VIII- The Doctrine of Family
1. Q. What is a family?
ANSWER: A family is the basic building block of society. It begins when a man and woman become husband and wife, and it normally grows as children are born to them (Ps. 127; 128). When God’s regulations for the honor and preservation of the family are ignored, society unravels. Divorce, premarital and extramarital sex, unwed mothers, abusive husbands, negligent wives, and rebellious children combine to signal the fall of civilization.
2. Q. Why did God institute marriage?
ANSWER: God ordained marriage as a lifelong and exclusive union of a man and woman to enrich on another (Gen. 2:18-24), fulfill mutual longings for intimacy (1 Cor. 7:1-5; Heb. 13:4), and to provide a Godly home as the proper setting for the procreated and nurturing of children (Ps. 127 128). When marriage loses its God given honor, husbands, wives, and children all experience the deep wounds of neglect and rejection. A relationship designed to help, comfort and encouragement becomes a primary source of pain, dissatisfaction, and insecurities.
3. Q. What are the responsibilities of a husband to his wife?
ANSWER: To love her sacrificially as Christ loved the church (Eph. 5:25), to commit himself to a lifetime relationship (Gen. 2:24; Mt 19:4-6), and to care for her (Eph. 5:28-30). It is not easy to be the kind of husband God intended and nowhere is an man’s character tested more intensely. Yet nowhere is there a greater need for the grace and inner strength of Christ.
4. Q. What are the responsibilities of a wife to her husband?
ANSWER: To submit to him as to the Lord (Eph. 5:22-24), to love him (Ti. 2:4,5), to be considerate of his desires of intimacy (1 Cor. 7:3-5), to be sexually faithful (Ti. 2:5), and to respect him as the head of the home (Eph. 5:33). It is not easy to be the kind of wife God intended. Nowhere is a woman’s character tested more intensely. Yet nowhere is there greater need for the grace and inner strength of Christ.
5. Q. What are the responsibilities of parents to their children?
ANSWER: Parents are to instruct their children in Bible truth by giving a correct example through their actions (Dt. 6:4-9) and impart to them a fear of evil and a desire of godliness (Prov. 1:8-10; 3:1-8; 4:1-9; 22:6). They are to do this In a kind, gentle way, and back up their teaching by their own conduct so that their children will be inclined to follow them instead of being provoked to anger (Eph. 6:4).
6. Q. What is the responsibility of children to their parents?
ANSWER: Paul commanded children to obey and honor their parents (Eph. 6:1-3). He also taught that older children have financial responsibility to assist their parents if they become unable to provide for themselves (1 Tim. 5:4).
ANSWER: A family is the basic building block of society. It begins when a man and woman become husband and wife, and it normally grows as children are born to them (Ps. 127; 128). When God’s regulations for the honor and preservation of the family are ignored, society unravels. Divorce, premarital and extramarital sex, unwed mothers, abusive husbands, negligent wives, and rebellious children combine to signal the fall of civilization.
2. Q. Why did God institute marriage?
ANSWER: God ordained marriage as a lifelong and exclusive union of a man and woman to enrich on another (Gen. 2:18-24), fulfill mutual longings for intimacy (1 Cor. 7:1-5; Heb. 13:4), and to provide a Godly home as the proper setting for the procreated and nurturing of children (Ps. 127 128). When marriage loses its God given honor, husbands, wives, and children all experience the deep wounds of neglect and rejection. A relationship designed to help, comfort and encouragement becomes a primary source of pain, dissatisfaction, and insecurities.
3. Q. What are the responsibilities of a husband to his wife?
ANSWER: To love her sacrificially as Christ loved the church (Eph. 5:25), to commit himself to a lifetime relationship (Gen. 2:24; Mt 19:4-6), and to care for her (Eph. 5:28-30). It is not easy to be the kind of husband God intended and nowhere is an man’s character tested more intensely. Yet nowhere is there a greater need for the grace and inner strength of Christ.
4. Q. What are the responsibilities of a wife to her husband?
ANSWER: To submit to him as to the Lord (Eph. 5:22-24), to love him (Ti. 2:4,5), to be considerate of his desires of intimacy (1 Cor. 7:3-5), to be sexually faithful (Ti. 2:5), and to respect him as the head of the home (Eph. 5:33). It is not easy to be the kind of wife God intended. Nowhere is a woman’s character tested more intensely. Yet nowhere is there greater need for the grace and inner strength of Christ.
5. Q. What are the responsibilities of parents to their children?
ANSWER: Parents are to instruct their children in Bible truth by giving a correct example through their actions (Dt. 6:4-9) and impart to them a fear of evil and a desire of godliness (Prov. 1:8-10; 3:1-8; 4:1-9; 22:6). They are to do this In a kind, gentle way, and back up their teaching by their own conduct so that their children will be inclined to follow them instead of being provoked to anger (Eph. 6:4).
6. Q. What is the responsibility of children to their parents?
ANSWER: Paul commanded children to obey and honor their parents (Eph. 6:1-3). He also taught that older children have financial responsibility to assist their parents if they become unable to provide for themselves (1 Tim. 5:4).