Eric & Hannah’s Wedding

Introduction

Hook: What an incredible day to celebrate such an incredible couple! Well now we get to the part that probably most of you would rather skip. You’re not here for me; and fair enough! This day is about Eric and Hannah. But even more than that …in an ultimate sense—this day isn’t even about Eric and Hannah—it’s about glorifying and enjoying our God as we celebrate His good and perfect gift of marriage (and they’d be the first to tell you that). And thus I’ve been asked, as their minister, to bring a sermon from the Word of God this afternoon. So bear with me, and I pray that you too can join with me in meditating on the goodness of our God and his beautiful design for marriage, from the Holy Scriptures.

Title: The Covenant of Marriage in Christ

Expl: And marriage is just that: it’s a covenant. It’s a sworn-promise. It’s a solemn-oath. It’s a bond of love, requiring faithfulness and fidelity. It’s not a human contract. It’s not a cultural artifact. It’s a divine ordinance of God—a covenant of loyal-love—which reflects the covenant of saving-grace that is in Jesus.

Goal: To instruct husbands and wives in their marital duties per God’s design; to declare the glorious gospel which is displayed through a godly-covenant of marriage; and to exhort Eric and Hannah to loving-faithfulness for all their married days on earth.

Text: Eph. 5:22-33 ESV - Turn there with me, or just listen along.

PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY

(1) A Godly Wife is a Beautifully-Respectful Woman - v. 22-24

Ephesians 5:22–24 ESV

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

(1) A Godly Wife is a Beautifully-Respectful Woman - v. 22-24

Now, if we’re going to understand this text, and the ‘submission’ required in it, which probably makes some of us a little squeamish—then we need to go back to the beginning, to the very beginning.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth—and God made man, male and female—distinct, but complimentary! Equal in dignity, but diverse in roles. Yet both were made in the image and likeness of our Lovely-Triune God:

Genesis 1:27 ESV

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

This general statement—is followed by a specific explanation of how God created the man, and the woman:

Genesis 2:21–22 ESV

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.

Matthew Henry writes: “A woman was not made out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him; but out of his side, to be equal to him; under his arm to be protected; and near his heart to be loved.”

Man was made to reflect God in a special and beautiful way. And as her leader—he was to be her greatest strength, her sweetest love, and her faithful refuge. And woman was made to reflect God in a special and beautiful way. As his helper—she was to be his greatest friend, his sweetest companion, and his wisest confidant. And together, in the image of God, with their distinct roles—they were to glorify God and to enjoy him in their roles. This was true happiness and blessedness indeed!

And so, as Paul says, wives are to submit to their husbands—as they do so to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Becuase her husband is given the role of head and leader (which isn’t a tyrant or a sloth), and she is given the role of helper and companion (which isn’t a blind-slave or a door-mat). And in some ways—actually—her role is more glorious and incredible than the mans.

1 Corinthians 11:7 (ESV)

For man … is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.

Man has a glory—but woman is man’s glory. And far from being some domineering title—it’s quite empowering. If man is the glory of God, and woman is the glory of man—then women is the glory of glory. She is the beauty of beauties. She is the royal queen. She is the precious ruby. She is his crown, honour, majesty, and praise. And she is the one in whom he takes his greatest delight, adoration, and joy.

Proverbs 12:4 (ESV)

An excellent wife is the crown of her husband.

Richard Baxter says this about a godly wife: ‘It is a mercy to have a faithful friend that loves you entirely … to whom you may open your mind and [share your heart] … and it is a mercy to have so near a friend to be a helper to your soul and … to stir up in you the grace of God’”.

So yes—Hannah—you are called to submit to Eric, as you submit to Jesus Christ your Lord, Head, and Saviour; and as you do so, you become a shining light of beauty, goodness, and brilliance—as you complete your husband, as you magnify his role, and glorify God.

And pray for God’s blessing of many children, to raise in the nurture and admonition of the Lord—who need a godly mother and teacher to help them to be prepared to serve the Lord Christ in all of life.

So embrace your femininity & embrace your calling—and in every area of your new life and marriage—seek to be his glory, crown, and helper; nurture what he provides for you, beautify what he tasks you with, and dignify who he is to you; be his greatest joy, delight, and friend.

Follow his lead in all things—except for sin and evil, of course—but in all good, noble, and virtuous things, let him take the charge as a noble king with his beloved queen right by his side! Be a picture of the church to him.

