If a Minister Should Marry a Virgin, Then What Was the Blood of Jesus Shed For? What Happened to "old Things Are Passed Away"?
1) Direct answer
The Blood of Jesus was shed to cleanse sin and make a new creature on the inside; it did not rewrite history or cancel God’s order for marriage and ministerial qualifications. So the counsel that a minister take a virgin does not deny the power of the Blood; it upholds the scriptural pattern and the testimony of the office.
2) Scriptural explanation
- The Bible says we are “new creatures” in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). That is the inner man made new. Yet the apostles still laid down outward order for life and for the ministry (1 Timothy 3:2,7; Titus 1:6-7).
- God set a higher pattern for those who handle holy things. Under the law the priest was to “take a wife in her virginity” (Leviticus 21:13-14). The ministry in the New Testament must be “blameless” and “of good report” (1 Timothy 3:2,7). The type is carried forward: the overseer’s home life must speak clean, unquestionable testimony.
- The minister types Christ, and the church is presented “as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25-27). The marriage of the minister is meant to reflect that gospel picture.
- Forgiveness does not erase earthly facts. David was forgiven, yet consequences remained (2 Samuel 12:13-14). The woman taken in adultery was forgiven—“go, and sin no more”—yet her past was still a past (John 8:11). The woman at the well met grace, but the five husbands she had were still history (John 4:17-18).
- God’s order in marriage stands (Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:9; 1 Corinthians 7). Being saved doesn’t undo previous covenants, nor does it change the body; it changes the heart.
3) Simple clarifying logic
- Now notice: if “old things passed away” meant every earthly condition is erased, then a thief could get saved and the stolen goods would magically return; a scar would vanish the moment you believe. But you see, salvation cleanses the soul and reconciles you to God, while natural consequences and divine order still remain to guide our walk.
- The Blood does not make a body a virgin again; it makes a heart pure and a conscience clean. God forgets the sin, but the world can still remember the history. That is why the minister, who must be “blameless” and “of good report,” is held to a higher visible standard.
- This is not condemnation of any sister who has a past. In Christ she is clean and beloved. But the office has a testimony to guard. Also, if a man is already married when God calls him, he is to “abide in the calling wherein he was called” and live the Word where he stands (1 Corinthians 7:20,24). The counsel about a minister taking a virgin speaks to the choice before marriage and the example of the office.
4) Reinforcing statement
The Blood of Jesus brings full forgiveness and a new life; and that very grace leads us to honor God’s order. Forgiveness cleans the heart; order guards the testimony. That’s the balance of the Word.
To get the full context and background as well as proper understanding, you MUST read the following answers also:
https://truebibleteachingsai.org/answers/in-the-new-testament-is-there-a-requirement-that-a-minister-of-the-5-f-11636dc
https://truebibleteachingsai.org/answers/in-the-new-testament-is-there-a-requirement-that-a-minister-of-the-5-f-a71db34
https://truebibleteachingsai.org/answers/if-a-minister-should-marry-a-virgin-then-what-was-the-blood-of-jesus-s-1d59d71
https://truebibleteachingsai.org/answers/if-a-minister-of-the-5-fold-ministry-can-marry-a-widow-the-widow-is-no-e5ccd10
https://truebibleteachingsai.org/answers/is-it-true-that-the-widow-of-a-minister-can-only-remarry-a-minister-9af3c0d
https://truebibleteachingsai.org/answers/in-one-of-your-replies-you-said-a-minister-should-marry-a-virgin-in-an-bdc33ea
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 9:E-44
...is a special designation of Himself. He is the CREATOR of that church. The heavenly Bridegroom created his own bride. As the Spirit of God, He came down and created in the virgin Mary the cells from which His body was born. I want to repeat that. He created the very cells in the womb of Mary for that body. It was not enough for the Holy Spirit to simply give life to a human ovum supplied by Mary. That would have been sinful mankind producing a body. That would not have produced the "Last Adam". Of Him it was said...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 8:E-96
Revelation 21:1-4. "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their...
Perseverant
62-0719E §23
...ation 21, "Heavens and earth will pass away, but my word shall not pass away." He said in Revelation 21, he saw a new heavens and new earth, for the first heavens and earth was passed away. Jesus said both heavens and earth will pass away, but his Word shall not.
The uncertain sound
60-1218 §101
...said, "All heavens and earth will pass away." You say, "Heavens?" Yeah. Revelation 21, John said, "I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth was passed away; and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven as a bride [that's what it was], adorned for her husband." Oh, that's where I want to be! God, help me to be there that day. All right. God's promises is certain. We realize that.
Future home of the heavenly Bridegroom and the earthly Bride
64-0802 §106
The sabbath speaks of the old law which was to pass away, the keeping of the sabbath, which passed away, or I've said changed to another. It didn't pass away; it just changed from the old law of keeping a certain day of the week. Isaiah the 19th chapter said (I believe 28:19)--- said, "Precept must be upon precept; here a little and there a little; hold fast to that what's good; for stammering lips and other tongues will I speak to this people, and here is the rest." See, you enter into life, not keeping a day or s...