Matt Slick Live

The following program is recorded content created by the Truth Network. It's Matt Slick Live. Matt is the founder and president of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry, found online at Carm.org. When you have questions about Bible doctrines, turn to Matt Slick Live for answers, taking your calls and responding to your questions at 877-207-2276. Here's Matt Slick.

Hey everybody, welcome to the show. It's me, Matt Slick. You're listening to Matt Slick Live. Today's date is June 16th. 2025.

If you want to give me a call, it's easy. All you have to do is dial 8772. 072276.

Alright, so I'm gonna tell you about something here. Back when I was a computer tech, Oh man. Back when I was a computer ticket, Hewlett Packard. Um I worked for five years desk side tech. And uh We had a room we'd go into and uh once you're in this one room, all the techs go in.

Then uh we could just talk freely and fix computers and Talk about solutions and problems. And every now and then One of the things we would do is talk about how we messed up on something. And we always learned and we would laugh at each other because, well, we all do it. We all mess up, you know, and we would say, Oh, no, no, no, that that's bad, but oh, don't listen to this. And then we would just take turns boasting in our stupidity and our failures.

And It's just part of being a guy and succeeding and failing and learning in the process.

Well, Yeah. Ooh. I I've got a story. I got a story like that now. If I was in the computer tech realm, I'd go, listen to this.

So What I did was Oh man, I can't believe I did this.

So I'm trying to figure out Why the feedback? on some audio that I've been working on. was so uh Not good. And I've spent, I'm going to guess, seriously, eight hours doing maybe 100 to 150 tests. On sound adjustments.

I mean, I learned a lot of stuff where things could be what they can or not. I mean, I did a lot of stuff. And uh nothing. Woodwork. It was driving me crazy.

I spent four hours today. Four solid hours. Going through this, test that, test this. Nope, nope, this, that, writing stuff down, systems, a whole bit. And uh then I started inquiring.

I get you know give all the boring details. And I went into this one one system i is something, you know, it's a Total. And uh I started to look at it as one setting. And so I'm like, wait a minute. Wait a minute.

What happened if I click this? And I clicked it instantly. The sound was better. On my test recordings everything was fine. And that's when the Doofus came here.

Yeah. That's that's when I realized something really profound. That it wasn't the input of the microphone that was a problem, it was the output. The speaker setting was off, and all this stuff I was doing. Aye yay!

You know. That's how you That's how you make yourself look bad and then um yeah, it's it's It's not a good It's one of those stories. It's one of those. One of those stories where you just boast, ha. No, it's not that dumb here.

I'll help you out. That's what that is. And um so I had to Learn a big lesson about that today. That was a lot of fun. You know, that's what I think about us guys.

A lot of you ladies don't know this, but we boast in our successes as well as our failures because. A failure means we've been learning. I've learned a lot of stuff in the process: eight hours of solid testing and retesting, going in and out of systems, back and forth. I learned a lot of stuff. And here's something that was interesting.

Here's something that's interesting. This is no joke.

So I'm going to open up a file, I'm going to tell you something spiritual.

So I was going through some. I heard something someplace. You know how you hear a verse? From somebody. And um And it it sticks with you.

Well, you've heard it a hundred times, but this one This would just stick with stuck with you, right?

So Uh I I started I got I got this idea. And And where's that file? Oh, I know where I put it. And uh I'm going to read something here because there we go right over. here sorry top oh here it is on face.

One phase. And Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has made you well. Matthew Or yeah, Matthew 9, 22. Matthew 9, 29, it shall be done to you according to your faith.

See, I got over 200 verses to go through. where I did a an export of every single uh faith uh statement. in the Bible. And I'm going through it. And the reason is I heard this verse This applies to the computer stuff.

I heard this verse. And it one of those were Huh. I've heard that a thousand times. But it but it got my attention. And it was a person being healed according to their faith, and being it done according to their faith.

Their faith. And And stuck with me. And so I started thinking about this. I'm going to do some research and go through and see what the Bible says. I found some interesting verses.

You know, it says in Luke 17, 19, Jesus says, Your faith has made you well. And in Luke 18, 42, he says the same thing. In Acts 3.16, on the basis of faith in his name, the faith which comes through Him has given from this perfect health. In the presence of you all.

