Ten Commandments, Wedding Vows? Series

Second, marriage expresses intimacy of relationship more than any other human relationship. God wants us to be more than friends. God wants us to have more than a religious connection. God wants us to love Him with all of our hearts, all of our souls and all of our strength. This is indeed the very first and foremost commandment of God. Jesus himself confirmed this. God wants a serious relationship where nothing is hidden and nothing comes between us. In fact, God has a word for when something comes between you and Him, it is called adultery. Another word is idolatry. But to God these are the same.

Third, marriage is designed to be a permanent relationship for as long as both partners live. God doesn’t die. And in Christ, God calls our physical death sleep in Christ. Jesus will return and awaken all those who are asleep in Him to eternal life at a wonderful wedding celebration in glory.

How do we enter into this relationship with God?

I’m glad you asked! Look with me at Romans 7:1-4 (read)

Jesus gave his life for us and in his death, we find this new life in Christ. We are set free from the curse of the law and free from the bondage of sin when we enter the death of Jesus Christ and join in His resurrection.

When does THAT happen? Again, I’m glad you asked! Back up in Romans to chapter 6:1-14. (read)

Look at this. We have a wedding ceremony, of sorts, that God has given us to identify us with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. When we come to Christ, trusting His grace through faith, confessing our sin in repentance and His Lordship as the Son of God, our Savior, we may then be buried with Christ in baptism in His name, baptized into His death, and raised up to walk with Him in newness of life. Like Israel, we pass through the waters and on the other side we are free from slavery to sin. (1 Cor. 10) We are born of water and the Spirit. (John 3:5) We are clothed with Christ, all become one in Christ, belong to Christ, are Abraham's seed, heirs according to God's promise. (Gal. 3:26-29)

When I do weddings, somewhere in the service as the couple stands together before God and all who are gathered as witnesses I will say to them: “You came here as two singles, but after you state these vows and seal them with these rings you will leave here as one, joined in marriage by God. And what God joins together, let not man separate.” In doing this, you are committing your lives to one another. This is a serious relationship.

When Israel stood at the foot of Mount Sinai and heard the voice of God and accepted God’s words of covenant, they were accepting all that that relationship entailed. It was serious, life and death serious.

God is longing for us to seriously commit our lives to Him. He is life and death serious. Heaven and hell serious. On the cross, Jesus gave us the full expression of His commitment. How will we express our commitment to Him? We do it through love and obedience to His commands.