THE CHRISTIAN HOME

TEXT: EPH.5:21-33; EPH 6:1-4

• THE HOME IS INITIATED BY GOD THROUGH THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE, THE TWO HUMAN FOUNDATION PILLARS OF THE HOME ARE THE MAN AND WOMEN; THE HUSBAND AND WIFE.
• THEIR RELATIONSHIP, AS GIVEN IN THE BIBLE, IS PRECIOUS ONE AND GOD WANTS IT TO BE SO
• THE CORECT UNDERSTANDING OF RIGHTS, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EACH OF THEM HELPS TO MAKE THE HOME WHAT GOD ORDAINED IT TO BE – A FORETASTE OF HEAVEN

1. THE HEADSHIP OF THE HUSBAND AT HOME – EPH 5:23; 1 COR. 11:3, GEN. 3:16,COL 3:18, TITUS 2:4,5; 1 PETER 3:1-6

• HEADSHIP OF THE HUSBAND OVER THE WIFE IS NOT BECAUSE OF THE MAN’S SUPERIORITY, TALENT, WEALTH OR EDUCATION. THIS IS GOD’S ORDAINED ORDER, JUST AS THE PARENT ARE OVER THE CHILDREN
• HIS HEADSHIP IS UNCONDITIONAL

2. THE WIFE’S LOVING SUBMISSION TO THE HUSBAND – EPH 5:22,24; 1 CORINTHIANS 14:34, COL 3:18; TITUS 2:4,5; 1 PETER 3:1-6

• GOD EXPECTS THE WIFE TO RECOGNISE AND JOYFULLY ACCEPT THE GOD-ORDAINED HEADSHIP OF THE HUSBAND, NOT BECAUSE THE HUSBAND IS GOOD AND MERITS HER OBIDIENCE, BUT BECAUSE SHE IS A CHRISTIAN WHO ACCEPTS GOD’S PLAN FOR THE HOME AS THE BEST.

3. THE EXTENT AND SCOPE OF THE WIFE’S SUBMISSION – EPH 5:22-24, 33; 1 PETER 3:1,2; COL 3:18

• SUBMIT…..AS UNTO THE LORD….IN EVERYTHING
• A REAL SURE, UNMISTAKABLE MARK OF A WIFE’S SPIRITUALITY IS HER MEEK, QUIET, HUMBLE, OBIDIENT AND WHOLE-HEARTED SUBMISSION TO THE HUSBAND IN EVERYTHING AS UNTO THE LORD.
• THE HUSBAND’S HEAD IS CHRIST – 1 COR.11:3. OBIDIENCE TO THE HUSBAND DEPENDS ON HIS SUBMISSION TO THE LORD
• IF THE HUSBAND IS SINFUL AND DEMANDS THAT HIS WIFE NEGLECT THE THINGS THAT SAVE THE SOUL, SHE CANNOT OBEY – ACTS 5:27-29; MATT 22: 37-38; GEN 21:9-14

4. QUALITIES OF A CHRISTIAN WIFE – EPH 5:22-24,33; 1 PETER 3:1-6

A CHRISTIAN WIFE IS:

1. SUBMISSIVE – 1 PETER 3:1, COL. 3:18, 1 TIM 2:11-14
2. OBIDIENT – 1 PETER 3:1, TITUS 2:4-5
3. REVERENT – EPH 5:33, 1 PETER 3:5
4. HUMBLE – 1 PETER 3:3-4, 1 TIM 2:9-12

• IT IS UNGODLY AND BECOMING FOR A BELIEVER TO LOOK LIKE JEZEBEL IN ANY WAY 2 KINGS 9:30, REV 2:20
• IF CHRISTIAN WIVES CARE FOR THEIR TRUE HEAD (EPH 5:23) MORE THAN THEY CARE FOR THEIR NATURAL HEAD, MEN WILL BE HAPPIER AND HOLIER, MORE LOVING AND CARING.
• THERE IS A TYPE OF BEAUTY YOU CANNOT MAKE UP – A TYPE FAR BEYOND THE SKILL OF YOUR SEAMSTREES – THE TYPE OF BEAUTY MONEY CANNOT BUY TO REASONABLE, THOUGHTFUL MEN, THE BEAUTY OBTAINED BY A WOMAN WHEN BATHED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AT PRAYER TIME IS OF MORE VALUE THAN THE ARTIFICIALLY PURCHASED BEAUTY. EXODUS 34:29-30, ACTS 5:15