Now I'm talking about healings and stuff. And the reason is because my wife's Health has really taken a A stumble, let's just say. and even though to date she seems pretty normal, uh you know I mean she has physical challenges and stuff and they they rear their ugly head and it's just a reality of things and And then my children, praying for my children. And a lot of you may know, a lot of people do know. that my eldest child, let's just say, made some money in a very Sinful.

way.

Well, anyway, you pray for them, and you pray for healing, you pray for this, you pray for that. And um I'm going to just make a confession. This is a confession. Seriously. Um That my faith has been challenged.

Now, my faith in Christ is sure and strong. But faith for healings. faith for little things. is not so strong. I'm just telling you.

It's not so strong. I trust God for my salvation. But often I don't trust him for little things. And so There's a verse, I'll find it later. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.

And so here I am. Trying to figure out the audio stuff. after four hours. And I I stopped. thinking about this be it done according to your faith.

And I said, Lord, I just need Yeah. An answer. to help me. Uh just increased my faith. In the little things that you're there even in the little things.

And within seven minutes, the problem was solved. After eight hours of work. And then I stumbled on something and then Hey, wait a minute. And I just said, thank you, Lord. You know, it's kind of interesting, I think, that Um that I think it's a habit for a lot of us.

What we do. is we trust God for the big things, but not the little ones. Salvation, that's in his department. The food on the table. Mine.

fixing an audio problem on my computer. My problem. And even then. I was uh supposed to be praying and asking him. and it reminds me of George Muller.

I recommend you guys read uh George Mueller's book. answered a prayer. It's a diary's what it is. And it's really interesting because this guy was They called him the Orphan King. in uh England.

uh in the 1800s. And he wrote, he was a very godly man. And he would pray about everything. Lost keys. a lost uh pound note because he was in England.

Uh Things like this, he would just pray about everything. And he had special times during the day where he and the staff would go and they would just pray. Because they were running an an orphanage for the glory of God in order to help. uh help the less fortunate. And he would pray and he recorded.

the prayers. And I was glancing through the book again. I've done it gone through it a few times over the years. And it said this one sentence that I'd highlighted before: after praying for four months. Four months he was praying for something.

And You know, I I just oh wow.

Sometimes I'll pray for four seconds. You know, Lord, I prayed. And he would pray for four months before the uh the answer would come.

Well that's faithfulness.

Sometimes our faith is tested by time.

Well, if I pray for five seconds, I've done my prayer.

Now let's see what happens. But a long Four-month prayer. That's a A steady flow of faith. to God. I can't help but wonder sometimes he doesn't answer us right away.

Because he wants us to continue to be on our knees, broken hearts. dependent spirits upon him. because if he answered so quickly, I don't know. Would we pray as much? I don't know.

All I know is um That God has His ways. His timing is good. He doesn't listen to my advice. I I've offered it a few times, but Yeah. He's never taken my advice.

Lord, if this worked out this way, Lord. does not it he he doesn't take my advice. I shouldn't take my advice because, you know, I mean Anyway, so uh Just a thought, just a thought about stuff going through trials and tribulations and things like that. Resting in the Lord. It's a good thing to do.

Hey, if you want to give me a call, the number is 877-20722. 7-6, why don't you give me a call? Let's get to Ebenezer from California. Ebenezer, welcome. Hey man, how are you?

Doing all right by God's grace. Hanging in there. Where do you go? Yeah. I well, first I wanted to um Just Uh ask what your opinion on the whole Israel Israel, Iran situation?

Do you think we are going to Yeah, Uh, because of the whole bombing and stuff? Yeah. Yeah, I uh I believe what the Bible says. Uh those who bless Israel will be blessed.

So I I support Israel.

Furthermore, I believe that uh Iran is a terrorist state, that due to Is heavy Islamic influence, it um It seeks to destroy and to kill uh all of the people of Israel. If Iran had its way It would imprison and execute every Jew we can get their hands on. Surah 551 in the Quran says, Do not take Jews and Christians as your friends. And it talks evil, speaks evil of them.

