who gets saved after he/she is already married cannot change the facts, and is commanded to stay with that mate — loving that one, and praying for that one’s salvation.

6. I Corinthians 7:12,13 says, “If any brother hath a _______ that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, LET HIM NOT PUT HER AWAY. And the woman which hath an ______________ that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, LET HER NOT LEAVE HIM.” More on this matter will be dealt with later in the section, The Termination of Marriage.

7. John 3:19 says, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved ________________ rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

Note: An unsaved person is going to be drawn to do the things of darkness, while the saved person is going to be drawn to do the things of light.

8. In the next verse (II Corinthians 6:15) it says, “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an ______________?”

Note: The word infidel means, “one who is not a Christian; one who opposes Christianity.” (Merriam Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary) Who is a Christian? One who is born again. Please refer to Liberty Bible Course 101, on the subject of Salvation, for a study of who is really a Christian. A Christian is one who has repented of his sin, and has placed his total faith in Jesus Christ, and in Him alone, to cleanse him from his sin.

9. The Bible says in John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be ________ __________, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

10. The Bible also says in Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine __________ that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be ___________.”

11. According to I Corinthians 7:39, “The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; ________ in the ________.”

Note: The Bible is very clear that under no circumstances is a Christian to marry someone who is not truly born-again.

Sadly, many young people go ahead and marry unsaved husbands and wives. They think, “Oh, I can win him/her to Christ after we are married.” That is foolish thinking, because if you will marry someone who is not saved, then he is going to resent the sudden pressure of you trying to convert him after you are married.

It is being deceitful to plan on changing your mate

after you are married. If something is important,

it needs to be brought out before the marriage

ceremony — not after.

Note: Be careful of a young man or young lady that is already attracted to another young person, and then makes a profession of faith. It may be a sincere and genuine decision, or it may be something done just to be able to date/court/marry a Christian young person. Give the matter some time, and watch and pray.

Many such situations have been observed where a young person makes a profession of faith just to be able to marry a certain Christian young person. And then, after the marriage, suddenly quits going to church, and lets it be known that he never believed it all along. Be very careful in such situations, and pray for God to clearly show the truth in the matter.

III. The Qualifications For Marriage.

A. The man and the woman must be saved.

B. The man and the woman must be like-minded.

Note: It is often said that opposites attract. That may be the world’s philosophy, but that is not God’s plan, because in marriage, opposites fight.

1. The Bible says in Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be ____________?”

2. Proverbs 21:9 says, “It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a ________________ woman in a wide house.”

3. According to Proverb 22:24, you should, “Make no ____________________ with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go.”

Note: If you marry someone who is not like-minded with you, then your life is going to be filled with turmoil.

If you already find yourself married to a person

who is not like-minded with you, then you must

die to self, by the grace of God, and be

determined to make the marriage work.

4. Romans 5:20 says, “But where ______ abounded, __________ did much more abound.”

5. Proverbs 16:6,7 says, “By __________ and ___________ iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at __________ with him.”

III. The Qualifications For Marriage.

A. The man and the woman must be saved.

B. The man and the woman must be like-minded.

C. The man and the woman must not have a former mate that is still alive.

1. Matthew 5:32 states, “Whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth ________________.”

2. Matthew 19:9 says, “Whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit ________________.”

3. Romans 7:2,3 clearly tells us, “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he ____________; but if the husband be ________, she is ____________ from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband ____________, she be married to another man, she shall be called an ____________________: but if her husband be ________, she is ________ from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.”

4. According to I Corinthians 7:39, the Bible says, “The wife is __________ by the law as long as her husband ____________; but if her husband be ________, she is at ______________ to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.”

The Bible is very clear.

A person does not have permission to remarry,

until that person’s husband or wife has died.

And even then, permission is only granted to marry

another Christian who also does not have a former

mate who is still living.

Note: Many Christians are ignoring what God’s Word clearly states about this subject, but when you disobey God — you reap the consequences. You may see such a marriage that appears to be happy on the outside, but you do not know all of the anguish that person may be suffering in different areas of his or her life.

