reetings, holy children of God, in the wonderful name of our lord and saviour Jesus, the Christ. The sermon subject for today is:

WHAT IS LAW? LAWS ARE RULES OF CONDUCT SET FORTH BY AUTHORITY. WHAT IS AUTHORITY? AUTHORITY IS ONE THAT IS ABLE TO GIVE COMMANDS, DEMAND OBEDIENCE, AND PUNISH THE TRANSGRESSORS. THE BIBLE IS THE WRITTEN LAWS OF GOD. WHAT IS MARRIAGE? MARRIAGE IS A COVENANT BETWEEN A MAN AND WOMAN, THAT THEY SHALL LOVE, HONOR, AND CHERISH EACH OTHER UNTIL DEATH DO THEY PART. MARRIAGE IS A SACRAMENT. A SACRAMENT IS A RITUAL INSTITUTED OF GOD, THAT SHOWS AN OUTWARD AND VISUAL SIGN OF AN INWARD, AND SPIRITUAL GRACE. ONCE ENTERED INTO CHANGES A PERSON’S LIFE FOREVER. WHEN THIS COVENANT IS ENTERED INTO THE MAN AND THE WOMAN BECOME HUSBAND AND WIFE, AND WHEN THE COVENANT IS CONSUMMATED, GOD JOINS THEM TOGETHER, AND THE TWO BECOME ONE FLESH. MT:19:3 THE PHARISEES ALSO CAME UNTO HIM, TEMPTING HIM, AND SAYING UNTO HIM, IS IT LAWFUL FOR A MAN TO PUT AWAY HIS WIFE FOR EVERY CAUSE? 4. AND HE ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM, HAVE YE NOT READ, THAT HE WHICH MADE THEM AT THE BEGINNING MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. 5. AND SAID, FOR THIS CAUSE SHALL A MAN LEAVE FATHER AND MOTHER, AND SHALL CLEAVE TO HIS WIFE: AND THEY TWAIN SHALL BE ONE FLESH? 6. WHEREFORE THEY ARE NO MORE TWAIN, BUT ONE FLESH. WHAT THEREFORE GOD HATH JOINED TOGETHER, LET NOT MAN PUT ASUNDER. WHEN A CHRISTIAN MAN OR A CHRISTIAN WOMAN SELECTS A SPOUSE, THEY MUST SEEK OUT A SPOUSE THAT IS A CHRISTIAN; FOR CHRISTIANS ARE COMMANDED OF GOD TO ONLY MARRY CHRISTIANS. 2COR:6:14 BE YE NOT UNEQUALLY YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS: FOR WHAT FELLOWSHIP HATH RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH UNRIGHTEOUSNESS? AND WHAT COMMUNION HATH LIGHT WITH DARKNESS? 15. AND WHAT CONCORD HATH CHRIST WITH BELIAL? FOR YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD; AS GOD HATH SAID, I WILL DWELL IN THEM, AND WALK IN THEM; AND WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 17. WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE, SAITH THE LORD, AND TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN THING; AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU, 18. AND WILL BE A FATHER UNTO YOU, AND YE SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAITH THE LORD ALMIGHTY. WHEN A CHRISTIAN MAN AND WOMAN COME BEFORE A MAN OF GOD TO TAKE THEIR MARRIAGE VOWS. ARE THEY PROMISING THE MAN OF GOD THAT THEY WILL LOVE, HONOR, AND CHERISH ONE ANOTHER, UNTIL DEATH DO THEY PART; OR IS THE VOW TO GOD THAT DWELLS IN THE MAN OF GOD? I BELIEVE THE VOW IS TO GOD. BEFORE YOU MAKE A VOW TO GOD STOP, AND THINK, BECAUSE YOU CANNOT COME BEFORE GOD LATER AND SAY TO HIM THAT YOU MADE A MISTAKE. GOD WILL EXPECT YOU TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE VOWED. WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW THAT GOD GAVE TO MOSES, BUT LOOK THESE SCRIPTURES OVER FOR MANY OF THE THINGS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WERE RECORDED FOR OUR ADMONITION ECCL:5:4 WHEN THOU VOWEST A VOW UNTO GOD, DEFER NOT TO PAY IT; FOR HE HATH NO PLEASURE IN FOOLS: PAY THAT WHICH THOU HAST VOWED. 