So when they the Iranians were getting ready to develop nuclear weapons. I uh Israel just had to step in and say we can't allow this to happen. Because Iran has sworn it it will destroy Israel. If it has the weapons to do it, all it's got to do is launch twenty nukes all over the place, and Israel is basically gone. They could go in and destroy and take over.

And so Israel has preemptively moved to save itself. From um true war and and being demorished.

Now what's gonna happen with us? I don't know but I stand behind Israel in its right to defend itself preemptively. Hey, there's a break. Hold on, buddy.

Okay, we're right back. All right, then we're going to go. Hey folks, good. break time and may the Lord bless you be right back after. These messages please speak to them.

It's Matt Slick Live, taking a call at 877-207-2276. Here's Matt Slick. Hey everybody, welcome back to the show. If you want to give me a call, it's easy. 8772-072276.

I want to hear from you. Give me a call. And let's get back on the air with Ebenezer from California. Ebenezer, welcome. John the air.

Yeah, yeah, man. I I just you know, wanted to get your opinion. Also, um, I saw that. I uh recall I mean um I saw the last show, I think it was like Friday or whatever. where the guy, you were talking to the guy, the Democrat.

And I mean, according to Romans 1, according to Romans 1, he's under God's judgment. What are we Yeah. Yeah, he said he voted for Harrow as as a Christian. Yeah, and I said and I was thinking about this over the weekend. How could he vote for someone who would is pro-homosexual and pro uh uh baby killing?

It's just that was crazy. That was so mind-boggling. I was seeing the whole thing. I was like, yo, what is this guy? What is this guy thinking?

I know. I like him though. He's a good, polite, intelligent guy, very artistic. Yeah, no, he was polite. He was definitely polite.

And it's like, I just wanted to get into his head and go, what needs you to go in hope? You know, but I respected him. You you handled it well though, I'll tell you that.

Well I tried and um But I you know, to be honest, I don't meet too many guys like him. who listen to a challenge, consider it. And say that's a good point, and without just getting uppity and rude. He was really a pleasure to talk to. It really was.

Yeah. Yeah, mo most of them most of 'em are pretty belligerent though. But it really Yeah, they Yeah, most Democrats are pretty bad. That's true. They they're they're well, I think the biggest thing I would say about a hyp if w one word to des to describe uh the standard Democrat would be hypocrite.

They, that's what my experience is that they want. tolerance for everybody. until you disagree with them. Then they they're intolerant. And that's that's what I see.

Yeah. But let me let you go, man. All right, big man.

Sounds good, buddy. All right, I see you.

Okay, God bless.

Alright, now let's get to Taylor from New York. Or Tyler, I should say, for New York. Go on there, Dr. Come. You're on the air.

Good morning good evening, brother. How are you? I've done all right. Yeah. Hanging in there.

So what do you got, man? Um yeah, so I've noticed especially with the escalation of ti the tensions between Israel and Iran holds a dispensation list for Trying to take out their decoder rings and figure out when Jesus is coming back.

So I'm. I'm the coder eggs. That's awesome. They caught me off guard. They're decoder rings trying to figure it all out.

That's exactly right.

Sorry, go ahead, man. You got me on that one. That's good. Yes, this is why I think being reformed in your theology and being confessional is so amazing, not even because of I I always put say Calvinism as second. Because I think we just have confessionally in the Westminster and the three forms and all the other reform confessions, like the sixteen eighty nine, that we have a robust.

biblical theology that is crystalcentric and crystal tellic and that Keeps Jesus as the substance and saving grace of God throughout the whole Bible. And I think we avoid all these loopholes that the Arminian. dispensationalist um Yeah. things like like they're looking we interpret scripture by scripture. not looking around us trying to figure it out.

Yeah. Yeah, we do. And, you know, you probably know this. I debate impromptu discussion/slash debates, Eastern Orthodox or Roman Catholics. regularly.

and, you know, two, three, four times a week. And, um, they always, you know, the attack interpretation and you don't have the authority. It's pretty bad, but But um Yeah, and so, and then what's interesting about eschatology, how different they are. But anyway, it's another topic. But yeah, I agree with you, man.