5. MEEK AND QUIET – 1 PETER 3:4, TITUS 2:5, ESTHER 1:10-12
6. PURE AND HOLY – TITUS 2:4,5; 1 PETER 3:5, 1 TIM 2:15
7. LOVING – TITUS 2:4,5; SONG OF SONG 8:6,7
8. A MOTHER – PSALM 128:3; TITUS 2:4; 1 SAMUEL 2:19; 1 TIMOTHY 2:15, DEUT 6:6-9, PROVERBS 6:20-25
9. DILIGENT AND DEPENDABLE – PSALM 144:11,12; PROVERBS 12:4,11:16, PROVERBS 31:10-31, TITUS 2:5, 1 SAMUEL 25:14-37, ACTS 16:14,15
10. HOSPITABLE – PROVERBS 31:20, 2 KINGS 4:8-10, ACTS 9:36, 16:14,15, HEBREWS 13:12 SHE MAKES THE HOME A PLACE WHERE THE WEARY CAN FIND REST
11. PRAYERFUL – MATHEW 15:22-28, ACTS 1:14, 1 SAMUEL 1:9-11,15; ESTHER 4:7-16, 2 KINGS 4:18-37.

5. RIGHTS , ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE HEAD:

1. THE HUSBAND IS THE HEAD – EPHESIANS 5:23, 1 CORINTHIANS 11:3, 1 TIMOTHY 3:4,5

• HE PLANS, NOT ONLY FOR IS LIFE BUT THE PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL AND TEMPORAL NEEDS AND WELFARE OF THE WHOLE FAMILY. THIS IS A GOD-GIVEN RIGHT AS WELL AS RESPONSIBILITY
• HE PLANS FOR , TEACHES, GUIDES, AND DIRECTS, LEADS, CONTROLS, PRAYS AND PROVIDES FOR THE WIFE AND THE FAMILY
• CHRIST, AS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, IS NOT A FIGURE-HEAD. HE IS FULLY INVOLED IN THE LIFE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE CHURCH
• THE HUSBAND IS THE HEAD OF THE WIFE, EVEN AS CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
• NOTE: GOD-GIVEN ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – EPHESIANS 5:25-33

1. SO LOVE HIS WIFE AS HIS OWN BODY (EPHESIANS 5:28, 29, 31, 33). EVERY MAN NATURALLY FEEDS, PROTECTS, CLEANS OR WASHES, AND CARE FOR HIS BODY. HE RESTS WHEN SICK OR TIRED, GRANTING HIS BODY COMPLETE REST IN UNAVOIDABLE SICKNESS. HE SYMPATHIZES WITH HIMSELF WHEN SORROWFUL, EXCUSES HIS PHYSCIAL HANDICAPS OR PERSONAL WEAKNESSES. HE OBTAINS “LEAVE” FOR THE BODY WHEN NECESSARY. SO MAN OUGHT TO LOVE HIS WIFE IN “SICKNESS” AND PAIN IN SORROW OR WEAKNESS

• A TRULY BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN CAN NEVER BEAT OR ABUSE HIS WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES – UNLESS HE IS BACKSLIDEN

2. LOVER YOUR WIFE EVEN AS CHRIST LOVES! CHRIST LOVES THE UNDESERVING AND THE UNLOVABLE. ROMANS 5:6-10; MATHEW 26:66-75, MATHEW 28:9,10

