The Covenant of Marriage

When it comes to marriage and the church, we have seen the Consummation of both is UNITY that comes through LOVE, AGAPE, It begins with storge, enhances to Phileo, consummated in Agape.

Therefore, Unity is about SERVING and GIVING:

Agape love is emphasized in the selfless nature of the Godhead, the Gospel, marriage, and the church.

Living the gospel in marriage or the church is the motivation for SERVING your spouse and others THROUGH LOVE.

This week, we want to discover the Covenant of Marriage.

When it comes to marriage and the church, we must have as the bedrock foundation a Commitment.

In order to have a stable and secure home or a stable and secure church, there must be a strong conviction {One Flesh} [Consummation] with the seal of a covenant.

Marriage and the church have to both be viewed as PERMANENT!

Our passage text again.

Genesis 2:24–25 KJV 1900

24 Therefore shall a man leave [CONSUMATION OF UNITY TO SPOUSE] his father and his mother, and shall cleave [COVENANT PROCLAMATION] unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Next week we will see the realization of nakedness happened when they broke their spiritual and soul unity.

The word “to cleave” means “to make a binding covenant or contract.”

This covenant brings every aspect of two persons’ lives together as one.

When a covenant is made, you essentially merge into a single legal, social, economic unit.

You lose much of your independence. In love you donate or give yourself, wholly, to the other.

The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God (Sex Is Strictly a Private Matter; No, It’s Not)

The Significance of the Covenant:

What exactly is a Covenant?

Lets Define Covenant:

Definition of Covenant

-- Definition of a "Covenant" –

· n. treaty, pact; contract, formal agreement, agreement (between church and state)

· a covenant relationship is not merely a mutual acquaintance but a commitment to responsibility and action.[1]

[1]Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988).Baker encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

The covenant is what brings about the complete consummation of 2 individuals Not only Spiritually and With Soul, together but after the covenant comes the final act of consummation, the connecting of the bodies.

Where do we view Covenants?

Biblical Examples of Covenants:

Abrahamic Covenant from God:

Genesis 15:6–18 KJV 1900

6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. 7 And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. 8 And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? 9 And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. 10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. 11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. 12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. 17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. 18 In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

The prophet Jeremiah later writes,

Jeremiah 34:18–19 KJV 1900

18 And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof, 19 The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf;

The Hebrew People:

In Genesis 17:10-14

Genesis 17:10–14 KJV 1900

10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. 12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. 13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

In the New Testament, Jesus made a new covenant with believers that accepted him as Messiah.

The Church’s Covenant from Christ:

Matthew 26:26–27 KJV 1900

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

Matthew 26:28 KJV 1900

28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

And the Apostle Paul clarified this in

1 Corinthians 11:26 KJV 1900

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

We remember the covenant God made with us.

Again, just like with Abraham, God made the covenant Himself. It is not dependent upon us. It is only dependant upon God.

However, just like the Israelites were to be circumcised, we also have a physical act of our covenant to God.

Remember, last week, the union of us and Christ through Salvation.

Romans 10:8 KJV 1900

8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee [Mind], even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Romans 10:9–10 KJV 1900

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth [Covenant] the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart [Consummation] that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth [Consummation] unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession [Covenant] is made unto salvation.

Paul describes the physical part.

Colossians 2:11–12 KJV 1900

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

What has already been united, Spiritual and with your Soul, is now united physically.

In the marriage relationship, Paul said,

1 Corinthians 7:1–5 KJV 1900

1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Baptism is a physical, public proclamation of the covenant, identifying us as followers of Jesus Christ and the giving up of fleshly desires.

Just like the Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of this covenant with Christ to His church.

The Contract, signifyed by proclamation and the exchanging of rings.

Sex within marriage becomes a remembrance, a rekindling, and a recommittment of the covenant between Husband and Wife. That is why sex only makes since with the confines of the covenant in marriage.

The Lord’s Supper is only for those that are covenanted together within the body of Christ through baptism.

Now, let me explain, why am I making this connection between marriage and the church?

Because God, through the Apostle Paul made this connection.

Beginning in Eph 5:17

Ephesians 5:17 KJV 1900

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:18 KJV 1900

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Wine affects the soul and body.

How many people have allowed wine to confuse their feelings and their thoughts?

How many people because of that confusion have lost control of their bodies because of wine?

