Ephesians 5:25-28 (New International Version)

 25"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing^[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself."

Great verse isn't it. Many preachers and counselors focus on this verse when giving messages for successful marriage, and surely it works well for that! I want to focus on two words, but certainly keep them in the context they are intended for. The two words are "without stain".

Have you ever heard anyone say that God hates divorce? Be sure, He does. I know He does because his Word is clear on the subject. "15 Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. ^[a] So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. 16 "I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel, "and I hate a man's covering himself ^[b] with violence as well as with his garment," says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith." Malachi 2:15-16.  You see, God hates divorce indeed! And be sure, God hates all sin. The good news, God has provided a way out of sin, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Christ loves the church so much that he gave himself to wash away our sins, and to present us to God (and here are those two words) without stain!!! Not only without stain, but also without blemish or wrinkle.

So if this is the case, then why do some Christians look at people who have been through divorce, as though they were stained? I actually had a pastor of a church I was a member of, tell me that I have the stain of divorce. I respectfully explained to him that Jesus removed my divorce stain, and every other stain that sin had left me with. When I put my faith and trust in Jesus as my Savior, He took away EVERY SIN!!! So why I ask, do people put this big X on my forehead because of my divorce? I didn't want the divorce but it happened. I do not deny that I could have been a much better spouse. I regret every mistake I made in my marriage, and there were many.

So the message here is very simple but extremely important indeed! Is Jesus Christ your Savior? If so, no stain can remain, he wiped away all of your sins. He can and will present you without stain, wrinkle or blemish to God. You have the promise of eternal life. Your Father is now God, and He owns everything, including your precious soul. He loves you and wants to have fellowship with you. He knows what is best for you and that is exactly what He wants for you. He does in fact cherish you. Does any of this seem like God is looking at you as though you are second class, still with stain or blemish or perhaps a bit wrinkled? No indeed! So please, don't let anyone treat you as though you are still in your sin or with stain. Jesus died for your sins, He removed your stain, therefore.........

NO STAIN CAN REMAIN, you are a child of the living God!!!