5. Galatians 6:7,8 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man ____________, that shall he also ________. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap ____________________; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

6. We would have thought that Lot was perfectly content and happy living in Sodom, if we had only read the Book of Genesis. But the New Testament reveals to us what was going on inside of Lot.

a. Genesis 13:10 says, “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was ________ ______________ every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD.”

b. The next verse states, “Then Lot __________ him all the plain of Jordan.”

c. Verse 12 of that same chapter says, “And Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent ____________ Sodom.”

d. Verse 13 tells us, “But the men of Sodom were ____________ and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.”

e. Despite all of that, we find in Genesis 14:12, that a war had taken place in the area, “And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt ____ Sodom, and his goods, and departed.”

Note: It appears, so far, that Lot felt perfectly at home in such an atmosphere that was directly opposed to God’s will. When given the chance to choose a place far away from such wickedness, he did not. Instead, he pitched his tent toward that wicked city of Sodom.

Then, when we see that a war has broken out sometime later, we find that Lot is now living right in Sodom. So he must have been happy there, right? Wrong.

f. The Bible says in II Peter 2:6-8, “And turning the cities of __________ and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, __________ with the ____________ conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, __________ his righteous soul from ______ to ______ with their unlawful deeds.)”

Note: From the outward appearance in the Book of Genesis, everything seemed fine in Lot’s life, even though he was living in an ungodly atmosphere. But the New Testament reveals to us that deep inside of Lot, he was miserable living there. The word vexed means “troubled, distressed, agitated.” (Merriam Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary)

In the same way, do not let marriages fool you on the outside.

If a person marries against God’s clear teaching in His Word,

then there will be consequences

and suffering on the inside that you may never see.

g. The Bible says in Psalm 76:10, “Surely the __________ of man shall ____________ thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.”

Note: This means that God can still use people, in certain ways, despite their sin. But that does not mean that sin is ever worth it.

The consequences of sin

always outweigh the pleasures of sin.

h. Hebrews 11:25 tells us that sin and its pleasure is short-lived — it only lasts for a short time. “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a ____________.”

Note: David committed adultery with Bathsheba (II Samuel 11:1-5). While God put away his sin (II Samuel 12:13), (that is, God did not kill David, which was the penalty under the Law — Leviticus 20:10), David did have to endure certain consequences because of his sin.

i. II Samuel 12:10,11 says, “Now therefore the __________ shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up ________ against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.”

Note: With the Lord is complete forgiveness of our sins, but that does not mean there are no consequences that we will suffer if we choose to sin. The Apostle Paul is a good example of this.

j. Acts 9:13-16 says, “Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much ________ he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how __________ things he must ____________ for my name’s sake.”

Note: Sin is never worth it. If you marry in disobedience to God’s commands, then you will suffer consequences for it.

Question: Why do people say that there is an exception to this law of God, and that you can get divorced and remarried under certain circumstances? For the answer to that question, please refer to the section dealing with The Termination of Marriage.

Review:

1. The Bible tells us in II Corinthians 6:14, “Be not unequally yoked together with ____________________.”

2. A yoke is something which hooks two things together to work as ______.

3. The word fellowship means “a sharing in ____________.”

4. The word abomination means “extreme ______________ and hatred.”

5. A person who gets saved after he/she is already married cannot change the facts, and is commanded to ________ with that mate.

6. The word infidel means “one who is ______ a Christian; one who opposes Christianity.”

7. It is being deceitful to plan on changing your mate after you are married. If something is important, it needs to be brought out __________ the marriage ceremony — not after.

8. The Bible says in Amos 3:3, “Can two walk together, except they be ____________?”

9. If you already find yourself married to a person who is not like-minded with you, then you must die to ________, by the grace of God, and be determined to make the marriage work.

10. The Bible is very clear. A person does not have permission to remarry, until that person’s husband or wife has ________.

11. Do not let marriages fool you on the outside, if a person marries against God’s clear teaching in His Word, then there will be consequences and suffering on the ____________ that you may never see.