(1) A Godly Wife is a Beautifully-Respectful Woman - v. 22-24

And Hannah, if you thought those are difficult orders from the Lord, just wait until you hear God’s marching orders for your husband! Brace yourself, Eric:

(2) A Godly Husband is a Sacrificially-Loving Man - v. 25-30

Ephesians 5:25–30 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.

(2) A Godly Husband is a Sacrificially-Loving Man - v. 25-30

If all we had were verses 22-24—then we might think that the task of a husband who is the head of his wife—could be a cold, ugly, harsh, and oppressive thing. Which is often how many think of male-leadership: as toxic masculinity. And don’t get me wrong, there are many toxic men out there—but they’re actually not masculine, they’re cruel-cowards. True masculinity, true headship, true leadership—according to God’s Word—is sacrificial and loving, gentle and wise, diligent and protective, patient and nourishing; it’s life-giving, not life-sucking. And Jesus is the model of true sacrificial-leadership—which means that you, Eric, have big shoes to fill in your task as Hannah’s husband.

HDK says: “A home without a head is an invitation to chaos. It spells derangement and disaster worse even than that which results when a nation is without a ruler or an army without a commander … But this headship implies more than rulership, as is clear from [Paul’s] words … [that] Christ is head of the church, he himself (being) the Savior of the body … He is vitally interested in her welfare. He is her protector. [He is her Saviour].

What is the body of Christ? It’s the church. What is the church? It’s the company of all those who are repenting of their sins and believing the gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ. It’s the people who are united to the Lord, as a Body is to its Head.

And so, a husband is the head of his wife—as Christ is the head of the church—and the husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church—and how exactly has Jesus loved his church?

(1) By denying his privileges, humbling himself, and taking on the form of a servant (Phil. 2:5-8).

(2) By giving himself through suffering, hardship, and pain in order to redeem his church (1 Pet. 2:22-24).

(3) By committing himself to his church with a faithful and sacrificial love than cannot fail (Gal. 2:20).

(4) And as our text says, by giving himself to sanctify, cleanse, wash, present, protect, defend, and cherish her (Rom. 8:37-39).

(5) And as Jesus Himself told us—he came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many: (Matt. 20:28).

How does Jesus love his church? By sacrificially-serving her. That’s your calling, Eric. You’re not to be the head of your wife as a distant and cold dictator—but as a warm and loving-servant-leader.

And remember that the love of Christ for His Church is unconditional—it’s everlasting—it’s stable—it’s firm—it’s constant—it’s rock solid. He loves us in our worst moments—and at our best. He loves us in our sins, and commits to making us beautiful and holy. But more than all of this: he loves the church as his own body. She is united to him. All true Christians are united to Jesus Christ. He is the head of his church, his body. And he isn’t going to sever any of his members off. He will nourish and cherish them, heal and bind them up, love and care for them, lead and protect them. In marriage you become one—one in mind, heart, soul, life, purpose, finances, vision… And Paul says that to love your wife, is to love yourself.

Calvin says that: “Every man, by his very nature, loves himself. But no [husband] can love himself without loving his wife. Therefore, the man who does not love his wife is a monster.”

Wow! Eric you have a high-calling! You have quite the marching-orders. You are to bleed for your wife, deny yourself for her comfort, commit to loving her at all times, lead her with dignity and honour and virtue, protect her from all danger, and provide for her in all seasons. You are to be her prophet, priest, and king: leading her in family worship, in the Scriptures; praying for her, and with her, for God’s blessings; and hiding her behind you, when harm comes your way.

You must be prepared to stand against the current of the sinful world, to take the charge in leading your wife and future children, as their head and representative, and to say with Joshua of old: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord! To raise up many godly-children to send into mission for the Kingdom of God.

You are to love your bride, as Christ has loved the church—and don’t forget that the love of Christ is a powerful and forgiving love—His love covers a multitude of sins—and it beautifies with grace. So you, Eric, are to lead in humility and forgiveness, in an understanding way—full of grace and mercy, full of strength and humility. And as you do so, the joy of union and communion with your bride & best friend will be like no other—as you rejoice in the wife of your youth, who is a gift from the Lord our God. Let your banner over her, be love—Christlike love indeed (Song. 2:4).

So be hers alone! Be her head, her leader, her friend, her rock, her confidence, her pillow, her sacrificial servant, her true joy, and her faithfully loving-man. Be a picture of Christ to her.