Yep. Yeah. I wanted to ask um How would how do I like I guess um 'Cause I I always have the uh the people the audacity to tell me that if I don't support modern Israel, That I'm under God's curse, and that has not that God was talking about the spiritual seed of Abraham, like Paul talks about in Galatians, which is the true church connected to Christ. you know God and There can be two separate bodies of Believers, like the Holy Spirit, you unifies the Old Testament Saints and the New Testament Saints by faith in Christ.

So. I think it's a failure to understand really the saving work of Jesus and the nature of the spiritual nature nature of the covenant. I think that's something that needs to be addressed in the church. A rounded theological perspective needs to be offered. But we're talking about Genesis 12:3.

God says, I'll bless those who bless you. He's talking about Abraham and his descendants and the people of Israel by default.

So. Uh Yeah. Yeah, it's like everything Israel does. I've been to Israel twice and enjoy it. enjoyed it each time.

But I I will support them. And in this case, I think they have the right to attack Iran. I think they did. I think it was a smart move. That's what I believe anyway.

A lot of people don't, but I I do. Oh, I agree with you. I think there's even just like also ethically and morally, they're the only democracy in the Middle East, and they're surrounded by twenty six Arab nations that are genocidal maniacs that want to ethically cleanse the Middle East of Jews.

So obviously, we should support them, absolutely. Yep, yep. Yeah. I hope he don't get drug into some long protracted war. But uh hopefully not.

Yeah, I don't want that. And uh But you're right, a lot of people are getting out their Dakota ring trying to figure out what's going on. Uh I know enough about eschatology to uh not put any dates on things, not worry about anything. The things I'm looking for and waiting for, the rebuilt temple of Jerusalem, the dried up Euphrates River. These are the things that the Bible specifically talks about.

And when those things happen, Okay, now I'm going to start paying attention to get up my decoder ring. But until then, it's staying in the drawer. I mean that Yeah.

So That's right. But I'm a pessimistic amillennialist, if you know what that is. I mean, I believe we're in the millennial reign of Christ now. I know people say, but I have answers to it, and that things are just going to get worse. That's all.

That that's my thing. And and it's going to be a gigantic celestial. I told you so. I think we're going to bring ourselves to death. Yeah, that's that's what I think, yeah.

So I I agree with you. I think it it honestly is keeps you Christ centered and um I just from when I did the research, like um millennialism was the historic p position of the church and Chileanism was condemned as heresy, which is pretty much the same as premillennialism. It almost has the same system Yeah, yeah, and uh I think, yeah.

So the killism is old, but I think on millennial. I don't think any, let me put it this way: I don't think any eschatological position has all the answers. And sometimes when I'm talking eschatologically with somebody, I'll say, Yeah, I think it's a good point. I'm not sure how I would answer that as a non-millennialist. And.

But then there are questions that premillennialists aren't able to answer very well either. And so one of the things that I focus on is the two-age model, which nobody focuses on, but it's the model Jesus and Paul taught this age and the age to come, and what happens at the end of this age and the age to come. And so those are the models. That's the model that I use, and I don't hear anybody else talking about it.

So it's sad. I was taught this many years ago by Kim Riddlebarker in Southern California back when I was living there. And he's reformed and a good guy, and he taught me that. And I went, ooh, interesting. And I've never heard anybody else teach it.

Anyway. There we go, okay buddy? Thank you. All right, man. God bless.

Hey folks, we'll be right back after these messages. We're going to get to Vion from Salt Lake City, then Jermaine from California. We'll be right back after these messages. Please stay tuned. It's Matt Slick live, taking a call at 877-207-2276.

Here's Matt Slick. All right, everyone, welcome back to the show. If you want to give me a call, it's easy, 877-2072276. Let's get to Dion. From Salt Lake City to Jan.

Welcome, you're on the air. Yeah, Matt, thank you for your introductory talk on Uh prayer. I appreciate it. a reminder. Yeah, I need to remind it.

I had to bring up the Mormons again. I just like to forget about them. I ran into a lady yesterday that had a brand new Bible are leather bound Silver pages, gold pages are And it was a revelation from God to Moses How And and the rewritten Bible. Have you heard that? Yet?