12. The consequences of sin always outweigh the ________________ of sin.

Chapter 2

IV. The Choices For Marriage.

A. Finding the right person to marry.

Note: How do you ever find the right person in this world? We are going to first consider some things which are NOT the right way to find a life’s mate.

1. The decision SHOULD NOT be based upon LOOKS.

a. The Bible says in Proverbs 31:30, “Favour is deceitful, and ____________ is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”

Note: The word vain means “having no real value; worthless.”(Merriam Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary).

It is not just men that look for beauty in women, but women also heavily rely upon handsomeness in men, when choosing a mate. A bumper sticker was observed on the back of a young woman’s car which read, “Drink ‘till he’s cute!” That just shows the number one thing that both men and women look for when trying to find a mate — LOOKS.

God says that beauty is a trait of no value,

and that is quickly seen after a couple gets married.

Note: A BEAUTIFUL FACE does not set the table; does not prepare the meals; does not vacuum the floor; does not change the babies’ diaper; does not wash the clothes; and does not get the groceries. A beautiful face is absolutely worthless — other than to look at.

A HANDSOME FACE does not change the oil in the car; does not take out the garbage; does not till the garden; does not mow the grass; and does not fix the leaky plumbing. A handsome face is absolutely worthless — other than to look at.

As you will soon find out in marriage, it consists of more than sitting around staring at each other. A successful marriage takes a lot more than looking, it takes a lot of working to run a house from day to day.

Note: It is interesting to note that one of the most handsome men mentioned in the Bible, was also one of the most rebellious and wicked.

b. The Bible says in II Samuel 14:25, “But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his ____________: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was ____ ______________ in him.”

c. Although there was no blemish in his looks — there sure was in his character. II Samuel 15:2-6 says, “And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made __________ in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom __________ the ____________ of the men of Israel.”

Note: Absalom ended up trying to take over his own father’s throne. The uprising was put down, and Absalom died in battle as a traitor against his very own father. You can read about it in II Samuel 15:7-18:18.

A handsome face does not guarantee a great husband, nor does a beautiful face guarantee a great wife. It may mean a life of big, selfish plans, that ends up in tragedy. Just look at the movie stars, and you will see the life of Absalom over and over again.

Do not play the fool by choosing

a husband or wife based upon looks.

A. Finding the right person to marry.

1. The decision should not be based upon looks.

2. The decision SHOULD NOT be based upon WEALTH.

— Please read I Timothy 6:6-10, and answer the following questions.

a. “Godliness with ____________________ is great gain.” (vs. 6)

b. “For we brought ______________ into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” (vs. 7)

c. The “rich fall into ____________________ and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which __________ men in destruction and perdition.” (vs. 9)

Note: The word snare means “a trap; something by which one is entangled, involved in difficulties, or hindered.” (Merriam Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary)

d. “For the ________ of money is the root of all evil.” (vs. 10)

Note: Sometimes people choose marriage partners based upon wealth. A young lady may be attracted to a young man whose father owns a large business, because she looks at the security of being married to him. A man may look at a woman who has wealthy parents in the same way — expecting her parents to help them out, and looking forward to a large inheritance some day.

The life of wealth does not bring happiness to a marriage, but many temptations and sorrows. Notice in this world how often the very wealthy divorce their husbands and wives.

e. Ecclesiastes 5:10 says, “He that loveth silver SHALL NOT BE __________________ with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also ____________.”

Note: The way to bring peace and happiness to a marriage is not by the desire to have a lot of money. It is that desire that will bring discontentment, emptiness, and ruin to a marriage.

f. According to Ecclesiastes 5:11, more wealth and bigger business just brings more payments to workers, etc. “When __________ increase, they are increased that ______ them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?”

g. Ecclesiastes 5:12 tells of further strain that wealth puts upon marriage, “The __________ of a labouring man is __________, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the ________ will not suffer him to sleep.”

More money brings more worries.

