God's Design for Marriage
Genesis 2:18-25
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”
19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.
20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.
21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.
22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.
23 The man 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.”
24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.
20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.
21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.
22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.
23 The man 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.”
24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ge 2:18–25.
God embedded into marriage a divine blueprint for human flourishing.
Marriage is not just a good suggestion. It’s God’s building blocks for the family and all of human civilization. When marriage exists within the biblical parameters and follows God’s intent, it is the second-most fulfilling relationship a person can have, second only to one’s relationship with God. It is also one of the most vivid pictures of Christ’s love for the Church that we have. With the breakdown of marriage in our culture, it is up to the Church to stand up for marriage. We must embrace and defend God’s divine blueprint for marriage.
1. Marriage connects a man and woman through complementary partnership.
After God created the first man, Adam, He made this statement: “It is not good for the man to be alone.” By this time, God had already created all the animal kingdom, both male and female. But He deviated from that pattern in the way that He formed woman out of man. God's actions in the way He created man and woman are a statement to us.
2. Marriage creates a covenantal union between a man and woman.
The complementary relationship between a husband and wife is much more than just a relationship. It is a union between two that makes them one flesh. This union is what makes marriage sacred.
3. Marriage commissions a man and woman to fulfill God’s creational mandate.
The first recorded thing God said to man was “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth…” This was not possible without woman. When God created the first woman, Adam and Eve had the ability to complete that task to multiply and fill the earth.
4. Marriage cultivates intimacy between a man and woman without shame.
We all know that Adam and Eve were naked in the garden. What’s more? They were unashamed of their nakedness. Then came sin. Sin brought shame, which resulted in us wearing clothing now. But the concept that a husband and wife can be together without shame remains.
Today's Invitation
Marriage is a sacred institution as old as the first man and woman. It is also a picture of Christ and His Church. As such, marriage should be defended both because it is ordained by God and also because it is a gospel picture of Christ and His Church.
If you are married, take the time today to pray for your marriage. Perhaps you have violated the sanctity of marriage in some way. The good news is God forgives those who properly repent; He forgives based on the atoning work of Christ. Seek His forgiveness today.
Use the Decision Card below to let us know if you would like to...
If you are married, take the time today to pray for your marriage. Perhaps you have violated the sanctity of marriage in some way. The good news is God forgives those who properly repent; He forgives based on the atoning work of Christ. Seek His forgiveness today.
Use the Decision Card below to let us know if you would like to...
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