• HE LOVES WILLFULLY – JOHN 10:15-18
• HE LOVES AT ALL TIMES – JOHN 13:1
• HE LOVES ABSOLUTELY – JOHN 13:15
• HE LOVES SACRIFICIALLY – EPH 5:25, JOHN 15:13, PHILIPIANS 2:5-8
• HE LOVES PURPOSEFULLY – EPHESIANS 5:25
• GOD EXPECTS THE HUSBAND TO LOVE THE WIFE, NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT HE CAN GET FROM THE WIFE, BUT BECAUSE IT IS GOD’S ORDAINED ORDER FOR HIM TO LOVE SACRIFICIALLY, YOU DO NOT LOVE YOUR WIFE ENOUGH UNTIL YOUR LOVE IS A SACRIFICE LIKE CHRIST’S!

6. CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHRISTIAN HOME

1. RADIATES THE GLORY OF GOD:

• GOD-FEARING MEMBERS – PARENTS, CHILDREN, SERVANTS BOUND TOGETHER IN CHRIST’S LOVE
• SHOW PATTERN OF GOOD WORKS IN ALL THINGS 1 TITUS 2:7A
• WELCOMES STRANGERS AND IS HOSPITABLE
• PRAY TOGETHER
• HAPPY CHILDREN, WHO KNOW THE LORD MATHEW 19:13-14, ARE DISCIPLENED PROV 22:6. HONOUR AND OBEY PARENTS EXODUS 20:12, EPH 6:1-2, LUKE 2:51 AND PRAY FOR THEM

2. FULL OF THE POWER OF GOD:

• BUILT ON THE ROCK – JESUS CHRIST 1 COR 10:4
• LIVES PATTERNED ACCORDING TO THE WORD – COL 3:18-19, EPH 5:22,25
• DIVINELY LET AND GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT – ACTS 10:1, 3,22
• DEFENDED AND PROTECTED BY GOD – ISAIAH 61:1-3
• ANOINTED WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS BECAUSE THEY LOVE RIGHTEOUSNESS – HEB 1:9
• WITHSTANDS THE STORMS OF THIS LIFE AND ABIDES TO ETERNITY – 2 COR. 4:16-18

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE?

• MARRIAGE WAS THE FIRST INSTITUTION ESTABLISHED BY GOD IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS, CHAPTER 2
• IT IS A HOLY COVENANT THAT SYMBOLIZES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS BRIDE, OR THE BODY OF CHRIST.
• MOST BIBLE-BASED CHRISTIAN FAITHS TEACH THAT DIVORCE IS TO BE SEEN ONLY AS A LAST RESORT AFTER EVERY EFFORT TOWARD RECONCILIATION HAS FAILED
• JUST AS THE BIBLE TEACHES US TO ENTER INTO MARRIAGE CAREFULLY AND REVERENTLY, DIVORCE IS TO BE CALLED AT ALL COST
• HONORING AND UPHOLDING THE MARRIAGE VOWS BRINGS HONOR AND GLORY TO GOD

CURRENT PERSPECTIVES

• SADLY, DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE ARE WIDESPREAD REALITIES IN THE BODY OF CHRIST TODAY
• MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE
• GENERALLY SPEAKING, CHRISTIANS TEND TO FALL INTO ONE OF FOUR POSITIONS ON THIS CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE
• POSITION 1 : NO DIVORCE – REMARRIAGE
• MARRIAGE IS A COVENANT AGREEMENT, MEANT FOR LIFE, THEREFORE IT MUST NOT BE BROKEN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE; MARRIAGE FURTHER VIOLATES THE COVENANT AND THEREFORE IS NOT PERMISSIBLE
• POSITION 2 : DIVORCE – BUT NOT REMARRIAGE
• DIVORCE, THOUGH NOT GOD’S DESIRE, IS SOMETIMESS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE WHEN ALL ELSE HAS FAILED. THE DIVORCED PERSON MUST REMAIN UNMARRIED FOR LIFE THEREAFTER.
• POSITION 3 : DIVORCE – BUT REMARRIAGE ONLY IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS
• DIVORCE, THOUGH NOT GOD’S DESIRE IS SOMETIMES UNAVOIDABLE. IF THE GROUNDS FOR THE DIVORCE ARE BIBLICAL, THE DIVORCED PERSON CAN REMARRY, BUT ONLY TO A BELIEVER.
• POSITION 4: DIVORCE – REMARRIAGE
• DIVORCE, THOUGH NOT GOD’S DESIRE IS ALSO NOT THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN. REGARDLESS OF THE CIRMCUMSTANCES, ALL DIVORCED PERSONS WHO HAVE REPENTED, SHOULD BE FORGIVEN AND ALLOWED TO REMARRY