More money brings less sleep at night.

h. I Timothy 6:17-19 tells us, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor __________ in uncertain riches, but in the living God.”

i. Verse 17 goes on to say that God is very gracious, because He “giveth us richly all things to __________.”

j. Verse 18 reminds the rich of their obligation to “be rich in good works, ready to ____________________, willing to communicate.”

Note: It is not a sin to be rich, but it is a sin to trust in one’s riches for security in life.

k. Psalm 49:6,7 says, “They that __________ in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.”

l. Mark 10:23,24 tells us, “And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that __________ in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”

Question: Should you marry someone who is rich, if the life of a rich person can be so hazardous to your spiritual health? It is something to seriously consider before entering into such a marriage. But on the other hand, it is not right to reject someone just because he/she is rich. The thing to do is to see how such a person uses his money. Is he a miser who is bent upon making himself a millionaire as quickly as possible? Or is he very sensitive to the Lord’s leading, and does he help out those who are in need, as God leads him? How he uses his money now, will give you a good indication of how he will use it after you are married.

A. Finding the right person to marry.

1. The decision should not be based upon looks.

2. The decision should not be based upon wealth.

3. The decision SHOULD NOT be based upon OCCUPATION.

Many times in Scripture, a man’s occupation

changed. Never marry a man FOR WHAT HE DOES

as an occupation. Marry a man FOR WHO HE IS,

that is, his godly character and life.

Note: There are two different reasons for young people choosing mates based upon their occupation.

The first reason is a material reason — financial security. This has just been covered in the previous point. You should never marry someone on the basis of their financial status. The wealthiest, most financially secure man, can be penniless — or dead, in a very short time.

a. Luke 12:16 says that “The ground of a certain ________ man brought forth plentifully.”

b. Verse 17 of that same chapter says that he did so well, that his barns could not hold it all, “What shall I do, because I have no ________ where to bestow my fruits?”

c. He built bigger barns, and said to himself in verse 19, “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many __________; take thine ease, eat drink, and be merry.”

d. But verse 20 shows that he was trusting in a false security, because “God said unto him, Thou fool, this __________ thy ________ shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”

Parents should never teach their children to seek

a career (or a mate) with the best wages and security,

but should teach their children to seek

God’s perfect will for their lives.

Note: That may mean a big paycheck, or it may mean a small one. If it is large, then God will expect them to use that wealth for His glory. If it is small, then God expects them to be contented and serve Him faithfully, knowing that in heaven they have a great reward waiting.

e. Hebrews 13:5 says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be ______________ with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Note: The first reason that young people choose mates based upon their occupation is a material reason — financial security. We have seen that it is faulty reasoning.

The second reason appears to be a spiritual one — choosing a mate based upon his/her testimony that they are called to full-time service. At first, this reason seems like a good one for basing a marriage upon a person’s occupation.

A young lady determines to marry only a young man that has committed his life to be a Pastor or Missionary. A young man determines to only marry a young lady that has been called to be a Pastor’s wife or a Missionary’s wife.

These seem like grand and noble reasons for basing a marriage upon a person’s occupation, but many times it later turns into years of doubt, depression, and discouragement.

Number one, God does not call

women into the ministry — He calls men.

f. I Timothy 3:1,2 says, “This is a true saying, If a ______ desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the ______________ of one wife.”

Note: Yes, it is true that God has used women in the past, like Deborah (Judges 4:4,5). But the reason that God used her, was because there was no man who would do what He wanted done. Deborah tried to get Barak to lead, but he would not.

g. Judges 4:6-9 says, “And she sent and called __________ the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. And Barak said unto her, If ________ wilt go ________ me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall ______ be for thine ____________; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a __________. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.”

h. Isaiah 3:12 shows the sad case that results when men will not rise up and lead, “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and __________ rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to ______, and destroy the way of thy paths.”

Note: It is God’s will for men to rise up, obey Him, and lead.

Number two, God calls wives to be helpmeets

to their husbands — to help them fulfill whatever

God has called them (the husbands) to do.

i. Why did God create the woman? Genesis 2:18 says, “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an ________ ________ for him.”