Oh Was it the tr uh the uh Joseph Smith translation he was talking about? Because um I've no I've not heard anything, but you got me uh curious if there's something new that I'm just not aware of yet. But the news or something Maybe, maybe.

Well I'm on the L D S website right now and uh It has a bunch of stuff in there. You know what really upsets me about them is Scriptures as Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl, Great Price. Oh man, it's just it's so sad. that they're believing these things. Uh let's see.

So No, I I don't know. I have a good friend though, Jose I mean Joh Saint Joseph Smith. But I have a good friend, uh, Bill McKeever. And um Look at it closer. And do a little studying, but I just couldn't stand to hear anything about.

Mormonism and I just left. But that is what's called for her. There is called the book. I don't think you can buy the Bible. She said they were handed out to members of the church.

Well, maybe something new. I've seen get one. But there is in their writings the Book of Moses. Was that maybe what she was talking about?

Well, I read the first couple of sentences of Genesis and I said I can't remember exactly how. This is a revelation from God to Moses. And then it says in the beginning was And it went on.

So it was in plain writing. Yes, that's different.

Okay, now I know what you're talking about. If you're talking about the book of Genesis, you're talking about what's called the Joseph Smith translation. of the Bible. This is a new one.

Well, then I have I have no idea, because you said you were reading the book of Genesis, and the first so I'm not sure what to what to say at this point. Maybe someone else listening might know. Maybe somebody knows about it, but I'm looking for her and if I Find the Bible, I'll give you a call and let you know. Sure. Sure, sounds good.

Get more information about it. I'd like to know. Yeah, I will. I'm so sorry I didn't spend more time with her and see you know, kind of Scan through that. I've got the book where Joseph Smith rewrote it.

and they compares it with the Bible. Yeah, he alters the Bible. Yeah. Well, that's all I I just want to know, I'm really upset about it and I'm trying to get more information.

Well, please try and get more info goods. I'd like to know. I will.

Okay. Thank you. Bye-bye.

Okay, God bless.

All right, now let's get over to Jermaine from the People's Republic of California. Germaine, welcome you on the air. Hey Red, I am Yeah, I just had a question about with all the recent events surrounding Israel. I would I guess I wanted to ask what does Support for Israel actually looks like. I know we've discussed Israel before, and um.

you know, they are our ally. I just don't see them in the Old Testament sense as if you can't say anything critical. But yeah, they are all I flight. any ally and they'll be friendly towards them. But w what do you I mean, what what is the biblical way to support Israel since so many people seem to Think you can't say anything critical.

And I am with you, by the way. I heard your earlier comment. I support the action. That they took because I grand cannot have nuclear weapons, just how it is, but. But as far as some other things I've seen like the LGBT support, the COVID vaccination and You know, anti-gospel stuff, I feel like I have to speak out on that.

But I can speak but not hate somebody, you know, just pointing out some.

some uh critical factors but What would you say is the biblical way to support Israel? Yeah, I would say I'd support them uh as a nation, as a whole, but in those areas that uh they violate scripture, we don't support them in in that. It doesn't mean we don't support the nation.

So that's how I would do it, and just leave it up to the individual at that point if they have that kind of attitude.

Okay. Yeah. Hello, I lose you. I'm sorry, that was my I hit the B button by accident. No, okay.

No biggie. I'd like to say for for those who still hold to the the opinion that There you can't say anything at all. Like you, no criticism, no. comments, notes, no anything. I mean, our aren't they putting themselves in kind of a box that God maybe never even intended?

Okay. Well, it could be. Uh you know, they have rejected the Messiah, and they still are. yet I don't believe God is done with Israel.

So we need to see what God's going to do. And even though Israel broke the covenant with God, He's still faithful. And so he said in Romans 11:24 through 26, all Israel will be blessed. Know things later on. It's going to happen.

He's not done with them. And so. We need to keep that in mind and overall be supportive of Israel. But, like I said, not against a lot of things that they might do in d i in in sub policies. And that's okay.

If they are promoting something that's ungodly, well th we need to stand against that. in there, just like we would in the United States. They can support the country, but disagree with a lot of his policies.