• THE FOLLOWING STUDY ATTEMPTS TO ANSWER FROM A BIBLICAL PERSECTIVE SOME OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE AMONG CHRISTIANS, I WOULD LIKE TO CREDIT PASTOR BEN REID OF TRUE OAK FELLOWSHIP AND PASTOR DANNY HODGES OF CALVARY CHAPEL ST. PETERSBURG, WHOSE TEACHINGS INSPIRED AND INFLUENCED THESE INTERPRETATIONS OF SCRIPTURE PERTAINING TO DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE.
• Q1 – I AM A CHRISTIAN BUT MY SPOUSE IS NOT. SHOULD I DIVORCE MY UNBELIEVING SPOUSE AND TRY TO FIND A BELIEVER TO MARRY?
• NO. IF YOUR UNBELIEVING SPOUSE WANTS TO BE MARRIED TO YOU STAY FAITHFUL TO YOUR MARRIAGE.
• YOUR UNSAVED SPOUSE NEEDS YOUR CONTINUED CHRISTIAN WITNESS AND MAY LIKELY BE WON TO CHRIST BY YOUR GODLY EXAMPLE
• 1 CORINTHIANS 7:12-13 TO THE REST I SAY THIS (I, NOT THE LORD): IF ANY BROTHER HAS WIFE WHO IS NOT A BELIEVER AND SHE IS WILLING TO LIVE WITH HIM, HE MUST NOT DIVORCE HER. AND IF A WOMAN HAS A HUSBAND WHO IS NOT A BELIEVER AND HE IS WILLING TO LIVE WITH HER, SHE MUST NOT DIVORCE HIM
• 1 PETER 3:1-2 WIVES, IN THE SAME WAY BE SUBMISSIVE TO YOUR HUSBANDS SO THAT, IF ANY OF THEM DO NOT BELIEVE THE WORD, THEY MAY BE WON OVER WITHOUT WORDS BY THE BEHAVIOR OF THEIR WIVES, WHEN THEY SEE THE PURITY AND REVERSE OF YOUR LIVES.
• Q2 – I AM A CHRISTIAN, SEEK TO RESTORE THE MARRIAGE. IF RECONCILIATION IS NOT POSSIBLE, YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO REMAIN IN THIS MARRIAGE.
• 1 CORINTHIANS 7:15:16 BUT IF THE UNBELIEVER LEAVES, LET HIM DO SO. A BELIEVING MAN OR WOMAN IS NOT BOUND IN SUCH CIRMSTANCES; GOD HAS CALLED US TO LIVE IN PEACE. HOW DO YOU KNOW, WIFE, WHETHER YOU WILL SAVE YOUR HUSBAND? OR, HOW DO YOU KNOW, HUSBAND, WHETHER YOU WILL SAVE YOUR WIFE.
• Q3 – WHAT ARE BIBLICAL REASONS OR GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE?
• THE BIBLICAL SUGGESTS THAT “MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS” IS THE ONLY SCRIPTURAL REASON THAT WARRANTS GOD’S PERMISSION FOR DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE.
• MANY DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS EXIST AMONG CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS AS TO THE EXACT DEFINITION OF “MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS”
• THE GREEK WORD FOR MARITANL UNFAITHFULNESS FOUND IN MATHEW 5:32 AND MATHEW 19:9 TRANSLATES TO MEAN ANY FORM OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY INCLUDING ADULTERY, PROSTITUTION, FORNICATION,PORNOGRAPHY, AND INCEST.
• SINCE THE SEXUAL UNION IS A CRUCIAL PART OF THE MARRIAGE COVENANT, BREAKING THAT BOND SEEMS TO BE A PERMISSIBLE, BIBLICAL GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE
• MATHEW 5:32 BUT I TELL YOU THAT ANYONE WHO DIVORCES HIS WIFE, EXCEPT FOR MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS, CAUSES HER TO BECOME AN ADULTERESS, AND ANYONE WHO MARRIES THE DIVORCED WOMAN COMMITS ADULTERY
