The What, Why and How of a Marriage

Marriage and the Family

All starts with Creation

Creation was designed to bring forth mankind, created in the Image of God

We are the pinnacle of God’s creation

Part of this was for the population of the earth—this requires a process, the basis of which is the family

This is founded upon a marriage, began with the creation of Eve, a suitable helper for Adam

Nothing demeaning in this role; implies a partnership/togetherness in the endeavors

Setup for Lesson

The seventh day...

God did not sit down and do nothing—had he done that, all creation would cease to exist

It is by His continual actions that all creation is held together

He rested only from His creative process

These are the generations...

A statement that begins an account, this or similar used to set off a series of events

NOTE: describes a pre-flood state

Here, apparently chapters 2,3&4 of Genesis—Adam to pre-Noah

NOTE: the pattern of following the main line of descent throughout OT histories/genealogies

Chapter 2 is something of a parenthesis—story-telling device of Jewish literature

{We’ll return to some of it in message on Chapter 3)

(Keep in mind vv. 15-17 for then)

Not meant to be a sequential account; but an overview, culminating in forming the family unit of Adam and Eve

This becomes the basis for all families—the pattern

Validated by Jesus

Matthew 19:4–6 ESV

He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his 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.”

Many other comments on marriage by Paul, Peter

What is a Marriage?

Initial pattern shown in and by this account

A joining before God of one man and one woman

A covenant relationship between the man and woman—binding as a matter of law, custom and practice

Dissolution requires another defined act

Singular context for God-honoring sexual relationships

Any sexual activity outside this is condemned throughout both OT and NT

There are things that test this definition of marriage

…Issues of multiple wives/concubines—matters for another lesson, another day

…no argument that multiple wives complicated the lives of those involved

…never argue for; only commented on

How of a Marriage

Specifically we see very little throughout Scripture

It is determined by an event—but that can be cultural

Account of Isaac and Rebecca Gen 24

Go…take a wife for my son...

A process, a procession and a consummation

Much is related to tradition—now law—but always accepted as a marriage

Why of a Marriage

Other animals reproduce sexually without bonding of marriage

Other animals gather in herds and reproduce a matter of pure biology

Man is different; God created us special…specifically to be relational beings

Marriage being a relationship unique to mankind

Within marriage is the imagery of the relationship between God and His people

His people are bound to Him in a monogamous relationship: one God; one people

We begin to see spiritual adultery almost as soon as God’s people became His people

He chose them from bondage in Egypt; made them His own, and they started chasing other Gods as soon as Moses was out of sight

Many other illustrations

Symbolism of Christ and the Church

Ephesians 5:25–27 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.

Why the Attacks on Marriage and the Family?

Psalm 11:3 ESV

if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

We’ve seen this before—same premise behind attack on Biblical account of creation

How is it Being Attacked?

Redefining marriage

In common usage, wife and husband are used colloquially, not factually

Rather lengthy Wiki article, never mentions covenant before God…even in a culture that often invokes God in its ceremonies…wants “church weddings”

“Open” marriages

Cheapening of marriage

Easy access to divorce

“No-fault” divorce for no actual cause allowable

…the RC church legitimizing same-sex unions

…Episcopal and Methodist church authorizing same-sex marriages

Results of these events

Forced redefining family

The pattern of husband, wife and children is becoming the exception, not the rule

Forces more work/harder work to properly raise families

Kudos to those families who manage it successfully—especially to the step-parents who make all the kids of the home “theirs”

What Are We Going to Do?

We being Christians—Bible-believing, Blood-bought, believers in Jesus Christ

We are the “righteous” of the psalm; not righteous on our own merit; but on account of Christ’s finished work on the cross

Recognize that it’s the foundations that are being attacked—the created order, including marriage and the family

Hold fast to the Word of God—don’t change our definitions

Understand that we’re perceived as the enemy

Part of the political battle of today

Dealing with the Attack

On a day to day level...

Play it as it lies

Our jobs as parents—and grandparents—remain the same

Ephesians 6:4 ESV

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Some of that upbringing will fall to the “suitable helper”

Other advice scattered throughout Proverbs; lots of work for moms as well

Examples of successful parenting…and poor parenting…abound in Scripture

Plenty of work for all believers

Understand that those who attack are not the enemy—they need Jesus

Just as we needed Him

The Problem of the Day

Election looms

A battle of ideologies/agendas

One is more consistent with Biblical values

One is contrary to Biblical values--

We must vote—MUST vote

Pray-vote-pray…and pray some more

The battle will not be won in the election booth

It will be won only in changed hearts…hearts changed by the transforming power of Jesus Christ