God's Purpose for Marriage Part 4

IV. God created marriage to reflect His relationship with His people – Gen. 2:21-25.

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.  And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. 

Woman was created from a part of the man, his rib, thus establishing a special connection between them, verse 21. (In a sense, it cost man something to receive his bride) In a similar manner, it cost Christ the price of His life for His bride.

1Pet. 1:18-19, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  

God gives the woman to the man as a special gift, verse 22. Likewise we’ve been given to Christ as His for eternity.

John 10:29. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

Man recognizes that this is a unique and special relationship, verse. 23. The body of Christ, the true church is the only human institution that enjoys a unique and gracious relationship with Jesus Christ.

Ephesians. 2:19-22. "For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. 

God instituted marriage as the primary human relationship, verse 24. Men should expect to leave their parents home and establish a covenant home just as Christ left His Father to get His bride. God has designed the marital relationship to bring a level of fulfillment and satisfaction that no other human relationship can, verse. 25. This satisfaction is like our salvation that each of us enjoys in our  relationship with Christ.  It is as though we become betrothed to Jesus, when we accept Him as our Savior.

Hosea. 2:19-20. I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In loving-kindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the LORD.

Are you pursuing a marriage that reflects Christ’s relationship with the church or are you locked in a power struggle, like a human business partnership?  Can we trust God to bless us to live joyfully ever after by pursuing the biblical purposes of marriage? I believe we can!

Following God's purposes for marriage will not guarantee a trouble free marriage relationship, but it may prevent us from ending up in divorce court. By God's grace, power, and love we can live in blessed matrimony joyfully to death to us part, regardless of the problems of this world.

In closing I would like to say that today, my wife and I celebrate our 27th. wedding anniversary and we have had our share of problems, financial issues, sickness and just about every other problem that a married couple can face.  But trying to remember  and live by God's plan for marriage, and His promises He has always been there to see us through.  Our prayer has always been that we would have a marriage that Glorified God and was an example to others.

Grace and Peace