• MATHEW 19:9 I TELL YOU THAT ANYONE WHO DIVORCES HIS WIFE, EXCEPT FOR MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS, AND MARRIES ANOTHER WOMAN COMMITS ADULTERY
• Q4 – I DIVORCED MY SPOUSE FOR REASONS THAT HAVE NO BIBLICAL BASIS. NEITHER ONE OF US HAVE REMARRIED. WHAT SHOULD I DO TO DEMONSTRATE REPENTANCE AND OBIDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD?
• IF AT ALL POSSIBLE SEEK RECONCILIATION AND BE REUNITED IN MARRIAGE TO YOUR FORMER SPOUSE
• 1 CORINTHIANS 7:10-11 TO THE MARRIED I GIVE THIS COMMAND (NOT I, BUT THE LORD) A WIFE MUST NOT SEPARATE FROM HER HUSBAND. BUT IF SHE DOES, SHE MUST REMAIN UNMARRIED OR ELSE BE RECONCILLED TO HER HUSBAND. AND A HUSBAND MUST NOT DIVORCE HIS WIFE.
• Q5 – I DIVORCED MY SPOUSE FOR REASONS THAT HAVE NO BIBLICAL BASIS. RECONCILIATION IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE BECAUSE ONE OF US HAS REMARRIED. WHAT SHOULD I DO TO DEMONSTRATE REPENTANCE AND OBIDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD?
• THOUGH DIVORCE IS A SERIOUS MATTER IN GOD’S OPINION MALACHI 2:16, IT IS NOT THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN, IF YOU CONFESS YOUR SINS TO GOD AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS, YOU ARE FORGIVEN (1 JOHN 1:9)
• AND CAN MOVE ON WITH YOUR LIFE. IF YOU CAN CONFESS YOUR SIN TO YOUR FORMER SPOUSE AND ASK FORGIVENESS WITHOUT CAUSING FURTHER HURT, YOU SHOULD SEEK TO DO SO.
• FROM THIS POINT FORWARD YOU SHOULD COMMIT TO HONOR GOD’S WORD PERTAINING TO MARRIAGE.
• THEN IF YOUR CONSCIENCE PERMITS YOU TO REMARRY, YOU SHOULD DO SO CAREFULLY AND REVERENTLY WHEN THE TIME COMES.
• ONLY MARRY A FELLOW BELIEVER. IF YOUR CONSCIENCE TELLS YOU TO REMAIN SINGLE, THEN REMAIN SINGLE
• Q6 – I DID NOT WANT A DIVORCE, BUT MY EX-SPOUSE UNWILLINGLY FORCED IT ON ME. RECONCILIATION IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES. DOES THIS MEAN I CANNOT MARRY AGAIN IN THE FUTURE?
• IN MOST CASES, BOTH PARTIES ARE TO BLAME IN A DIVORCE. HOWEVER, IN THIS SITUATION, YOU ARE BIBLICALLY CONSIDERED THE “INNOCENT” SPOUSE.
• YOU ARE FREE TO REMARRY, BUT YOU SHOULD DO SO CAREFULLY AND REVERENTLY WHEN THE TIME COMES, AND ONLY MARRY A FELLOW BELIEVER.
• THE PRINCIPLES TAUGHT IN 1 CORINTHIANS 7:15, MATHEW 5:31 -32 AND MATHEW 19:9, WOULD APPLY IN THIS CASE.
• Q7 – I DIVORCED MY SPOUSE FOR UNBIBLICAL REASONS AND/OR REMARRIED BEFORE I BECAME A CHRISTIAN. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?
• WHEN YOU BECOME A CHRISTIAN, YOUR PAST SINS ARE WASHED AWAY AND YOU RECEIVE A BRAND NEW FRESH START.
• REGARDLESS OF YOUR MARITAL HISTORY BEFORE YOU WERE SAVED, RECEIVE GOD’S FORGIVENESS AND CLEANSING.
