God’s Design for Marriage Pt. 2
2-01-2015
Genesis 2:24-25
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and
hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and
were not ashamed.
There are great
concepts of marriage in Bible all condensed & encapsulated in Gen 2.
· Marriage is a permanent, life long process
of becoming one. Gen 2:24-25,
Mt 19:4-6
There is no way to grasp
the beauty of this moment.
· Sinless man (the loving, strong, moral
leader) with sinless woman giving loving, joyful, support for man's leadership…living
in beautiful harmony.
o
Stood
before God/each other fully exposed & yet shameless.
§ They were “one” physically, emotionally
& spiritually.
·
It reflects more than perfect marriage relationship.
This is an illustration
of the most perfect relationship of all:
Intimate union between Jesus & Christians/His church. 2 Cor 11:2,
Eph 5:31-32 & 22-24
· As the church submits to Christ ….the
wife submit to husband.
o
She
is to respect him as the head—the leader, protector & provider.
· True submission revealed is not if there
is agreement/or don’t care but if there is disagreement.
o
How
do you disagree? Do you badger until you
get your way and then say “I submitted”);
or do you get angry & express frustration directly or indirectly. Pr 25:24
§ Oneness includes openness done with honesty
& respect, expressing differing opinions without insisting other have same view.
· Submit to the decision & be supportive
in “better or worse” consequences!
o
Helps
us to understand: husband is ultimately responsible before God for nature/condition
of home.
Men also have a difficult
command from God. Eph 5:25-30, Jn 13:14-17
· The focus is not on husband’s authority
to govern but his responsibility to love.
o
Do
as Jesus did: Die to yourself in your love for your spouse.
o
What’s
wrong with many marriages today is love of self. Putting ourselves first.
§ If the other does not contribute the
persons own well-being, or serve their goals, there is a readiness to dissolve the
relationship.
· You can break love of self at the cross!
· Christ addresses but yet passes over
the sins/failures of His bride. 1 Pet 4:8; 1 Cor 13:5
o
He
doesn’t condemn or shame us with our sin, but extends grace.
§ Grace is: treating people far better
than they deserve.
o
The
KEY in the analogy is that marriage is based on & reflects God’s grace
toward us.
By God’s grace & your
diligence: we all can have a marriage that honors Christ & meets your needs.
· Strengthen your marriage by pursuing
Jesus.
o
It
take THREE to make a good marriage: God, man, woman.
§ Illustration:
Triangle with God at top.
· Return good for evil. Lk 6:35, Col 3:12-14, Eph 5:28-30
o
A
spouse who hurts the other is hurting himself or herself indirectly.
o
Forgive
quickly & completely as you have been forgiven by Christ.
· Put the other person before yourself.
Eph 5:18-22, Mt 20:28, Phil 2:3-7,
o
We
are being most Christ-like when we serve the other person.
We have a great need
for divine enablement to move forward in reflecting Jesus’ covenant commitment
to the Church in our marriages.
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