(2) A Godly Husband is a Sacrificially-Loving Man - v. 25-30

This is your calling, Eric! May you fulfill your vows, for the glory of God, the good of your bride, and the blessing of your home. And if you both fulfill these duties, Hannah and Eric, then there is something really exciting and amazing that comes of it:

(3) A Godly Covenant is a Glorious-Display of the Gospel - v. 31-33

Ephesians 5:31–33 ESV

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

(3) A Godly Covenant is a Glorious-Display of the Gospel - v. 31-33

All that we’ve been seeing in Scripture about God’s good design for covenant marriage—is all a mystery—a shadow—of a greater love, of a greater marriage, of a greater covenant: the covenant of grace between Christ and His Church—the sworn promise of salvation for all who trust in Jesus, who then respond with love to Him for all of their days! Jesus the Head and Representative covers his bride with his love, forgiveness, protection, care, and blessings—and she repents of her sins, trusts in Him, and out of gratitude for so great a salvation, she loves him with a love incorruptible—by grace alone.

Bavinck: “Marriage is a covenant of love analogous to the covenant of grace that God established with His people in Christ. It is not a contract that can be broken at will, but a bond sealed by promise and faithfulness.”

And so my charge to you both, Eric and Hannah, is to be a faithful-picture of the Gospel-covenant, in your marriage-covenant. Don’t tarnish that picture. Don’t cloud that display. Let it shine brightly, beautifully, and brilliantly. And let your union and communion with one another, and your love and respect for one another, always point to the profound mystery of the union and communion of Christ and the church, and the salvation that is given for all who trust in the Gospel-covenant of grace—the Good News of Eternal Life, and Glad Tidings of Joy in Jesus Christ.

And my charge to all of you who are here at Eric and Hannah’s wedding, is to not give yourself rest until you have trusted in that covenant of grace in Christ—that sworn promise of salvation from sin, from death, from judgment, and from condemnation. There is judgment coming, for all of our foolish and selfish decisions that we have made, and for all of our rebellious actions against our Creator-God.

And because God is so good—he cannot turn a blind eye to evil. He will deal with it. He will judge it. He is going to sentence us all to eternal death in hell, for all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23)—but—the free gift of God in Jesus Christ our Lord is eternal life in heaven (Rom. 6:23). And the only way for anyone to receive this gift, this saving-relationship with Jesus Christ—is to accept the terms of the covenant: repent and believe unto salvation (Mark 1:15). Confess before God that you are not what you ought to be, but have failed to glorify God for all of your days. Trust in that promise of forgiveness, peace with God, and a restored relationship through Jesus Christ. For on the Cross, Jesus bore our debt, he paid our penalty—he purchased and loved his bride—and he rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is coming again—so that we could belong to Him, and be blessed in Him, and love Him forevermore. So that you can sing the song of that covenant of grace: I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine (Song 2:16). All that is mine is his (he takes all my guilt, all my shame, all my corruption), and I get all that is his (all his grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, and eternal life). This is the great exchange (2 Cor. 5:21). And if you come to him, and accept these terms—then this salvation and relationship with the Triune God and His covenant of grace is yours in the blood of Jesus who said:

Matthew 26:27–28 (ESV)

For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

So today we get to celebrate the beautiful wedding of Eric and Hannah in the covenant of marriage—and to God be the glory—but don’t let this be the only covenant that is confirmed today. May all of you also be united to Jesus Christ and his covenant of grace—by faith in His promise, and his faithful love, which never fails—and may we all respond in life-long devotion to our Lord. Eric and Hannah, let the Gospel shine through your Marriage.

(3) A Godly Covenant is a Glorious-Display of the Gospel - v. 31-33

And so in summary and conclusion, from our entire passage:

(C) A Godly Marriage in Christ is Respectful, Sacrificial, and Covenantal—So Live in Loyal-Love for all Your Days!

“Before the face of God Most High,

Who sitteth throned above the sky,

Ye stand, two souls by cov’nant one,

Ordained in Christ ere time begun.

Let Christ be all thy home’s delight,

Its wisdom, strength, and shining light.

Let prayer be incense morn and even,

And every grace a step toward heaven.

For marriage is the Gospel’s sign,

The mystery of love divine:

That Christ the Church His Bride hath won,

And joined her to Himself as one.

Therefore, what God doth join today,

No mortal hand may rend away;

But walk ye thus, through joy and strife,

As pilgrims bound for endless life.

There cov’nant joy shall ne’er depart,

For God Himself shall be your heart”.

(C) A Godly Marriage in Christ is Respectful, Sacrificial, and Covenantal—So Live in Loyal-Love for all Your Days!

May God richly bless you both, your household, and your life together—Soli Deo Gloria. Amen, let’s pray.

And would you now rise with me to sing in response to God’s Word: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.