What Is Marriage?
Gen. 1:1, 26-27; 2:18, 21-24; Mat. 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:22-32
I. IT IS AN EXACT COMMITMENT
A. In Its Origination„³marriage was conceived and born in the heart of Almighty God
B. In Its Onset
1. Leave„³leaving an established relationship between a mother/father and son
2. Cleave„³be glued together with one woman (i.e. his wife) This only comes through a commitment of marriage! Living together just to try it out is not a substitute for God¡¦s holy ordinance.
C. In Its Organization
1. Husband becomes the loving leader of the home
2. Wife becomes the helpmeet
3. Together they bring children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord
D. In Its Operation
There is exact way of living in the confines of marriage. It is where a husband and wife share a life together of devotion and love with each other. It is not a time for a husband or wife to go and do his own thing. The two become one, not two independent beings residing under the same roof.
II. IT IS AN EXCITING COMMITMENT
There is nothing more beautiful than a bride walking down an aisle on her wedding day! Even John describes the New Jerusalem coming down as a bride adorned for her husband. (Rev. 21:2)
III. IT IS AN EXASPERATING COMMITMENT
No one ever promised that marriage was an easy commitment; but since it is a commitment for life, you are committing yourself to go through everything together as one before the Lord„³through sickness and health, riches or poverty, etc.
IV. IT IS AN ESSENTIAL COMMITNMENT
¡§For this cause¡Kfor this reason¡¨ God¡¦s word says why a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife and they become one flesh. What cause? What reason?
A. Because it reflects the very image of God. If man alone could have effectively and completely reflected the image of God, God would not have created woman to be his helpmeet. It is only as they dwell in unity as husband and wife that they can mirror the very likeness of God!
B. Because it reflects the relationship between Christ and the church. Just having a significant other, a life partner, or a live in lover mars the witness that we must present to a lost and dying world. That¡¦s why the Bible tells husbands to love their own wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her and why it directs the wife to respond to her own husband as the church does to Christ.
V. IT IS AN EVERLASTING COMMITMENT
It is until ¡§death do us part.¡¨ Husbands and wives are to cleave together just as wood particles stick together to form a board. It cannot be broken cleanly. Why? Because of the way it was made. It was not designed to be broken. Neither was a marriage. The Word of God tells us that He love us ¡§with an everlasting love.¡¨ (Jer. 31:3) If a marriage is to reflect God, then it too must be a place where love is also everlasting. That is how God set it up and intends for it to stay. ¡§What God has joined together,¡¨ no man is to put asunder or to break it apart. We should leave no room in our hearts today for a single thought about ending our marriage. We should be committed to the Biblical standards of marriage and be faithful to our own wedding vows.