• FROM THIS POINT FORWARD YOU SHOULD COMMIT TO HONOR GOD’S WORD PERTAINING TO MARRIAGE.
• 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17-18 THEREFORE IF ANYONE IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATION,
• THE OLD HAS GONE, THE NEW HAS COME! ALL THIS IS FROM GOD, WHO RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF THROUGH CHRIST AND GAVE US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
• Q8 – MY SPOUSE COMMITTED ADULTERY (OR ANOTHER FORM OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY). ACCORDING TO MATHEW 5:32 I HAVE GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE. SHOULD I GET A DIVORCE BECAUSE I CAN?
• ONE WAY TO CONSIDER THIS QUESTION MIGHT BE TO THINK OF ALL THE WAYS WE, AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, COMMIT SPIRITUAL ADULTERY AGAINST GOD, THROUGH SIN, NEGLECT, IDOLATRY, AND APARTHY.
• BUT GOD DOES NOT FORSAKE US.
• HIS HEART IS ALWAYS TO FORGIVE AND RECONCILE US BACK TO HIM WHEN WE TURN BACK AND REPENT OF OUR SIN.
• WE CAN EXTEND THIS SAME MEASURE OF GRACE TOWARD A SPOUSE WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN UNFAITHFUL, YET HAVE COME TO A PLACE OF REPENTANCE.
• MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS IS EXTREMELY DEVASTATING AND PAINFUL.
• TRUST REQUIRES TIME TO REBUILD.
• GIVE GOD PLENTY OF TIME TO WORK IN A BROKEN MARRIAGE, AND TO WORK IN EACH SPOUSE’S HEART, BEFORE FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH DIVORCE.
• FORGIVESS, RECONCILIATION AND RESTORATION OF THE MARRIAGE HONORS GOD AND TESTIFIES OF HIS AMAZING GRACE.
• COLOSSIANS 3:12-14 SINCE GOD CHOSE YOU TO BE THE HOLY PEOPLE WHOM HE LOVES; YOU MUST CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH TENDERHEARTED MERCY, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, AND PATIENCE.
• YOU MUST MAKE ALLOWANCE FOR EACH OTHER’S FAULTS AND FORGIVE THE PERSON WHO OFFENDS YOU. REMEMBER, THE LORD FORGAVE YOU, SO YOU MUST FORGIVE OTHERS.
• AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF CLOTHING YOU MUST WEAR IS LOVE. LOVE IS WHAT BINDS US ALL TOGETHER IN PERFECT HARMONY
• NOTE: THESE ANSWERS ARE SIMPLY MEANT AS A GUIDE FOR REFLECTION AND STUDY.
• THEY ARE NOT OFFERED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO GODLY, BIBLICAL COUNSELLING
• IF YOU HAVE SERIOUS QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS AND ARE FACING DIVORCE OR CONSIDERING MARRIAGE, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU SEEK COUNSEL FROM YOUR PASTOR OR A CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR.
• IN ADDITION, I AM CERTAIN THAT MANY WILL DISAGREE WITH THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS STUDY, AND THEREFORE, READERS SHOULD EXAMINE THE BIBLE FOR THEMSELVES, SEEK THE HOLY SPIRI’S GUIDANCE, AND FOLLOW THEIR OWN CONSCIENCE IN THE MATTER.