Marriage and the Covenant Seal

Introduction

Marriage is one of those topics that is taken very seriously by the Lord and was the first for lack of better term created institutions by the Lord.

Paul in this section of his letter to Corinth speaks of marriage in a culture that devalued marriage and indulged in extra martial affairs. Marriage while not a sacrament according to scripture, is none the less a sacred covenant that needs to be taught within the church.

Today churches are fallen apart because of the very issues Paul would address; churches fall apart because Pastors commit adultery, men abuse their wives, and husbands neglect to lead their families in Christ. When a church has unhealthy marriages, the local church is unhealthy.

Healthy churches are often tied to when marriages of the members are healthy; but when marriages are not healthy the local church is first fall and society soon after. Healthy churches are producing a Christian world view in their community.

When the 60’s and 70’s occurred, sex was the idea of freedom, and this is when divorce in this culture took a turn for the worst and now in 2022, we have public schools teaching our kids gender confusion and sexual acts by the 5th grade.

Why does Paul address sex multiple times in his letter, it is not sex that Paul is focused on, but rather the institution of marriage and the covenantal family that comes from that. To dive into this portion of the letter we must also dive outside of this passage into other passages of scripture from Genesis 2 to Ephesians chapter 5.

The Covenant of Marriage and her look

In the Roman/Pagan culture to which the city of Corinth enjoyed sex and marriage was promoted as this; you can have outside relations of your marriage (today we call this open relationships) or better don’t marry and have casual relationships that make you feel good. Today we have apps for this, swipe left if she is not hot, right if she is.

In the Christian church we can not ignore the culture and can let our guard down. No man or woman in the Roman culture was immune to the sins of sex and marriage, nor is the modern culture. The Corinth church had Christians, but Paul is addressing this issue and today we still are.

When Christianity became more prevalent in Roman Culture, the Christians view of marriage was absurd, damaging and not welcomed. Today from politicians to physicians are stating the same thing, that the Christians understanding of sex and marriage is absurd, damaging, hostile, and does not promote true freedom.

As Christians we should influence in our community, but when churches have leaders abusing or neglecting their wives, and husbands are absent from worship, society knows there is nothing different from a Christian household than a pagan household, other than the fact they attend a serve for 2 hours each week, sing songs, and judge us for the same sins.

Christianity needs to be taught a Christian world view, Paul knew this when he taught it to Corinth and God saw fit to have this very chapter in his Book. The problem with sex has always been the neglect of seeing sex as part of the grander covenant that is only found within a monogamous, male, female marriage.

What does marriage look like?

A. It is rooted in the belief and following of Jesus the Christ. While marriage does it should not be had between two couples of differing faiths. If it does, there are still principles that ought to be followed. But the warning is do not marry unequally yoked or you will have a lifetime of loneliness, trial, and tribulation. Marry only in the Lord with both parties following Christ. I, not scripture would advise you marry not only in the Lord but of similar Christian beliefs. I am reformed and so is my wife, if she were a Methodist and I a reformed Baptist, our marriage would be unequally yoked because both denominations while affirming Christ is Lord, are very distinctly different in their views of God, this matters in a relationship. One of you is going to the others church, far better if you both agree on what the church is and should be.

B. It is a covenant for life to only each other. In Genesis 2 we see God stating you shall leave your father and mother and become one with each other. It’s a covenant that should not be broken, and when it is, it has life devastating effects. Paul would address this in this portion of the letter; you are not to divorce, end of discussion. What about adultery? This is permissible, but not always the proper choice. Christ made a covenant with the Church, sealed in His blood. Time and time again we commit adultery against the Lord, yet He is faithful to forgive us and keep us. I am not saying you are not justified for divorcing in adultery, but if it at all possible reconcile as the covenant you made with each other was under the blessing of God. To which I remind you don’t marry unequally (no Pastor should marry one unequally yoked)

C. It brings a Covenantal family. The moment you say I do, Husband she is your family and if the Lord wills to bring children into your family, they are part of this covenant with God. The family is a unit to serve, worship, and follow Jesus. God who made His covenant with you and your spouse includes the children. The whole family is called to worship God and is part of the blessings of the Lord, as was Abraham’s children to him.