Ephesians 5:19–20 KJV 1900

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Under the control of the Spirit, the control of the physical brings about Edification, Joy, and Thankfulness.

That is the Union of Christ and the church.

Now Paul heads toward marriage.

Ephesians 5:21–22 KJV 1900

21 Submitting yourselves one to another [Union of Spirit and Soul and Body] in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

and here starts the connection.

Ephesians 5:23 KJV 1900

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

The husband is to the wife what Christ is to the Church.

Christ is the Husband = The AUTHORITY, Leader.

Wife is the Church = The SUBMITTER Follower.

Therefore, the wife is to submit to her husband like the church does to Christ.

Ephesians 5:24 KJV 1900

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Ephesians 5:25 KJV 1900

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Husbands, remember how Christ Lead with His Authority. With Love!

Agape love, a sacrificial, selfless, giving love.

Christ gave Himself Spiritually, Soully, and Physically for the purchase of the Church.

He died in his SOUL, the heart and the mind, when he said.

Mark 14:36 KJV 1900

36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

DEATH OF SOUL = Selflessness for Selfishness.

Not my feelings - HEART

Nor my will - MIND

He gave up His Spirit in

Luke 23:46 KJV 1900

46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

He also died physically. His body died but was resurrected.

John 19:33 KJV 1900

33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

John 19:34 KJV 1900

34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

Paul goes on in Eph 5: 26-28

Ephesians 5:26–28 KJV 1900

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it [the church] with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it [ the church] to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it [the church] should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

Ephesians 5:29 KJV 1900

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Ephesians 5:30 KJV 1900

30 For we are members of his body [Unity], of his flesh, and of his bones.

Ephesians 5:31 KJV 1900

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Be joined = Cleave = Consummation, achieved through Covenant.

Ephesians 5:32–33 KJV 1900

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

The church will see the fulfillment Covenant and Consummation in Heaven with Jesus Christ.

Revelation 19:7–9 KJV 1900

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Then he gives a look at the new dwelling place of Him and the bride and then He gives an invitation to all from Him and the Bride.

Revelation 22:17 KJV 1900

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Right now, we are betrothed = Engaged awaiting the arrival of our Groom.

That is why, I don’t understand everything, but I believe it by faith, that the church is always, local and visible, and when we get to that wedding ceremony, then and only then will the churches, all of the world we come together as one church. We will never ever be a one universal invisible church, but we will always be one local visible body.

Matthew 19:5–6 KJV 1900

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

The Covenant of God with the church cannot be broken because it was declared and signed by God, who cannot lie.

However, just like Israel, we can and do break the betrothal covenant with Christ. and also with our spouse.

However, once that final covenent is consummated in Revelation with Christ, there will never ever be a divorce or breaking of the covenant because there will be no death.

However in the mean time, men, our responsibility is to never forsake the covenant that we make with God and our spouse.

With the Significance of Covenant, let us examine

The Seriousness of a Covenant:

A marriage covenant and the church covenant are IRREVOCABLE vows.

Numbers 30:2 KJV 1900

2 If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Deuteronomy 23:21 KJV 1900

21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.

A marriage covenant is an UNCONDITIONAL Vow.

“For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer”

Go read the book of Hosea this week.

Hosea 1:2 KJV 1900

2 The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord.

Hosea 1:3 KJV 1900

3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.

Hosea 2:2 KJV 1900

2 Plead with your mother, plead: For she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: Let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, And her adulteries from between her breasts;

Hosea 3:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Then said the Lord unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the Lord toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. 2 So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: 3 And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.

The covenant between Hosea and Gomer was greater than the seperation of Unity, Spiritually, the Soul, and the Body.

Now, notice what Paul says about marriage in Romans

Romans 7:2–3 KJV 1900

2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Jesus loves us the same way.

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

That is why Jesus said in Matt 19:6

Matthew 19:6 KJV 1900

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Man in the Greek is Anthropos, the same word used to translate man in Gen 1:27

Genesis 1:27 KJV 1900

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

and in Genesis 2:24

Genesis 2:24 KJV 1900

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

The Sanctity of the Covenant.

The Consummation of Marriage:

Sanctity means the Setting Apart.

Ephesians 5:26 KJV 1900

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Sanctify speaks of Unity of purpose.

Genesis 2:24 KJV 1900

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Ephesians 5:27 KJV 1900

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

1 Corinthians 6:16 KJV 1900

16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.