Title: God’s design for marriage
Text: Genesis 1:26-2:25
Introduction
Why do a sermon series on marriage?
Reason #1: The most difficult years of marriage are those following the wedding.
Reason #2: The best testimony any married couple can have is …a great marriage.
First sermon: We are going to look at God’s design for marriage.
Point out: Something always goes wrong when you don’t use something the way it was originally designed.
For the answers to God’s design for marriage we need to look in the Book of Genesis. (Genesis 1-2)
We are going to look at 3 scripture passages in Genesis 1 and 2 that serve as clues to why God designed marriage. Then from the clues we form our conclusions on the reasons God designed marriage.
Clue #1 is found in Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
What do we discover in this verse?
A. Male and female are both created in the image of God
Footnote: In the society where men were dominating we see Jesus lifting up the status of women.
B. The image of God is best seen when male and female are together than when they are apart.
And here is where we find the first answer to why God designed marriage.
Conclusion; God designed marriage as a way to show the world the image of God.
No sooner had Adam and Eve got married –they blew it!
You know the story well – On their honeymoon they fell into temptation.
Their marriage failed to show the world the image of God.
Jesus came in order to restore the image of God back into marriage.
Question: At what event did Jesus first reveal his glory to his disciples? Was it not a marriage ceremony in Cana?
Again God through Jesus was designing marriage as a way to show the world the image of God.
Scripture Warning: No believer should marry an unbeliever. Why? It distorts the image of God.
If God designed marriage as a way to show the world the image of God then here is the application;
Application: Is my marriage a reflection of the image of God?
Is my marriage spiritual and moral? Is it a marriage based on unconditional love? Is my marriage helping me to become a better man or woman of God?
Clue #2 is found in Genesis 2:18
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18
What do we discover in this verse?
Adam had a need that he could not handle in the Garden of Eden. What was that need?
There could be only one need Adam had. Adam suffered from loneliness.
Conclusion: There is a second reason here for why God designed marriage.
God also designed marriage to meet our need for companionship.
Physical companionship, emotional companionship, intellectual companionship and spiritual companionship are all components of a great marriage.
We see this all clearly in clue #3
Clue #3 is found in Genesis 2:21-25
These verses elaborate on the subject of companionship in marriage.
“So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ’woman’, for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” Genesis 2:21-25
1. They first address the priority of companionship.
When it comes to companionship – Who should have priority over everyone and everything else?
Our spouse is to have priority over everyone and everything else.
Our work, our hobbies, our ministry, our parents, even our children, should never have priority over our spouse when it comes to companionship.
This area of priority of companionship tends to be a man problem more than a woman problem.
2. There verses also address the picture of companionship
These verses also powerfully communicate to us what companionship should look like.
“So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ’woman’, for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.” Genesis 2:21-25
Point out that v25 is often the picture of companionship in the view of men but verses 21-24 is just as valid.
Matthew Henry commenting on these verses said…
“Woman was taken from Adam’s side- not from his head to rule over him, not from his feet to be trampled on, but from his side to be equal with him, from under his arm to be protected, from close to his heart to be loved.”
Companionship is a picture of mutual giving and taking. It’s as simple as doing things together that you both love.
Companionship should never be a competition to get our spouse to do only what we want.
3. Finally we end with the permanence of companionship
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” (v24)
When does companionship end in a marriage?
Does companionship end the moment we say “I do”?
Does companionship end when children come?
No Marriage is to be a life-long companionship between a husband and a wife.
Is there going to be conflict at times? Yes!
That’s the subject for next week’s sermon. How to handle conflict in your marriage.
Here is the Application: If God designed marriage in order to met our need for companionship; are we spending quality time with our spouse? Are we meeting each others need for companionship?
Conclusion:
With God’s help let’s commit in our marriages to show the world the image of God and to secondly with God’s help to meet our spouse’s need for companionship.
How? Lessons from the wedding at Cana.
1.Invite Jesus into the marriage
2. Involve Jesus in the marriage.
