THE UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORTIVE UNION

Genesis 2:18-25; Ephesians 5:22-33

In the early Church they did not have to do seminars about marriage and family, love and romance. They didn’t need to. They simply took the words of the apostles. What God said in the Bible was enough for them. How things have changed since then. Marriage is now being redefined. The pressure of society is getting on Christian couples, many of who are now reacting to issues within their marriage in carnal, worldly ways. What they see on television, read in the newspapers, or see their friends in the world do affect their decision on issues arising in their marriage. The Church is under pressure to accept the new marriage definition. But as Christians we must affirm that true marriage is one between a man and a woman who leave their relatives to cleave to each other. It is a timeless, as well as a timely institution designed to fulfill God’s creative plans and purposes. In light of this, Christian couples should learn how to cultivate love, growth and maturity in their marriage, knowing that they are fulfilling the will of God. The family is a place where love can be shared. It is a place where members can be shielded, protected, heard, supported, and understood. It is the only place where children can be properly and effectively loved, nurtured and sent into society as stable, strong and able.

Family In the Light Of Holy Scriptures

Men And Women Created In God’s Image (Gen.1:26-28)

Man Must Leave Father and Mother and Cleave To Wife (Gen.2:21-25)

Godly Children Should Be Brought Forth By The Union (Gen.1:27-28; 18:17-19)

The Family’s Sanctifying Purpose (1Cor.7:1-4)

The Union In God’s Purpose Is Unbreakable (Mark 10:2-9)

We have to constantly state and restate the definition of Biblical marriage. Biblical marriage, the only true marriage is between male and female. God designed each to fulfill the role for which He has created them. Any union between two people of the same sex is simply a gratification of unnatural lust of the flesh. Such union does not and cannot  fulfill the purpose and plan of God.

God made men and women in His own image and likeness (Gen.1:26-28). Every feature of the male body, every feature of the female body was designed by God for a purpose.

The man must leave father and mother and cleave to his wife (Gen.2:21-25) – the couple must leave their relatives and establish their own nuclear family where they can have and raise their own children, thus fulfilling God’s purpose.

Why do we marry? We marry (i) because we love (ii) because we want to be helped to love. The married couple can extend love to other people, (i) to their own children, (ii) then to many other people who interact with them. If marriage is weakened as society is attempting to do, there will be serious implications for the mutual belonging, care and love exercised within the community at large.

When children are born to the couple, joy overflows and the love of God which started at conception is shown again.

Why do we marry? To preserve purity. Marriage is designed to have a sanctifying effect. It is meant to keep the society pure. It removes ungodly sexual activity and preserves purity (1Cor.7:2).

Marriage is permanent. In God’s plan the marriage bond is unbreakable (Mark 10:2-9; Mat.19:4-9). Jesus did not give any ground for divorce as some people teach. How could He when all his preaching emphasized forgiveness – “Love one another”, “Bless those who curse you”, “Pray for those who despitefully use you”, “Reconcile with thy brother” "Go the extra mile"; "Turn the other check".

Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of the hearts of the people of Israel, but from the beginning of creation, it was not so. And we who live in Christ today have the grace of God that those people did not have as at that time (Titus 2:11).  When our marriages grow and mature in love, they bring glory to God who has instituted marriage. It will also confirm to the world that it is better to marry than to burn. True marriage union is a bond between a man and a woman, where the mans becomes the husband and the woman the wife.

Who is a husband and who is a wife?

HUSBAND – Eph.5:25-32

H – Helpmeet-Loving U – Unspotted S – Straight B – Blameless A – Assuring N – Non-compromising D – Devoted Friend

HUSBAND – Eph.5:25-32

H – Helpful U – Understanding S – Supportive B – Befriending A – Assisting N – Nourishing
D – Defending

WIFE – Proverbs 31:10-29

W – Well I – Informed F – Family E – Expert

WIFE – Psalm 144:12

W – Woman I – Influencing F – Future E – Excellencies

 

WIFE – 2Tim.1:5

W – Wise I – Influential F – Friendly E – Educator
These two roles when fulfilled properly will bring innumerable blessings to the couple and their children, and society at large. The couple would also have fulfilled the Purpose of God.

