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.
Witnesses
53-0405E §19
...Christians and not living like it. That's the thing, see. They're not a correct witness. They can't witness until they have an experience. And when they have an experience, then they become a witness automatically, because they're born again. "And all of the things of the world, old things, have passed away, and all things have become new." Then you become a witness unto Jesus.
Time-tested memorials of God
57-0818 §36
...ss the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ every day. Every time you sign a letter (Amen), every time you write the date, you witness that God sent His Son nineteen hundred and fifty-seven years ago. Brother, you couldn't do it, it could never be. "Heavens and earth will pass away, but my Word shall never pass."
The Mark of Christ
55-0312 §23
Saint John 5:24: Jesus Christ's Word inspired. "When you believe,' and you cannot believe unless God calls you first. And then it's revealed to you by the Holy Spirit in your heart saying, "Change." Then you're a new creature in Christ Jesus. Old things has passed away, and all things have become new. There you are, not tossed about with everything. If you're tossed from this way and that way, a Methodist one week, and a Baptist the next week, and a Presbyterian the next week, and you're running from mission to mis...
The faith that was once delivered to the saints
53-1129A §57
If all that you have to do is believe that God is, and you will kneel down and worship Him, Cain was justified. The Bible said that even the Devil believes that to be the truth. And the Devil publicly confessed Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. That didn't save them. Brother, we'd better get straightened out. Going to be a mistake one of these days. Somebody's right and somebody's wrong. You'd better take what the Bible said. You've got to be born again, not mythical, think you're born again, but when the Spirit o...
Obey the voice of the Angel
50-0713 §7
I think that no service is complete without reading the Scripture. And then if this is tonight, I want to read just a--a portion of God's Word. My word will fail, it will pass away as all mortal's words do, but God's Word will never pass away. It--It's true. And I want you to turn with me to Exodus in the 23rd--23rd chapter, and begin with the 20th verse, to read some of God's Word. I'm so glad to see you turning in your Bible, for that is God's Word. And then if we read out of the Word, God will bless His Word. It...