The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Anjela Paje of Spokane, WA, from the tape, GC 1301-T, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 22."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1982. All Rights Reserved.

Question

I am getting married in about seven months, and I wanted your own opinion on what makes a good Christian marriage? What makes it strong?

Answer

That's easy to answer. What makes a good Christian marriage? Two good Christians. And, what that means is, that you both love the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart, and He is the priority in your life, and that you, faithfully, together, pursue a path of obedience to Jesus Christ. You know, marriage is first of all, a commitment. And, then it grows into a love. But, the commitment has to be there. And, the commitment in marriage, first of all, is not to each other, but it is to Jesus Christ. In fact, you know, when Malachi said, "You have done treacherously against the wife of your youth. You have divorced your wife. You have broken your covenant." And, that is interesting. Because the indictment of those people was not that they stopped loving their wife. It was not that they had a bad testimony in the community. It was that they broke a covenant. And, they violated their own integrity.

I think, marriage is, first, a covenant. And, the sad thing in divorce is that you are not a person who keeps His word. That's the sad thing, the violation of covenant. So, in a marriage, you approach a marriage, then, as a covenant. Believe me, as soon as you get married, Satan takes off after you because he would love to destroy it. And, the only way you can protect it, is to build a deep, profound relationship with Jesus Christ. And, that is the insulation for a marriage.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur's Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 119
Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
Our websites: www.biblebb.com and www.gospelgems.com
Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986