BIBLICAL MARRIAGE

The principles of a Biblical marriage were established in the Garden of Eden and have never been changed. Gen 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; Gen 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Man was created in the image of God. Since God is a trinity, man was also made a triune being. He has a body, a mind and a spirit. This truth will become important later as we consider the above verses. A Biblical marriage necessitates a union of a man and a woman who each know Christ and desire to serve Him. While others can have what the world considers a successful marriage, there will always be something missing, for without the new birth, the spirit is dead .

Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Thus the union of unsaved people can only be twofold; the flesh and the mind. Children of God, however, are able to have a marriage which includes the entirety of the triune man. They can be one in body, mind and spirit. When dedicated Christians are one in spirit, there can be no problem centered in either the mind or the flesh, which the Spirit of God cannot lead them to solve, IF they will but search the Scriptures and follow. If divorce ever raises its ugly head, it is because either one or both partners have failed to follow where Christ leads. As long as the Biblical Ideal is followed divorce will never be an option.

Now return to the lesson text in Genesis 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. In God’s great design for the human race, He intended that both man and woman know full completeness only in the bonds of matrimony. Woman, having been created from that which was removed from man and made for the purpose of being a companion and a helper of man, is forever incomplete until she fulfills the purpose of her creation. Man had a part of himself removed and until made one flesh in marriage, he too, is incomplete. Many have and still are trying to find fulfillment in hedonism, ‘alternate lifestyles’, self denial and other ways, but God’s plan WILL NOT BE THWARTED. Whether it is admitted or not, those who try to do so will never know the completeness that comes in marriage.

With this introduction, proceed now to the next lesson.