Marriage; Genesis 2:24

Marriage

Text: Genesis 2:24                                                                  9/5/2010

Thesis: Marriage exists ultimately to display the covenant keeping love between Christ and his church.

I. Creation is the cause marriage is the effect

Where does marriage come from?

A.  God created male and female (Genesis 1:27)

B.   God created male and female to be married (Genesis 2:24)

1. Jesus makes the connection between creation and marriage explicit in Matthew 19:4-5

C.   Marriage is natural, singleness is a gift, divorce is unnatural

1. Singleness is a gift (Matthew 19:10-12; 1 Cor 7:6-7)

2. Divorce is unnatural (Matthew 19:6; 1 Cor 7:10-11)

Marriage is normal, natural, and good because of the way God created us.

So where does marriage come from? Marriage comes from god’s perfect work in creation.

II. Marriage is a union by God confirmed by a covenant

What makes a marriage?

A.  God’s joins a man and woman together in marriage

1. God joins male and female together (Mt 19:6; Gen 2:24)

2. Male and female confirm that union by entering into a covenant

a) 3 views of marriage (sacrament, contract, or covenant)

What makes a marriage? A marriage is made when God joins a man and woman together and that union is confirmed by a covenant

III. Marriage exists ultimately to display the covenant-keeping love of Christ and his church. (John Piper)

What is the purpose of marriage?

A.  The gospel is the sun and marriage is the moon (Eph 5:22-33)

B.   Christ’s covenant gives structure and strength to the marriage covenant

1. Structure- husbands love to the death like Christ and wives submit to the one who loves you

2. Strength- forgiveness/empowerment

a) It is the blood of Christ, the blood of the covenant, that removes sin and guilt (Hebrews 10:29)

b) It is the blood of Christ, the blood of the covenant, that equips us for healthy marriages (Heb 13:20&21)

So what is the purpose of marriage? To display the covenant-keeping love of Christ and his church.

C.   Marriages rise or fall at this point

1. You have been given a spouse for the display of God’s glory

a) Your spouse was given to you by God so that your relationship will show the forgiving and strengthening power of Christ in a multitude of ways.

2. Your faithfulness in marriage depends on Christ

a) Because of the blood of Christ I can ask for and be given forgiveness with God. If I can have forgiveness for the wrong I have done to God then I can certainly have forgiveness for the wrong I have done to my spouse.

b) God gave me this spouse and I, because of the blood of Christ, have access to everything good for a faithful marriage. No marriage is hopeless.

c) What we must do is meditate on Christ and feed on his powerful word. Stop feeding and meditating on your spouse’s mistakes or your own sin. Find ways to keep the truth of Christ and not the short-comings of your spouse in front of your eyes. Find ways to keep the truth of Christ in front of your spouse. Find ways to keep the truth of Christ in front of your church family.

d) 2 ways today- sing the truth of Christ for all to hear and remember the sanctifying and strengthening work of Christ for you by celebrating the Lord’s Supper.

IV. So here is how we are going to prepare to sing and celebrate

A.  Think of everything wrong you have ever done, said, or thought. Think of everything right that you didn’t do or say. Think of the pain, frustration, and hardship that you have caused your spouse, your self, your family, and your church.

1. Now think about Christ. His blood, the blood of the covenant poured out on the cross, sanctifies you. Because of Christ and his sacrifice you are forgiven, clean, pure, and holy. Christ takes it all away in order to restore you to God and your spouse and your family. Think of the great work of Christ.

B.   Now think about what God wants you to do

1. Maybe you need to confess your sin and ask forgiveness. Maybe you are a long way from a joy-filled Christ-centered marriage. If you are married it is God’s will that you display the covenant-keeping love of Christ and his church. And rejoice that no matter how far off you may be today the blood of Christ is sufficient to equip you to change.

a) A healthy marriage, a godly family, and a faithful church are not easy wins but we have Christ. We live and work and play on his team. So faith is not the belief that everything is just going to fall in place. Faith is the belief that as you struggle and deal with sin and work  for change Christ will strengthen you, sustain you, and fill you with joy. The blood of Christ has been provided. Now we must trust and follow him. Now we must sing and celebrate.