Fondness and Empathy of Married Partners

(Eph.5:22-33)

Find Joy In Your Distinctiveness (Gen.1:27; 2:24; psalm 139:13-15)

Find Joy In Looking After The Rights Of Your Beloved (Eph.5:22-33)

Wives Fulfill God’s Plan in Your Joyful Submission (Eph.5:22-24)

Husbands Fulfill God’s Plan in Your Sacrificial Love (Eph.5:25-32)

Why do we marry? We marry because we love and because we want to be loved and be helped to love. Husband and wife are both fulfilling this purpose of God. They should be fund of each other, love each other, feel for each other, honour each other, respect each other, protect each other, support each other to fulfill their God given roles.

Let me tell you the story of Sarah Edwards - wife of Jonathan Edwards, America's greatest theologian and the leader of the great awakening in 1700's. She loved God so much that at certain times God would come and fill her mind with sweet delights that she would do nothing but meditate on God.
Then Jonathan was working as his grandfather's assistance. Upon the death of his grandfather (Solomon Stoddard) he became the minister of the largest wealthiest congregation. Sarah's sweetness and Fellowship with Jesus help her to make their home so pleasant, their children never quarrelled like others. the husband was so much in love with her.  She made the home so agreeable and so desirable. No wonder the revival broke out in their congregation. They lived their lives on God's principles of Marriage - Ephesians 5.

Ephesians 5 couples are the happiest of all couples! (Eph.5:22-32)

Wife, if you will obey God and submit to your husband unquestioningly as unto the Lord, if you give him the place of honour, if you serve him at your best, build him up to be the man, make him honoured in the public, you will soon see that you have a hero in your hand, a centurion, a defender a true lover. You will find your deepest needs fulfilled by your husband without coercion. The man who wrote you love letters, or shall I say, love emails will manifest again!

Husband, if you will love your wife as Christ loved the Church, if you will give yourself for her, if you will defend her honour before men, if you will enhance her beauty; if you will nourish her; if you will cherish her as your own body, you will have whatsoever you will from her – her submission, her love,  her loyalty, all of herself. You will again find that woman you fell in love with at first sight!

Brothers and sisters we have to rejoice in the fact that God has made us different. Different in features, different in functions, different in thoughts. As a wife you will need to compliment your husband. As a husband you will need to compliment your wife. In this way we glorify God and bear a strong witness to the world.

Fate of Rejecting God’s Order of the Family

Genesis 1:27; 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Hosea 8:3, 7; Ephesians 5:3-7; 22-33

There is a pronouncement upon Israel for rejecting the commandments of God and following the way of Gentiles (Hos.8:3,7). This can, without fear of contradiction, be said of all the nations of the world rejecting God's commandments and His perfect plan for marriage and family. Nations are approving vanity, preferring things that are worthless to great institutions of God that bring social stability and advancement. They shall reap the consequences. God is not mocked. 

Every civilization in history has been built upon the institution of marriage.

Children have a right if at all possible to have a married mother and father involved in their upbringing.

In general the evidence shows that marriage provides a stability for adults and children which is hard to beat in terms of outcomes.

There is considerable evidence to show that marriage leads to better family relationships, less economic dependence, better physical health and longevity, improved mental health and emotional well-being and reduced crime and domestic violence.

By contrast sexual freedom and relationship breakdown cost Britain £100 billion annually...

Marriage is the only legal union which can naturally lead to children. It takes both a man and a woman to produce a baby. The fact that there is a natural link between sexual intimacy and procreation is what makes marriage distinctive and different. Redefining marriage will undermine this distinctness and difference and risks normalising the technological instrumentalisation of reproduction and increasing the number of families where there is confusion of biological, social and family identity (Banner of Truth)

In the beginning God created people male and female (Mat.19:4-6).

In the beginning there was no permission for divorce (Mark 10:11-12)

As the scripture have said, let no man deceive you (1 Cor.6:9-11; Eph.5:3-7; Rev.21:8;)

Hell is for all sinners who fail to repent. Have been born again. Do you know that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom.3:23)? Do you know that the wages of sin is death, and that the soul that sinneth shall die (Rom.6:23; Ezekiel 18:4)? Do you know that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom.6:23)? Do you know that Christ has died for your sin (Rom.5:8)? Do your know that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Rom.10:13); Do you know you can repent and confess Jesus today and be joyfully saved (Rom.10:9-10)? Christ is calling you today, knocking at the door of your heart. you must let him in (Rev.3:20).