Note: A young lady should not be taught to seek a calling from God for her life (unless it is in regard as to whether she should marry or remain single). Why? Because God has already clearly spelled it out for her in His Word. The will of God for her life is to help her husband fulfill whatever God has called him to do.

Many times, a young man will not even know exactly where he will be serving the Lord. And there is no way that he can guarantee where he will be, or what he will be doing some years down the road.

Illustration: The problem in teaching young ladies to seek God’s call to a specific ministry (or seek a husband in a specific ministry) is that they may state to prospective young men, “God has called me to be a pastor’s wife — are you called to be a pastor?”

The terms Missionary and Pastor actually cause

much confusion to young people. No one should

surrender to be just a Missionary, or just a Pastor

— every Christian is to surrender to do ANYTHING

that God wants done, ANYWHERE in this world,

and at ANYTIME that God wants it done.

Missionaries and Pastors do the exact same job, only in different locations. They both preach, teach, and evangelize the people.

j. II Timothy 4:2-5 says, “____________ the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and ________________. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an ____________________, make full proof of thy ministry.”

Note: The apostle Paul is often called a Missionary, but he never stayed in one spot too long.

k. In Acts 18:9-11, we see that Paul in Corinth “continued there a ________ and ______ months, teaching the word of God among them.”

l. Later, in Acts 19:9,10 we see Paul “Departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the ____________ of one Tyrannus. And this continued by the space of ______ years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”

Note: If there was such a Missionary (as Paul) today, he would lose most of his support from churches. Why? Because a Missionary is supposed to be called TO A CERTAIN FIELD (we are told), and he is supposed TO STAY THERE for a least a couple of terms (8 years minimum). If he comes home after one term (4 years), then it will be insinuated that he is a quitter, and out of God’s will.

What does the Bible say? What Paul did in his life is exactly what God wants all of us to do — be willing to go anywhere that He wants, anytime that He wants, and do anything that He wants.

Illustration: So a young woman thoroughly questions a young man who wants to marry her. She is convinced that God has called him to be a missionary in Spain — exactly where God has called her to go.

After six years there, her husband decides that God is calling him to go to Alaska to start a church. She says, “Now wait a minute! I questioned you thoroughly as to where God had called you. It matched up perfectly with my call. Now you are saying that God is leading you elsewhere? Well God has called me here — and I am staying!”

Does that really happen? There are many men who are not where God has called them, because of an unwilling wife that decides she has not been called to go to that place.

m. Women are told in I Peter 3:1-6 to follow the godly example of women of old, like Sara, “For after this manner in the old time the ________ women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in ____________________ unto their own husbands: Even as ________ obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.”

Note: What is the example of Sara? Did she make Abraham promise that they would serve the Lord in a specific place, before she would marry him? That would have been impossible, because God did not even let Abraham know where that place was!

n. Genesis 12:1 says, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee ______ of ______ ______________, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a ________ that I will ________ thee.”

o. We are told in Hebrews 11:8, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, ______ knowing ______________ he went.”

Note: Sarah was married to a man that was willing to go anywhere to obey the Lord. That is the only thing that a man can really guarantee — that he will, by God’s grace, obey the Lord to go anywhere. There is no way that he can promise that he will spend his life in a certain location, if he is going to be open to the Lord’s leading.

Illustration: Another example of this is Noah and his wife. Noah’s occupation and location changed over time. He could not have possibly guaranteed his wife that they would be able to live in a certain place, or that he would be doing a certain occupation — because he had no idea what was going to happen during their lives.

p. According to II Peter 2:5, Noah was “a ________________ of righteousness.”

Note: Was that to be Noah’s only occupation for the rest of his life? No.

q. Genesis 6:13,14 says, “And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ______ of gopher wood.”

Note: Noah became a ship builder for a period of years, along with the preaching. Could he have told his wife ahead of time that he would be doing that? No.

r. According to Genesis 7:1-4, “And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house ________ the ______; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.”

