1GODLY CHARACTER ENSURES A GOOD, TIGHT KNOT WHEN THE MARRIAGE BEGINS

MATTHEW 19:4-6[4] "Haven't you read the Scriptures?" Jesus replied. "They record that from the beginning 'God made them male and female.' [5] And he said, 'This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.' [6] Since they are no longer two but one, let no one separate them, for God has joined them together."

EPHESIANS 5:21-6:4[21] Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. [22] Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

EPHESIANS 5:21-6:4[24] Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. [25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her [26] to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

EPHESIANS 5:21-6:4[27] and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. [28] In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. [29] After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--

EPHESIANS 5:21-6:4[30] for we are members of his body. [31] "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." [32] This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. [33] However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

EPHESIANS 5:21-6:4[1] Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. [2] "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise--

EPHESIANS 5:21-6:4[3] "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.[4] Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

2GODLY CHARACTER ENSURES A GOOD, TIGHT KNOT AS THE MARRIAGE CONTINUES MAINTENANCE

1 CORINTHIANS 7:2-5[2] But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. [3] The husband should not deprive his wife of sexual intimacy, which is her right as a married woman, nor should the wife deprive her husband.

1 CORINTHIANS 7:2-5[4] The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband also gives authority over his body to his wife.

1 CORINTHIANS 7:2-5[5] So do not deprive each other of sexual relations. The only exception to this rule would be the agreement of both husband and wife to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time, so they can give themselves more completely to prayer. Afterward they should come together again so that Satan won't be able to tempt them because of their lack of self-control.

EPHESIANS 4:26-27[26] "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,[27] and do not give the devil a foothold.

EPHESIANS 4:29-32[29] Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. [30] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

EPHESIANS 4:29-32[31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. [32] Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

3GODLY CHARACTER ENSURES THAT WE MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS AND TAKE DIFFICULT STEPS WHEN MARRIAGE IS KNOTTY

EPHESIANS 4:15[15] Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.