5. BETTER IS IT THAT THOU SHOULDEST NOT VOW, THEN THAT THOU SHOULDEST VOW AND NOT PAY. 6. SUFFER NOT THY MOUTH TO CAUSE THY FLESH TO SIN; NEITHER SAY THOU BEFORE THE ANGEL, THAT IT WAS AN ERROR: WHEREFORE SHOULD GOD BE ANGRY AT THY VOICE, AND DESTROY THE WORK OF THINE HANDS? A VOW BINDS THE SOUL. NM:30:2 IF A MAN VOW A VOW UNTO THE LORD, OR SWEAR AN OATH TO BIND HIS SOUL WITH A BOND; HE SHALL NOT BREAK HIS WORD, HE SHALL DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF HIS MOUTH. BEFORE A PERSON BECOMES A BORN AGAIN, SPIRIT FILLED, CHRISTIAN THEY CANNOT LOVE. WHEN GOD COMES TO DWELL WITHIN A CHILD OF GOD, LOVE COMES TO DWELL WITHIN, FOR GOD IS LOVE. 1JN:4:8 HE THAT LOVETH NOT KNOWETH NOT GOD; FOR GOD IS LOVE. TRUE LOVE NEVER QUITS, IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE TO DAY, YOU SHALL LOVE THEM FOREVER. THIS IS THE WAY OF CHARITY OR LOVE. 1COR:13:4 CHARITY SUFFERETH LONG, AND IS KIND; CHARITY ENVIETH NOT; CHARITY VAUNTETH NOT ITSELF, IS NOT PUFFED UP. 5. DOTH NOT BEHAVE ITSELF UNSEEMLY, SEEKETH NOT HER OWN, IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED, THINKETH NO EVIL: 6. REJOICETH NOT IN INIQUITY, BUT REJOICETH IN THE TRUTH; 7. BEARETH ALL THINGS, BELIEVETH ALL THINGS, HOPETH ALL THINGS, ENDURETH ALL THINGS. 8. CHARITY NEVER FAILETH; HERE IS AN AMPLIFIED VERSION OF THE SAME SCRIPTURES. 1COR:13:4 LOVE ENDURES LONG AND IS PATIENT AND KIND; LOVE NEVER IS ENVIOUS NOR BOILS OVER WITH JEALOUSY, IS NOT BOASTFUL OR VAINGLORIOUS, DOES NOT DISPLAY ITSELF HAUGHTILY. 5. IT IS NOT CONCEITED (ARROGANT AND INFLATED WITH PRIDE). IT IS NOT RUDE (UNMANNERLY) AND DOES NOT ACT UNBECOMINGLY. LOVE ( GOD’S LOVE IN US ) DOES NOT INSIST ON IT OWN RIGHTS OR ITS OWN WAY, FOR IT IS NOT SELF-SEEKING; IT IS NOT TOUCHY OR FRETFUL OR RESENTFUL; IT TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF THE EVIL DONE TO IT [IT PAYS NO ATTENTION TO A SUFFERED WRONG]. 6. IT DOES NOT REJOICE AT INJUSTICE AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT REJOICES WHEN RIGHT AND TRUTH PREVAIL. 7. LOVE BEARS UP UNDER ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES, IS EVER READY TO BELIEVE THE BEST OF EVERY PERSON, ITS HOPES ARE FADELESS UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND IT ENDURES EVERYTHING (WITHOUT WEAKENING). 