The earthly estate of marriage is a divine institution. It is therefore subject to certain divine requirements which remain in effect until the close of this age regardless of the social customs, civil laws, or ecclesiastical rites which may come to surround it. That God Himself established marriage and pronounced it good also means that He created it for the good of humanity.
He is at work in marriage to accomplish His purposes. In marriage God intends to provide for 1 the relation of man and woman in mutual love Gen. Both the fourth and sixth commandments presume and support these purposes of marriage in human life.
Marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman entered into by mutual consent. It is ordinarily expected that this consent and commitment will be public, that marriage is not a merely personal decision but one which concerns all those who are now to treat this man and woman as husband and wife. Although marriage derives its validity from the commitment of a man and woman to a permanent sharing of their lives, the institution of marriage will normally be circumscribed by various civil laws imposed by society.
Even though the legal restrictions with which our society surrounds marriage do not belong to the essence of marriage, [ 8 ] there is good reason to believe that they will ordinarily serve human well-being -- a purpose for which God has established civil authority Rom.
Such restrictions serve the important social function of safeguarding rights of the spouse and children. More important still, they may encourage thoughtful, reflective commitment and thus protect the interest not only of society but also of those who think they are in love. Unjustified disregard for the legal requirements which have been established by the state concerning marriage violates God's command for obedience to the authorities He has placed over us.
