The Broken Covenant Restored

Introductory Thoughts
The papers are on the lawyer’s desk, the only thing remaining is to sign them.
The property has been divided, the arrangements have been made to share the children.
Inside, your guts are churning, but you are not going to show it.
It is time to move on…It’s over—there is no turning back—or is there?

1. Facts to Ponder
a. Remember, Marriage is Like Salvation—Eph 5:30—God intends the marriage relationship to be a picture of salvation—eternal, unbreakable
b. Who are you and your wife? What is the most important relationship you share?
(1) Remember, in the resurrection, there is no marriage nor giving in marriage—Luke 20:27-38.
(2) Therefore, the most important relationship you have with your spouse is that you are brother and sister in Christ.
(3) You will not be married a million years from now, but you will never cease to be brother and sister in Christ
(4) To fail to reconcile as a couple is to fail to reconcile with a brother or sister in Christ with whom you shall spend eternity!
c. Remember God’s instructions to the Christian couple in crisis—1 Cor 7:10-11 “… Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife…”
(1) These are commands of God!
(2) I did not write this, and I really did not want to preach this, but God has commanded Christian couples in crisis to take the road of reconciliation, not rupture and ruin.
(3) Why? Because reconciliation is what God is all about!
(a) Sinning Israel—Isa 1:18-20 ""Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword"; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
(b) Hosea’s wife, Gomer
(c) The human race—2 Cor 5:17-18

d. The way back is like the return of the backslider returning to God—like the prodigal son—but in marital reconciliation, BOTH are prodigals, both are returning to the Father’s place for them. Like the Diagram below, as they get closer to God, they get closer to each other.
God
Husband
Wife


2. Steps on the journey home

a. Awakening—recognition— Luke 15:17 "But when he came to himself…”
(1) Someone needs to be the first one to say—“What am I doing?”
(2) The Prodigal had come into a place of his own choosing, but once he got there, his choices did not look that smart!
(3) How long he was in the pig sty, we don’t know, but sooner or later, he looked around and realized that he was in someplace he did not need to be and that there was someplace else to go.

b. Repentance—Luke 15:18-20 "'I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 "and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."' 20 "And he arose and came to his father….”

(1) Repentance—when the will, moved by God, moves the feet!
(2) Blaming no one but himself
(3) Unconditional –no excuses, and expecting nothing except minimal reception.
(4) The first step leads to the whole journey

c. Forgiveness—The God kind—Mat 18

(1) The Prodigal’s father did not approach this situation as most of us would have approached it.
(2) What would the attitude of the normal Baptist have been—“Look at that smelly so-and-so, he can forget it if he wants to be welcomed here!”
(3) The prodigal’s father (symbolic of God) was anxious—he RAN to greet the prodigal—he did not even listen to the speech the boy had prepared.
(4) God’s way of forgiveness applies to marriage as well!
(a) Reconciling with a brother—Mat 18:15-20
(b) Forgiving our brother—Mat 18:21-35

d. Reconciliation and Recommitment—like rededication and discipleship
(1) First, it is not wrong to expect to see “fruits meet for repentance,” as John the Baptist demanded.
(2) It is also not wrong to see restitution—Luke 19:8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold."
(3) It would be appropriate for counseling and guidance to take place, under the authority if the eldership of the church.
(4) But the parallel commands are plain and unequivocal—2 Cor 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God
(5) 1 Cor 7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
(6) The prodigal was received by all concerned—except by the other son, whose self-righteous attitude and pride put him at odds with everything the Father is.

In a Christian marriage in crisis, God is ready to receive both prodigals. As you come to His arms, you come closer together, as you are embraced by the Father, you will find your spouse there as well.