Note: Now Noah was a ship’s captain and a zoo keeper for one year. Do you think that was ever in his wife’s plan for a husband? Probably not!

s. Genesis 9:20 shows yet another change of occupation, “And Noah began to be an ____________________, and he planted a vineyard.”

Note: The word husbandman means “a farmer.” Do you think that Noah’s wife planned on being a farmer’s wife?

What you find in the Scripture is men who are

willing to do whatever God says (no matter how

strange it may seem), and to go wherever God

sends (no matter how far or unknown the place is)

— and wives who are willing to go and do what God

leads their husbands to do. Wives have one call

— to be a help-meet to their husbands.

t. I Peter 3:1 says, “Wives, be in ____________________ to your own husbands.”

Note: A wife cannot fulfill that verse if she has her own calling and her own agenda for her life.

You should never choose a life’s partner based upon his occupation — whether it be for material reasons or spiritual reasons. You never choose a person for WHAT HE DOES — but for WHO HE IS. You agree to marry him based upon his godly character that he will follow the Lord’s leading.

A. Finding the right person to marry.

1. The decision should not be based upon looks.

2. The decision should not be based upon wealth.

3. The decision should not be based upon occupation.

4. The decision SHOULD NOT be based upon his/her PARENTS.

Note: THIS IS NOT REFERRING TO IGNORING THE PARENT’S WISHES IF THEY ARE AGAINST THE MARRIAGE.

This is referring to whether a young person should automatically be rejected as a candidate for a future husband or wife, based upon the parent’s spirituality or behavior.

If a parent is a wicked sinner, then should you

automatically reject any of their children as being

fit marriage partners for godly young people?

Or on the other hand, if the parents are godly

and faithful in the Lord’s work, does that mean

that their children are going to automatically

make godly husbands and wives?

a. Ezekiel 18:20 says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The ______ shall not bear the iniquity of the ____________, neither shall the ____________ bear the iniquity of the ______: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”

Note: According to this verse, each individual person will be held accountable for himself, and no one else.

b. Romans 14:12 says, “So then every one of us shall give account of ______________ to God.”

Note: If God does not hold a son accountable for the sins of his dad, then who are we to do such? Who are we to say, “His dad was a drunkard, and he will grow up and be no different!”?

Who are we to say, “Her mom divorced her dad, and she will probably grow up and do the same to her husband!”?

You cannot make those statements any more than you can say, “His dad was not a drunkard, so I am sure that he will never drink.” Or, “Her parents never got a divorce, so I am sure that she will never divorce her husband.” Children do not always grow up and do the same as their parents — either good or bad.

You cannot say, “His dad was a faithful preacher, so he will grow up and be the same.” The preacher’s son may grow up to be a drunkard, and the drunkard’s son may grow up to be a faithful preacher of the gospel.

Illustration: The Bible gives many illustrations of children not acting like their parents. Consider the following family tree for one of many examples.

c. In II Kings 16:1-3, we find that Ahaz begins to reign as king. In verse 2, the Bible states that Ahaz “did ______ that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God.”

d. Verse 3 of that same passage says that he, “made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the ______________.”

Note: So Ahaz was a very bad and wicked king. He even sacrificed his own son in the fire.

Does that mean that his son would then be a wicked man? Read on to find the answer.

e. II Kings 18:1 tells us that the son of Ahaz was Hezekiah, and verse 3 of that chapter tells us Hezekiah “did that which was __________ in the sight of the LORD.”

f. Verses 5,6 of that same chapter tells us, “He ______________ in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but ________ his ________________________, which the LORD commanded Moses.”

Note: If you would have rejected Hezekiah because of his dad’s sins, then you would have been rejecting a good and godly man.

So then what about Hezekiah’s son? Would he be a good candidate for marriage to a fine young lady? Read on to see the answer.

g. II Kings 20:21 tells us that Hezekiah’s son was Manasseh, and in 21:2, “He did that which was _______ in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the ______________, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.”

h. In 21:6, it further states of Manasseh, “And he made his son pass through the ________, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much ____________________ in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.”

