Marriage is the God decreed union between an individual Man and Woman.
Marriage is the primary ordinance of God to facilitate the procreation of the human species.
Marriage is the foundational establishment of human government under God.
The most precious and holy gift from God for all human kind which occurred in the garden of God (Eden) when man and woman were first created is revealed in the first account of marriage.
Genesis 1: 27; So God created humankind in his own image; in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them. Genesis 2: 18 ~ 24; 18 Adonai, God, said, “It isn’t good that the person should be alone. I will make for him a companion suitable for helping him.” 19 So from the ground Adonai, God, formed every wild animal and every bird that flies in the air, and he brought them to the person to see what he would call them. Whatever the person would call each living creature, that was to be its name. 20 So the person gave names to all the livestock, to the birds in the air and to every wild animal. But for Adam there was not found a companion suitable for helping him. 21 Then God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the person; and while he was sleeping, he took one of his ribs and closed up the place from which he took it with flesh. 22 The rib which Adonai, God, had taken from the person, he made a woman-person; and he brought her to the man-person. 23 The man-person said, “At last! This is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She is to be called Woman [c], because she was taken out of Man [d].” 24 This is why a man is to leave his father and mother and stick with his wife, and they are to be one flesh. (CJB)
The essential plan for the earth by God was to populate it with the creatures He had made, animals, fish, birds, plants and trees. Of all of these human beings are the only living creatures given to one another under the veil of marriage. As male and female individuals God set in motion the filling of earth with life; however humans have a distinction in that we were created in the “image of God” and have been given “dominion” over the earth and all that is in it. This special and higher blessing has with it the responsibility to conduct ourselves in way that is in harmony with the character of God our creator. Marriage is the essential mechanism that God has provided for us to live as beings that are above (over) the other living creatures on the earth.
The marital relationship is most sacred and brings with it many blessings that transcend our physical nature and enter into the spiritual realm that is ultimately where all humans are destined to live for eternity.
The marital union between a man and a woman propagates children under the will of God.
The marriage relationship is unique to the united couple from single individuals with special benefits of both romantic and platonic companionship, physical and spiritual caring and the ability to provide for the family. These marital gifts are only determined to exist between a man and a woman!
The institution of marriage is the first and most important plan of God to provide human government; children are raised in the knowledge and reverence of God which perpetuates a Godly human society.
The married man and woman have been blessed with added protection and power under God; they are under Gods’ blessing for both themselves and their children when in obedience. “Two are stronger than one”!
The married couple has authority under God to raise children and bear the image of the Godly relationship that God intended when life was created.
The married couple has been called to teach righteous behavior to future generations of people. The establishment of the church has always offered support for the family under God.
The married couple is as designed a balance of the attributes of man and woman, and they complement each other in ways that no other relationship can; this is Gods’ wonderfully harmonious plan.
God has created marriage in the image of our human relationship with Himself. The “body of Christ” is also Biblically referred to as the “bride of Christ”. The instructions about a Holy marriage are in direct line with our instruction about a proper relationship with God.
Ephesians 5: 22 ~ 28; 22 Wives, be subject to your husband’s as you are to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior. 24 Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, 27 so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (NRSV)
The image of marriage is clearly one of a special purity and positional condition between Gods’ elect and Himself. God cherishes us as a husband cherishes his wife.
Revelation 19: 7 ~ 8; Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready;
to her it has been granted to be clothed
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
The traditions of man have been carefully modeled after Biblical teaching on Gods’ view about marriage. When a marriage is conducted it should be of no surprise that there are characteristics of the Judeo – Christian marriage ceremony which transcend other religions and cultures. Marriage has always been between a man and a woman; marriage has always had in (traditional) vows instruction pertaining to faithfulness, devotion to one another and the true meaning of love. All of the elements of marriage that are dear to our hearts come from Gods’ own word. While there are examples of unique styles and even novel vows of commitment; the elements that will help maintain and promote an enduring union have to come from the wisdom of God; our own human endeavors are shy the mark and do not instill the kind of commitment that a healthy marriage needs to survive.
Godly marriages are life long, just Holy relationships between humans and God are eternal.
There is only one marriage vow, one marriage relationship two between people, and one marriage approved of by God. All other ideas that involve the romantic, sexually intimate relationship between two people are immoral and unacceptable to God. He created us as masterpieces of a divine plan which has been off track since we rebelled against Him in our sin. When the institution of marriage fails in its purity, Gods’ designed purpose for the family’s authoritative role in human society, the very fabric of orderly human existence is torn, the door to sin is opened wide and we suffer for it.
God has given us all the things that are needed to be in a harmonious relationship with one another; the gift of marriage is the provision for love between a man and a woman which is pleasing in Gods’ own eyes!
(July 17, 2016)