Marriage Focus by MarriageVine

When Do We Forgive?
by Dr. Gary Chapman   

  

Anger: Handling a Powerful Emotion in a Helthy Way

 

God's forgiveness toward us serves as a model of how we are to forgive others.  The Scriptures say we are to forgive each other "just as in Christ God forgave us". 

 

In this divine model there are two essential elements: confession and repentance on the part of the sinner and forgiveness on the part of the one sinned against. 
 

There is no scriptural evidence that God ever forgave anyone who did not repent and turn in faith to Him. 
 

 

Some would ask, "What about Jesus' prayer on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."  I remind you that was a prayer, not a proclamation.  The prayer was answered later when Peter called them to repentance.


 

 

 

Article written by Dr. Gary Chapman.  Based on the book, Anger, by Dr. Gary Chapman. Published by Moody Publishers. 

  

For a complete listing of Dr. Chapman's books and resources,click here.  

Jesus, On Marriage - Part 2 
by Bob and Cheryl Moeller        

  

The Marriage Miracle

   

Jesus refutes His accusers (see yesterday's email for Part 1 of this discussion) by reminding them in essence, "Marriage is a permanent, irreversible, and miraculous act of creation where the Creator takes two hearts and makes them one. Each marriage, including yours, is as much an act of creation as the divine formation of the oceans, mountains, or the deep blue heavens. Your question of how to reverse the irreversible violates God's very design and purpose for marriage.  

 

So why aren't you asking Me how to restore a failing marriage rather than end it?"

 

Despite Jesus' convicting and compelling answer, the Pharisees remain unconvinced. They are still looking for a way to justify the easy breakup of their marriages. "Why then," His opponents asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce
and send her away?"

 

The Pharisees no doubt smiled with perverse delight as they were now certain they had painted the Galilean into a corner.  

 

If He disagrees with Moses, He has for all intents and purposes denounced the Law of Moses. If that be the case, His opponents can justifiably bend over and pick up stones to end the life of this blasphemer. On the other hand, if Jesus chooses to say nothing, the people will recognize His obvious weakness and abandon Him. Either way they win, and Jesus loses.

 

At this critical moment Jesus utters for us the most profound words in all of Scripture that explain why marriages fail and how they can be healed: "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning."

 

Jesus isn't saying divorce happens because someone commits adultery or because two people drift apart or because they can't quit arguing. Those are merely the symptoms of the problem, not the real cause of divorce.

 

Why do marriages end? Marriages fail because one or both spouses harden their hearts.  In every case we've ever witnessed where a marriage ends, at least one partner, if not both, first hardened their heart toward the other. Divorce enters the picture as the option of choice only after hearts have become callous, unfeeling, or even embittered.       

 

 

Article based on the book, The Marriage Miracle by Bob and Cheryl Moeller, published by Harvest House.  
Love Talks for Couples - purchase here!  The Godly Romantic   

 
 
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