We have no disagreement with brother Gwin on the matter of the distinction between the physical marriage relationship and the divinely controlled marriage bond:

   Yes, there is a difference between the marriage bond and the physical, one-flesh marriage relationship. But as an institution of God (Gen. 2:24), the marriage relationship is part of the marriage bond. Man controls the marriage relationship, but only God controls the marriage bond. Men and women choose to be husband and wife. However, God chooses whether or not to bind the covenant made by the man and the woman. So, one can be bound by God to a person (the marriage bond) and at the same time be married (marriage relationship) to another person. Herodias was "married" to Herod even though she remained bound to Philip (Mark 6:17). Though called a "marriage," her relationship with Herod was unlawful (Mk. 6:18). (Again, brother Gwin, this one and the other person are really married! Get it this time? You haven’t before! When will you make it right?)

   Marriage is a covenant made between two people by their vows (Mal. 2:14). If they are eligible for marriage per the laws of God, God binds them to that covenant and the covenant also then becomes between them and God (Prov. 2:17). Either party in the marriage covenant may break his vows (indeed, both may break their vows) and marry another, but unless God releases one from the covenant, the marriage bond is still intact.

   Let us consider the next chart:

   The point that brother Gwin is trying to make from this chart is basically sound. But for accuracy's sake it needs these changes:

   1. Actually, the arrows between the man and God, and between the woman and God, should have arrowheads pointing only from God to the man and to the woman, to show that only He controls the binding of them (they are bound to each other) to their vows. And, instead of “bound,” it is better to put “binds,” because God does the binding. He binds them to their vows to each other because of the vows they made.

   2. Beneath the two-pointed arrow, between the man and the woman, the word “bound” should appear. In this illustration, the man and the woman are still bound, although they are now not married (because one of the two, or both by mutual consent, put the marriage relationship asunder, Matthew 19:6, without the God-approved cause, fornication).

   3. This chart does not show for what reason the man and the woman are not now married, as do two of the following charts. Why, we don’t know. But, to show that the remainder of the chart is true (their remarrying and thereby committing adultery), there has to be given the reason why that is true. It is true only if the marriage is put asunder not for fornication.

   We proceed to the next chart in the series:

   There is no real issue here between brother Gwin and brother Reeves as concerns death being a factor.

   We do offer the suggestion that the wording of the title should be: For what cause will God release a spouse from the marriage bond, and permit him to remarry?

   When a spouse dies, God releases the surviving mate from the marriage bond and permits him to remarry, if that mate chooses to do so (Rom. 7:2,3).

   This completes part sixteen of our study. Please check the next article in the series.

Introduction | Part Fifteen of the Series | Part Seventeen of the Series

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