The Mystery Of Marriage Series

“The Mystery of Marriage”

REVIEW

I. Our Wealth and Worth In Christ 1-3

II. Our Worthy Walk in Christ 4-6

A. Live in Unity 4:1-16

B. Live in Newness of life 4:17-24

C. Live in Love 4:17-24

D. Live in Purity 5:3-14

E. Live in Wisdom 5:15-6:9

1. Seize every opportune moment 15-16

2. Seek to understand the will of the Lord 17

3. Be continually filled with the Holy Spirit 18-20

a. Speaking and singing truth to one another and praise to God

b. Giving thanks for all things

c. Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ

1) Wives submit to husbands who are to love them 22-33

Interspersed in this practical section dealing with relationships are some of the most significant truths relating to Christ's love for and connection to the church found in the Bible.

There is a mysterious link between human marriage and relationship with Christ. In this passage, Paul segues from the mysterious unity in a marriage to the mysterious unity of Christ and the church. I want to take some time to explore both.

Jesus loves the church.

His love motivates him to sanctify or treat the church as special.

That sanctification comes about by the application of his word.

He actively participates in the growth of the church in order that he might enjoy a vital relationship.

He focuses on the splendor of the church.

He works toward the church’s purity (without spot or wrinkle, holy and blameless).

He nourishes and cherishes the church.

He is vitally connected with the church; we are members of his body.

b). Husbands love wives who are to respect them

Husbands are called to love their wives in the same way as Christ loves the church. Husbands are to love their wives as they would their own selves. This oneness is the core of marriage.

Paul includes a quote from the Old Testament that was also quoted by Jesus in the Gospels.

The quote originally appears in the book of Genesis after joining Adam and Eve. It's a phrase we have probably heard many times. It is the basis for the lyrics of a popular wedding song called "the wedding song".

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Eph 5:31

Here's the context of the original quote. Got executed a solution to the absence of another creature that corresponded to Adam.

So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.

After a long search for someone to relate and finding nothing that would fill the empty spot in his soul (even with perfect fellowship with God), God presents Him with Eve. Adam’s response was classic.

Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

Adam realized that there was a significant connection to Eve beyond proximity. They both shared DNA. She was literally bone of his bone. They shared God’s image. God intended that this meaningful connection would not only address Adam’s loneliness but would illustrate the possibility of significant connection to God through Jesus Christ. The connecting word "therefore" links to the concept of oneness and meaningful connection. Because of this God-designed biological and spiritual connection between male and female, God established from the outset the basic foundation for unity in marriage. Why I believe this was intended to be a universal principle is because it was originally presented to Adam and Eve who had no father and mother to leave. It applies to every marriage. Unity in marriage involves three stages.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:21-24 (ESV)

Jesus responded to the Pharisees’ question concerning divorce. They were asking Jesus about the dissolving of marriage unity.

And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Mark 10:2-9 (ESV)