So it's the same thing with them. And pray for Israel, its redemption, and that God would use Israel as a a minister in the world to bring people to faith. Because it seems to be that that is the case. That's what's going to happen. It looks like that's what's going to happen in the end times.

Okay. Okay, all right. Thank you once again, Matt. Appreciate you involving. Hey, man, excuse me, yawn there.

Hey, I appreciate you, Jermaine. You always got good stuff.

So, God bless, buddy. All right, God bless. Do I Okay. If you want to give me a call, it is easy. The number is 877-207-2276.

Let's get to Tom from North Carolina. Tom, welcome here on the air. How are you doing, Matt? Tom Eastwood. Hey, look, I got a quick question.

Can a preacher marry a man and a woman without getting a certificate? Just make it right before God. Yes. Oh There's a yes to that and there's little qualification to. Let's just say that uh you're on a boat and you crash land on an island.

And a bunch of people are there, and there's a preacher there. And a couple wants to get married, and he marries them. There's no state certificate necessary. A state certificate does not make something. Right before God.

But on the other hand, we are obligated to try and follow the laws of the state that we're in.

So I have a friend and he's he's half Korean, half oh no, he's all Korean, and he's engaged to a Kenyan woman. And so he's going to go to Kenya, he's going to get married. Because he c she can't come here right away. And uh well, praise God.

So they're they don't have a state certificate from the United States in order to be married. It's certainly valid. What makes someone validly married is the covenantal commitment that you make with one another to the exclusion of others. And I tell people this when I do marriage ceremonies, when I when I mar perform ceremonies.

So you no you know, you don't have don't need a state certificate to be validly married before God, but you should get a certificate and just have it filed.

Okay. Okay. Why why are you part one in this case? You know, I get married we get married and something happened to me, insurance, and I don't want her to be responsible to big bills at the same time or vice versa. That's my reason why I'm asking.

Well, that means you're not trusting God. That means you're not trusting God at this point. You've got to be careful.

So let's just say that you have a girlfriend and you want to get married to her, but you don't want to do it officially. You just do it under the radar. You know somebody in the back yard. That's uh not the intention of what marriage is to be. Marriage w is a public thing.

It's a three way covenant of marriage. A covenant between the couple and God the couple and the people Yeah. Man and woman.

So, one of the aspects of the couple with the people is that you are promising to keep her to her only, not to anybody else, to protect her, you know, things like this. And the people are gathered to witness it.

So, this makes it a public ceremony as well as a private ceremony in that sense.

So, when people like my. Yeah, and her family too. And you know, it doesn't but there's no rule. Oh, you gotta have fifty people before it's legit. No, no, no.

It just needs to have witnesses. That's j just generally how it is. And if you're in the government, I mean, if you're an American, follow the rules. That's all. Oh hold on, buddy, we got to get a break.

Hold on, okay. Hey folks, we'll be right back after these messages, please. Stay tuned. It's Matt Slick Live, taking a call at 877-207-2276. Here's Matt Slick.

Alright everyone, welcome back to the show. Last segment of the hour if you want to give me a call. Eight seven seven two zero. 072276.

Let's get back with Tom from North Carolina. Tom, you're on here again. My pastor did any Good right, sir.

Okay, you're breaking up. Um so do you go to pasture?

Okay. It's sir. I ain't been to him. I asked him about it. I just I like a mob.

Yeah, that's right. Yeah, you're breaking up. Um If you're going to have a pastor marry you, then the pastor needs to follow the laws that are set in that state and the country.

So when I perform a wedding, I tell the couple they need to apply for a certificate. But I tell them it's not the certificate that validates your marriage. God does this in your commitment to one another. We're just submitting to the laws of the land. That's what I tell them.

Now Sometimes what people want to do is deceptive. They want to be married without the state recognizing it so they can get better taxes and better this and that. That's a form of deception.

Okay, so oh, I don't I don't wanna do that, but I I didn't wanna do that. Right.

Well, okay. It's alright, you know, it's okay. It's all right.

Well, God bless, buddy. All right. Appreciate it very much, buddy. You too, but thank you, sir.