Note: If you would have let your daughter marry Manasseh, based only on the godliness of his dad, then you would have been making a big mistake!

You cannot judge a young person by his/her parents. If his parents are godly, that does not mean that he is going to be godly. If her parents are wicked, that does not mean that she is going to be wicked.

Samuel was a godly man, but that did not mean that his children were godly.

i. I Samuel 8:1-3 says, “And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made ______ sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. And his sons walked ______ in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took ____________, and __________________ judgment.”

Note: So be careful! Do not assume that a child is going to act like his parents — good or bad. What should concern you is how the young man or young lady acts.

Does a young man have godly parents? Praise the Lord! But how does he act? Is he serious about serving the Lord? Is he spiritual? Or does he act mischievous and bored with the things of God?

Does a young lady have ungodly parents? How does she respond? Does she like it? That is, does she like it that her parents let her do the things that unsaved people do? Or does she take a godly stand, and decline the offer to have permission to do the wrong things? Does she attend the dances that her parents would let her? Does she take the sips of liquor that her parents offer her? Does she dress immodestly like her parents would allow?

Also, watch how the young person responds to ungodly parents. Does he talk bad about his parents and their sin — to the point of being disrespectful, or thinking that he is better than his parents? Beware of that attitude in a young person.

j. Ephesians 6:1-3 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. ____________ thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be ________ with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

Note: If a child is disrespectful to his parents, then his life is not going to go well. If you marry him, then your life is also going to be filled with hardship.

k. Mark 10:7,8 says, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be ______ flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.”

Note: So if a child does have wicked parents, watch carefully how the child responds to the situation. It is certainly a situation which merits proceeding with extreme caution.

A. Finding the right person to marry.

1. The decision should not be based upon looks.

2. The decision should not be based upon wealth.

3. The decision should not be based upon occupation.

4. The decision should not be based upon his/her parents.

5. The decision SHOULD be based upon GOD’S WORD.

a. Psalm 119:160 says, “Thy word is ________ from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”

b. Proverbs 19:21 states, “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the ______________ of the LORD, that shall __________.”

Note: People have many ideas about how to find the right person to marry, but only God’s counsel is always right. Only God’s counsel will always prove to be the best path to take. Do not be led astray into marrying the wrong person — make sure that you consult God’s Word. What does God’s Word tell you to look for in a future husband or wife?

c. What should you look for in a young lady?

1.) Does she honor her parents?

a.) Ephesians 6:1-3 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. ____________ thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

Note: If you go ahead and fall in love with a rebellious, disrespectful young lady, then you better like a life of misery, because that is exactly what you are going to get. God promises that such a person’s life will not go well, unless she repents.

— What should you look for in a young lady?

1.) Does she honor her parents?

2.) Does she have a meek and quiet spirit?

a.) I Peter 3:4 says, “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a ________ and __________ spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”

b.) Proverbs 7:10,11 says, “And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart. (She is ________ and ________________; her feet abide not in her house:)”

c.) Proverbs 21:9 says. “It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a ________________ woman in a wide house.”

d.) Proverbs 10:19 says, “In the multitude of __________ there wanteth not ______: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”

Note: The Bible is very clear that an unfaithful woman is loud and stubborn. The Bible says that it would be better to live alone, than to live with a woman who cannot control her mouth and her actions.

God says that a meek and quiet woman is of great price (great value) to Him. If such a woman pleases God, then that is exactly the type of woman that a man should look for to be his wife.

— What should you look for in a young lady?

1.) Does she honor her parents?

2.) Does she have a meek and quiet spirit?

3.) Does she seek to be a homemaker — not a career person?

a.) Titus 2:4,5 says, “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at ________, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

Note: A young lady that is submissive to the Lord is not going to be preparing for a career, but preparing for a husband. Please refer to Marriage Booklet 1, for a study on working wives.

— What should you look for in a young lady?

1.) Does she honor her parents?

2.) Does she have a meek and quiet spirit?

3.) Does she seek to be a homemaker — not a career person?