8. LOVE NEVER FAILS (NEVER FADES OUT OR BECOMES OBSOLETE OR COMES TO AN END. IF A SANCTIFIED BROTHER OR SISTER MARRIES, A PERSON THAT IS NOT A CHRISTIAN, NOT SANCTIFIED, THEY WILL NOT SANCTIFY THE UNCLEAN, BUT THE POLLUTED WILL MAKE THE SANCTIFIED UNCLEAN. HAG:2:11 THUS SAITH THE LORD OF HOST: ASK NOW THE PRIESTS CONCERNING THE LAW, SAYING, IF ONE BEAR HOLY FLESH IN THE SKIRT OF HIS GARMENT, AND WITH HIS SKIRT DO TOUCH BREAD, OR POTTAGE, OR WINE, OR OIL, OR ANY MEAT, SHALL IT BE HOLY? AND THE PRIESTS ANSWERED AND SAID NO. THEN SAID HAGGAI, IF ONE THAT IS UNCLEAN BY A DEAD BODY TOUCH ANY OF THESE, SHALL IT BE UNCLEAN? AND THE PRIESTS ANSWERED AND SAID, IT SHALL BE UNCLEAN. ONCE A BROTHER OR SISTER HAS RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST, AND IS SANCTIFIED, IF THEY RETURN TO A LIFE OF SIN, IT IS LIKE A DOG THAT RETURNS TO HIS VOMIT. 2PT:2:22 BUT IT IS HAPPENED UNTO THEM ACCORDING TO THE TRUE PROVERB. THE DOG IS TURNED TO HIS OWN VOMIT AGAIN: AND THE SOW THAT WAS WASHED TO HER WALLOWING IN THE MIRE. IN THIS PRESENT WORLD, THERE ARE MULTITUDES OF MEN THAT HAVE TAKEN TO THEMSELVES CONCUBINES. A CONCUBINE IS A WOMAN THAT PERFORMS ALL THE DUTIES OF A WIFE, WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF MARRIAGE. UNDER THE SYSTEM OF LAW WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS, THE NEW TESTAMENT, CONCUBINES ARE FORBIDDEN. UNDER LAWS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, UNDER THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS, EVERY MAN IS TO HAVE HIS OWN WIFE, AND EVERY WOMAN IS TO HAVE HER OWN HUSBAND. PAUL INSPIRED OF GOD RECORDED THESE WORDS 1COR:7:1 NOW CONCERNING THE THINGS WHEREOF YE WROTE UNTO ME: IT IS GOOD FOR A MAN NOT TO TOUCH A WOMAN. 2. NEVERTHELESS, TO AVOID FORNICATION, LET EVERY MAN HAVE HIS OWN WIFE, AND LET EVERY WOMAN HAVE HER OWN HUSBAND. 3. LET THE HUSBAND RENDER UNTO THE WIFE DUE BENEVOLENCE, AND LIKEWISE ALSO THE WIFE UNTO THE HUSBAND. THE WORD BENEVOLENCE MEANS TO BE KIND, AND GENEROUS: SAINTS OF GOD WHEN YOU ARE MARRIED YOUR BODY IS NOT YOU OWN EXCLUSIVELY. HUSBAND YOUR WIFE HAS CERTAIN RIGHTS AS PERTAINING TO YOUR BODY. THEREFORE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR WIFE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. AND WIFE, DO NOT WITHHOLD YOU BODY FROM YOUR HUSBAND, FOR IF YOU DO THE OLD SERPENT THE DEVIL, WILL COME CREEPING IN, AND CAUSE YOU TROUBLE. 1COR:7:4 THE WIFE HATH NOT POWER OF HER OWN BODY, BUT THE HUSBAND: AND LIKEWISE ALSO THE HUSBAND HATH NOT POWER OF HIS OWN BODY, BUT THE WIFE. 5. DEFRAUD YE NOT ONE THE OTHER, EXCEPT IT BE WITH CONSENT FOR A TIME, THAT YE MAY GIVE YOURSELVES TO FASTING AND PRAYER: AND COME TOGETHER AGAIN, THAT SATAN TEMPT YOU NOT FOR YOUR INCONTINENCY. BELOVED THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH A MAN OR WOMAN THAT WISHES TO REMAIN SINGLE. BUT IF THEY CANNOT ABSTAIN FROM SEX, IT IS BETTER TO MARRY THAN TO BURN. 1COR:7:8 I SAY THEREFORE TO THE UNMARRIED AND WIDOWS, IT IS GOOD FOR THEM IF THEY ABIDE EVEN AS I 9. BUT IF THEY CANNOT CONTAIN, LET THEM MARRY: FOR IT IS BETTER TO MARRY THAN TO BURN. CHILDREN OF LIGHT , IF TWO PEOPLE MARRY, AND NEITHER ARE CHRISTIANS, AND GOD CALLS ONE TO REPENTANCE, AND GIVES THEM THE WASHING OF REGENERATION, AND THE RENEWING OF THE HOLY GHOST. IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR THE PERSON THAT RECEIVES THE HOLY GHOST TO DIVORCE THEIR SPOUSE, FOR THE UNBELIEVING HUSBAND IS SANCTIFIED BY THE WIFE, AND THE UNBELIEVING WIFE IS SANCTIFIED BY THE HUSBAND. THE SPIRIT FILLED CHILD OF GOD WILL SANCTIFY THEIR SPOUSE, AND THEIR CHILDREN. 