Okay, thanks. You know, uh We have nobody waiting right now. If you want to give me a call, 877-20722. Seven, six. I know there's a lot of people out there who have financial difficulties and they're arrangements of living together with someone or, um being married in intention, You don't need a piece of paper, this kind of stuff.

Um Let me just say that you need to repent. Repent of your sin.

So Marriage is a covenant. A covenant is a pact or an agreement between two or more parties.

So in a marriage covenant, when I perform marriages, I I have a certain time when I sit with the the people. Uh the couple. and I talked to them very seriously. about what marriage is. and what the covenant is.

And uh So I usually go through the vows and I say, we have a ceremony. I have a standard ceremony I kind of present to them and say, here's a copy of it. Mark it up and change things the way you want, that's fine.

However, in this one area, and then I kind of circle it and I say, This is where your marriage. occurs. It's when you, you know, when I'm the preacher or the one performing the marriage, I'll say, do you. whoever it is, uh solemnly, you know, swear to to um Abide in faithful union and relationship with your husband? Yes.

Do you promise to keep yourself to him and no other? Yes. Do you promise? And there's a list of things. And these are the the the promises that make someone married because it is a verbal public Commitment.

to each other, to be able to justify that you're living together and that you have the bond the bound rights of covenant rights of relations. Children Provision protection And so The reason Basically, there's a couple of reasons, but several reasons. A ceremony occurs where people are invited because, well, they want to enjoy it. People love to see that celebration of commitment and things along those lines. But also, theologically, it is a declaration publicly that you and she, or you and he, whatever, will have a special relationship with.

your spouse that you do not have with anybody else. And so this is This is promised and agreed to in that one area of of um commitment notes. And so What I do is I tell them, Look, you can change a couple of minor details in here, but you understand what the what the covenant is. And they say, Yes. I say, Now, look, so all through the ceremony, you're standing there and someone might sing, like I've done a wedding ceremony by a pond.

I've done it in front of the ocean. I've done it on a porch, in hotels, in banquet rooms, in churches. And so What I'll say let's see, I gotta get some of the looking for my notes on that um Let's see. Anyway, I'll find it later.

So what I'm trying to say is this that When you make this commitment... you make a commitment to God.

Now I'm going to just I like to use myself as an example of failure and uh real life stuff. My wife and I have been married thirty eight years. And There's been some pretty some serious rough rough times. And We both made a promise to God. and to each other.

and so we have stuck by each other. And divorce is not an option, no matter how tough it gets sometimes. I mean, we're sinners, you know, it's just how life is. But we want to Um We want to Honor God. We want to honor him for who he is.

and what he has done. We don't want to just go into the idea of marriage. On the condition that if it doesn't work out really nicely that I'm going to just bail. We don't want to do that.

So uh I'm looking for this ceremony thing where I've done sometimes. There we go, let's try that. doing a search my computer.

So Oh my, look at that. That's interesting right there. Huh.

Okay. Do another one.

Okay, let's see.

Okay, let's see.

Wedding. And then and then Uh do okay and then go it'll search the computer I want to read the actual marriage vows because I want people to understand what's going on. But nevertheless, a lot of times what people will do is they will try and skirt the system and try and justify sinful, selfish desires by saying, We don't need a certificate of marriage. We're just married because we just are.

Well, no, that's not the case. You're not married if you haven't made a formal declaration. And biblically speaking, it's before witnesses, before people, where you have then submitted to each other and to God and the people in order to make this marriage. In fact, I know a couple that's just a few doors down from me. I met them a couple weeks ago, and they're living together.

And I didn't get on them. I said, oh, living together. I said, you guys are getting married. They said, yeah, we hope to. We both get engaged soon.

And I said, well, just so you know, I do weddings. And uh I said, not a problem. But the reason I said that is because if they would have said like the next day, we want to get married right now I would do that, because then they would stop their sinning by being married. I'm not judging them, I'm not mocking them, but I'm just saying that that's what I would do.