Inside the Marriage

A. The man and wife are according to scripture to seal their marriage in sexual relations; the first time ought to be with the only person you will ever have sex with. Does sin happen, yes, can it be forgiven yes, and can proper sexual relation be redeemed, yes. However, if you are following the Lord, sex is more than pleasure or to have an offspring, it is the sign of the covenant of marriage between the two. You are mine and I am yours. When a couple enjoys each other, it is the giving of oneself in unity. Biblical, married sex is an act of worship not towards each other but out of the blessing God gave to the both of you. When a married couple enjoys each other, they give glory to God.

B. When sex is not in the marriage; it is either due to medical reasons to which absence may occur or for a period of fasting and prayer. A sexless marriage should not be the normal, but a healthy sex life should be. It is sacred and should not be taken lightly, it is a gift and should be received, it is also a blessing and for those God wills produces little blessings.

The marriage often leads to children, and this is where peaking outside of this passage helps to understand the blessing of the covenant family which includes the children. The family dymanics should already be in place, but if there not this is where they need to become in place. Briefly turn to Ephesians 5:22-33

Inside the Covenant Family

A. Christ is first and foremost the Lord of all families. The family should worship together. It is sad when a mother goes to one church, the father another, the kids are torn between churches or worst when one member worships the Lord and the other claims He worships God on the golf course. Families that do not worship together are often led by men who are not accepting their God given place as the federal headship of his household.

B. The husband, father should be leading the spiritual direction of the house. He leads family worship, he decides the church they will be members of, he teaches the word, and protects physically and spiritually. This was set in the creation of Man and woman and reaffirmed throughout scripture. If a wife, mother is leading the spiritual direction of the home, there is sin within the household.

C. Wives are to submit to the husband’s leadership; it does not mean your place is in the kitchen, but it does not mean you are not rule over your husband. He should love and lead you as Christ does the church. Men that mean you are not permitted to abuse the role of leadership and be harsh, you must die to yourself for her. Christ gave everything for His bride, Husbands you give everything for your bride and children.

D. Children, you are called to be obedient to your parents and honor them as the Lord has commanded.

On the unequally yoked

It is far better you are not unequally yoked; men if your wife is not a believer led her to Christ under the blessing of your headship as Husband of the family. Wives, submit to your husbands where he does not go against the Lord, and pray for His salvation. There is a blessing in your house for God’s dwelling place is with His people.

The holiness of God separates your family from the world, making you holy; but again, far better to not be in this situation then in it.

Jesus and His Bride

The calling of marriage brings with it the mystery of the gospel, the higher marriage. Our earthly marriages while a blessing from God, point to the greater blessing the marriage of the Son to the Church.

Jesus shed His blood to issue in the New Covenant which seals us as belonging to Him as His bride the Church. As His bride we have the following callings and blessings under the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ.

A. We are made holy and righteousness because of what He did and gave to us

B. We are sealed with the covenant marked with the symbol of Baptism which brings us into an enteral relationship with the Triune God

C. We are called to pursue the ways of God, holiness

D. We are called to worship Him with Purity

E. We are called into service (the great commission)

F. We are called to love Him with our lives.

Conclusion

Christian his gave us life for broken people in broken marriages, to redeem broken people and broken marriages. The calling of the Christian brings with it new standards out of this world, to be a light in the world. Let your marriage be an example of the gospel for indeed its higher purpose is to reveal the greater marriage. Is your marriage pointing to the gospel? Does your sex life point to the gospel? Do your children point to the gospel? Is your family married to Jesus and serving Him for all your days?

Paul does not address Corinth with light issues, but gospel issues. Marriage and sex are a gospel issue and as the church we don’t need be afraid to speak sex in the public sphere, but we need to people that understand what sex and marriage is. Now more than ever the world needs Christian marriages, so husbands love your wife, wives submit to your husbands, children obey your parents.