1COR:7:13 AND THE WOMAN WHICH HATH AN HUSBAND THAT BELIEVETH NOT, AND IF HE BE PLEASED TO DWELL WITH HER, LET HER NOT LEAVE HIM. 14. FOR THE UNBELIEVING HUSBAND IS SANCTIFIED BY THE WIFE, AND UNBELIEVING WIFE IS SANCTIFIED BY THE HUSBAND: ELSE WERE YOU CHILDREN UNCLEAN; WHY SHOULD A WOMAN HIGHLY VALUE HER VIRGINITY? A MAN CAN DIVORCE HIS WIFE FOR FORNICATION, AND REMARRY WITHOUT LIVING IN ADULTERY, BUT A WOMAN CANNOT. IF A MAN MARRIES A WOMAN THAT HE BELIEVES TO BE A VIRGIN, AND IN REALITY SHE IS NOT, ON THEIR WEDDING NIGHT THE HUSBAND COMES INTO THE KNOWLEDGE THAT SHE IS NOT A VIRGIN IT IS GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE. WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES. BUT THE LAW OF MOSES READS THUS. DT:22:13 IF ANY MAN TAKE A WIFE, AND GO IN UNTO HER, AND HATE HER, 14. AND GIVE OCCASIONS OF SPEECH AGAINST HER, AND BRING UP AN EVIL NAME UPON HER, AND SAY, I TOOK THIS WOMAN, AND WHEN I CAME TO HER, I FOUND HER NOT A MAID: 15. THEN SHALL THE FATHER OF THE DAMSEL, AND HER MOTHER, TAKE AND BRING FORTH THE TOKENS OF THE DAMSEL’S VIRGINITY UNTO THE ELDERS OF THE CITY IN THE GATE: 16. AND THE DAMSEL’S FATHER SHALL SAY UNTO THE ELDERS, I GAVE MY DAUGHTER UNTO THIS MAN TO WIFE, AND HE HATETH HER; 17. AND, LO, HE HATH GIVEN OCCASIONS OF SPEECH AGAINST HER, SAYING, I FOUND NOT THY DAUGHTER A MAID; AND YET THESE ARE THE TOKENS OF MY DAUGHTER’S VIRGINITY. AND THEY SHALL SPREAD THE CLOTH BEFORE THE ELDERS OF THE CITY. 18. AND THE ELDERS OF THAT CITY SHALL TAKE THAT MAN; AND CHASTISE HIM; 19. AND THEY SHALL AMERCE HIM IN AN HUNDRED SHEKELS OF SILVER, AND GIVE THEM UNTO THE FATHER OF THE DAMSEL, BECAUSE HE HATH BROUGHT UP AN EVIL NAME UPON A VIRGIN OF ISRAEL; AND SHE SHALL BE HIS WIFE; HE MAY NOT PUT HER AWAY ALL HIS DAYS. 20. BUT IF THIS THING BE TRUE, AND THE TOKENS OF VIRGINITY BE NOT FOUND FOR THE DAMSEL: 21. THEN THEY SHALL BRING OUT THE DAMSEL TO THE DOOR OF HER FATHER’S HOUSE, AND THE MEN OF HER CITY SHALL STONE HER WITH STONES THAT SHE DIE: BECAUSE SHE HATH WROUGHT FOLLY IN ISRAEL, TO PLAY THE WHORE IN HER FATHER’S HOUSE: SO SHALT THOU PUT EVIL AWAY FROM AMONG YOU. A MAN MAY DIVORCE HIS WIFE FOR FORNICATION, AND REMARRY WITHOUT LIVING IN ADULTERY. MT:19:8 HE SAITH UNTO THEM, MOSES BECAUSE OF THE HARDNESS OF YOUR HEARTS SUFFERED YOU TO PUT AWAY YOUR WIVES: BUT FROM THE BEGINNING IT WAS NOT SO. 9. AND I SAY UNTO YOU, WHOSOEVER SHALL PUT AWAY HIS WIFE, EXCEPT IT BE FOR FORNICATION, AND SHALL MARRY ANOTHER, COMMITTETH ADULTERY: AND WHOSO MARRIETH HER WHICH IS PUT AWAY DOTH COMMIT ADULTERY. BUT A WOMAN CANNOT PUT HER HUSBAND AWAY FOR ANY CAUSE AND REMARRY AS LONG AS HER HUSBAND LIVES WITHOUT LIVING IN ADULTERY. ROM:7:1 KNOW YE NOT, BRETHREN, (FOR I SPEAK TO THEM THAT KNOW THE LAW,) HOW THAT THE LAW HATH DOMINION OVER A MAN AS LONG AS HE LIVETH? 