4.) Does she appear to be ambitious?

a.) Proverbs 31:13 says that, “She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh __________________ with her hands.”

b.) Verse 15 says, “She riseth also while it is ______ __________, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.”

Note: Please refer to Marriage Booklet 1, for a study on ladies being ambitious.

What is one reason that we have so much immorality and perversion today in marriages? One reason is lazy women who are not virtuous.

c.) Ezekiel 16:49 says, “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of ________________ was in ______ and in her __________________, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.”

d.) Now you can understand the wisdom of Abraham’s servant’s request when he was sent to find a wife for Isaac. Genesis 24:12 -14 tells us that his prayer was, “the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, __________, and I will give thy ____________ drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac.” He was looking for an ambitious wife for Isaac.

Note: Notice how God blesses, when the servant asks for the proper qualifications. He asks for a virtuous woman for Isaac, and God also gives him a beautiful woman (Genesis 24:16). There are many precious blessings to marriage, when you put first things first, and do things God’s way.

— What should you look for in a young lady?

1.) Does she honor her parents?

2.) Does she have a meek and quiet spirit?

3.) Does she seek to be a homemaker — not a career person?

4.) Does she appear to be ambitious?

5.) Does she appear modest and proper in her appearance?

a.) I Timothy 2:9 says, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in ____________ apparel.”

b.) Titus 2:4,5 says, “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, ____________, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

Note: The word chaste means “pure in thought and act; modest.” (Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary)

You want a young woman for a wife that dresses modestly and acts modestly. A woman may be fully covered, and still act immodestly and suggestively.

These are just some things to look for in a young lady that would one day be your wife. Read Proverbs 31 over and over again. Whatever you do — believe God’s Word! Pick out a wife based upon what His Word teaches would be a good choice.

Remember, the right type of girl is not going to be

attracted to you, unless you are the right type

of a young man yourself. Spiritual people are

not attracted to unspiritual people.

YOU WILL ATTRACT — WHAT YOU ARE.

d. What should you look for in a young man?

— This question will be covered in the next Bible Course Booklet, Marriage Part 3

Review:

1. The Bible says in Proverbs 31:30 that “Favour is deceitful, and ____________ is vain.”

2. The word vain means “having no real __________; worthless.”

3. “Godliness with ____________________ is great gain.”

4. “For the ________ of money is the root of all evil.”

5. It is not a sin to be rich, but it is a sin to __________ in one’s riches.

6. Never marry a man for what he ________ — marry a man for who he ______.

7. Parents should never teach their children to seek a career (or a mate) with the best wages and security, but should teach their children to seek God’s perfect ________ for their lives.

8. God does not call __________ into the ministry — He calls men.

9. I Timothy 3:1,2 says, “This is a true saying, If a ______ desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.”

10. Isaiah 3:12 says, “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and __________ rule over them.”

11. God calls wives to be __________________ to their husbands.

12. Sarah was married to a man that was willing to go anywhere to obey the Lord. That is the only thing that a man can really guarantee, by God’s grace — that he will obey the Lord to go ________________.

13. Noah was a “________________ of righteousness.”

14. Noah was also a _______ builder for some years.

15. Ezekiel 18:20 says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The ______ shall not bear the iniquity of the ____________, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”

16. Ahaz was a very bad and ____________ king.

17. Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, “did that which was __________ in the sight of the LORD.”

18. If a child is disrespectful to his parents, then his life is not going to go ________.

19. Proverbs 19:21 states, “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the ______________ of the LORD, that shall stand.”

20. Proverbs 10:19 says, “In the multitude of __________ there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”

21. A young lady that is submissive to the Lord is not going to be preparing for a ____________, but preparing for a husband.

22. The word chaste means “________ in thought and act; modest.”

Final Test

Marriage Part 2

Please study this booklet carefully before taking this final test. When you are finished, please return the entire booklet back to us for grading. When it is graded, the booklet will be returned to you, along with the next booklet on marriage. May God richly guide you and give you wisdom from your study of this subject!