[surrendersacrifice]

Our relationship with others must be based on love, because God who is love is the source of our life. True love is always unconditional. Therefore, when we love others, we do it irrespective of how they treat us and without expecting anything in return. God loved us first (1 John 4:11) by sacrificing His life for our sins although we rejected Him, were unfaithful to Him and killed Him. He told Hosea (Hosea 3:1), to return to his wife although she was an adulteress. God further told him to love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they were unfaithful to Him. As true followers of Christ we must be in His Spirit by being faithful to our covenant with our spouse, even when there is unfaithfulness and hurt; and bring healing to our spouse by our prayers, sacrifices and support. We must love our spouse just as Christ loves us (Eph 5:25).

Some people quote Matthew’s gospel (5:31-32) to justify divorce in case of unfaithfulness. The word in the Greek text for allowing divorce is porneia (which means incest or fornication). It referred to unlawful marriages between close relatives during Jesus’ time, which were unlawful (Leviticus 18:6-18), because they were incestuous (porneia). Note that the Greek word for adultery in verse 32 is moiceia (not porneia). The exception therefore is for unlawful marriages.

[nsr]

God sacrificed his life? When?

The word porneia doesn't exclusively refer to incest, so I am not sure why you say this passage is only talking about incestuous relationships.

This post has been edited by nsr: 15 November 2009 - 12:30 PM