2. FOR THE WOMAN WHICH HATH AN HUSBAND IS BOUND BY THE LAW TO HER HUSBAND SO LONG AS HE LIVETH; BUT IF THE HUSBAND BE DEAD, SHE IS LOOSED FROM THE LAW OF HER HUSBAND 3. SO THEN IF, WHILE HER HUSBAND LIVETH, SHE BE MARRIED TO ANOTHER MAN, SHE SHALL BE CALLED AN ADULTERESS: BUT IF HER HUSBAND BE DEAD, SHE IS FREE FROM THAT LAW; SO THAT SHE IS NO ADULTERESS, THOUGH SHE BE MARRIED TO ANOTHER MAN. ADULTERY DESTROYS THE SOUL. PRV:6:32 BUT WHOSO COMMITTETH ADULTERY WITH A WOMAN LACKETH UNDERSTANDING: HE THAT DOETH IT DESTROYETH HIS OWN SOUL. SAINTS DO NOT MAKE YOUR SPOUSE JEALOUS; THE RESULTS OF A JEALOUS SPOUSE MAY NOT GIVE YOU THE RESULTS YOU DESIRE. THE FIRST FUNERAL THAT I EVER ATTENDED WAS BECAUSE A JEALOUS HUSBAND KILLED HIS WIFE AND HER MAN FRIEND, AND HIMSELF. MEDITATE ON THIS VERSE OF SCRIPTURE. 1THES:5:22 ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL. IF A MAN HAS A GOOD WIFE, HE HAS SOMETHING WONDERFUL. PRV:31:10 WHO CAN FIND A VIRTUOUS WOMAN? FOR HER PRICE IS FAR ABOVE RUBIES. 11. THE HEART OF HER HUSBAND DOTH SAFELY TRUST IN HER, SO THAT HE SHALL HAVE NO NEED OF SPOIL. PRV:12:4 A VIRTUOUS WOMAN IS A CROWN TO HER HUSBAND: BUT SHE THAT MAKETH ASHAMED IS AS ROTTENNESS IN HIS BONES. HAPPY IS THE MAN OR WOMAN THAT KEEPS THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD. BUT THOSE THAT TRANSGRESS GOD’S COMMANDMENTS SUFFER IN THIS WORLD, AND IN THE WORLD TO COME. I WAS ONCE YOUNG, AND NOW I AM OLD, AND I HAVE SEEN MANY TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN TO PEOPLE. I ONCE SAW MEN IN AUTHORITY COME AND TAKE A WOMAN’S CHILDREN FROM HER. THE SCREAMS OF THE MOTHER COULD BE HEARD ALL OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD. I ONCE SAW A MAN THAT HAD LOST HIS WIFE, AND CHILDREN, THROUGH DIVORCE, AND THAT TWO HUNDRED POUND MAN CRIED AS IF HE WAS A SMALL CHILD. I ONCE SAW A MAN THAT HAD KILLED HIS WIFE, AND HER MAN FRIEND, AND WHEN THE MEN IN AUTHORITY PLACED HIM IN A JAIL CELL; HE PACED THE FLOOR AS IF HE WAS A WILD ANIMAL. ADULTERY IS LISTED AS THE NUMBER ONE REASON THAT MEN, AND WOMEN SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. GAL:5:19 NOW THE WORKS OF THE FLESH ARE MANIFEST, WHICH ARE THESE; ADULTERY, FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, LASCIVIOUSNESS, 20. IDOLATRY, WITCHCRAFT, HATRED, VARIANCE, EMULATIONS, WRATH, STRIFE, SEDITIONS, HERESIES, 21. ENVYINGS, MURDERS, DRUNKENNESS, REVELLINGS, AND SUCH LIKE; OF THE WHICH I TELL YOU BEFORE, AS I HAVE ALSO TOLD YOU IN TIME PAST, THAT THEY WHICH DO SUCH THINGS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.