Now, if it was a marriage, if it was a Christian and a non-Christian, I wouldn't do the marriage ceremony because they're not to be unequally yoked, but I would definitely do a ceremony. uh ceremony to unbelievers. And I have before. And so that's just what it is, but I tell them about the Lord and I witness at the same time. And so uh Anyway, we need to take this this marriage thing a lot more uh seriously.

And like I said before of the radio, I would love to be able to do a three-day class, three-evening seminar on marriage. First, the women, women first. Just because I don't know why I went at first, on their responsibility before their husbands. and in marriage. And a lot of them are shocked.

Shocked when I tell them what the Bible actually says. And a lot of women do not like what it says. And I've had a lot of women just resist God's holy word. And I believe it's because they're in sin, rebellion, they're stubborn. And they don't want to submit to what God's Word says.

And the same thing with a lot of guys. They're often shocked by what is required in their relationship with Christ.

So uh Yeah, my file opened up. And uh And so the exchanging of the vows, you know, I so-and-so take you, so-and-so, to be my wife, and I promise before God and these witnesses to be your loving, faithful husband in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and health, as long as we both shall live. And so they're exchanging vows. That's what they do. And then we have them repeat.

I ask them, Are you going to do that? Yes. And then I have them repeat. I give you this ring as a symbol of my vow. And they never get to repeat it.

I'm with you and with you I have and honor you. And I say, once that's occurred, Once you both have said those vows, you're married. If a lightning bolt comes down and zaps me out of existence, you're married. It's not the I pronounce you, but it's once you've made that commitment vow. And then the covenant sign is the ring.

And you put the ring on. A lot of times, people, what they want is to have marriage without the covenant signed, without the covenant. And they think they're really married when they're not. They're living in sin.

So I just suggest that if you are in that situation, go get married. If you're a man living with a woman and you say you're a Christian and you're living with her and all that stuff, don't call yourself a Christian.

Okay, don't do that because you're bearing false witness and you are bringing shame upon the name of Christ. If you are a true Christian, then what you do is you go get married ASAP. And if you're living with a girl, you get out of the house or she does whatever the easiest simplest situation is. The goal is to honor God.

Now look, here's a thought I'm going to leave you guys with. Here's a thought. This is one of the things I say. when I'm doing premarital counseling. And I ask him, have you fooled around before you've been married?

I mean, just ask 'em flat out. And almost every time they've said yes. I say, okay, this is how it's going to work. You are not going to fool around any more if you do just once. As far as I'm concerned, the wedding's popon postponed six months.

and we go to counseling and biblical uh counseling. Are you ready? You want me to continue or not? And their eyebrows go up, and I say, Do you promise before the Lord that you're going to be faithful to this promise beforehand that you won't fool around? And they say yes.

I said, Okay, I'm going to hold you to it. And then I say, Okay, now I got a question for you. And so would I do. This is a search question. I Uh office say to the woman first.

I say, So this man you want to marry Is the man who is willing to violate the law of God. And take From you, what does not belong to him outside of marriage? and willingly encourage you in sin. And this is the guy you want to marry? Is that correct?

What I get at that point are blank stares. Because they've never been addressed like that before. And then I turn to the guy, I say the same thing. This is the woman you want to marry. She's willing to participate in sinful behavior outside of marriage.

And that you want to join yourself to such a woman? And I ask Is this the kind of thing that leads to a good marriage? Why hit em hard? And I say It's a good thing you are repentant. before God.

You're not going to do this anymore. They get married. They get married, right? Then you're free for all. You go for it.

And they go, okay. I say, all right.

Okay. And as a I hit him hard. And then we talk and then I kind of fix it up a little bit. and talk about the forgiveness of Christ. and the goodness of Christ, and the blood of Christ.

which is why we don't want to sin and offend him any more. And then once you're married, you're going to You are in for good. That's how it works. All right, hey, look, there's the music in a few seconds. I've got to get going.

May the Lord bless you. And by his grace, we'll be back on the air tomorrow. I just hope that you enjoyed the show, and I hope I convicted a few people. The Holy Spirit convicted a few people about what they should and should not be doing. Marriage-wise, etc., etc.

May the Lord bless you by His grace. We'll be back on there tomorrow. We'll talk to you then. Have a great evening, everyone. Another program powered by the Truth Network.