Main Scripture Text: Ephesians 5:21-33
The best way for us to find out what marriage is about is to ask the author…
Marriage is about God redeeming a people to Himself.
1. The picture of marriage is Christ and His church
Genesis 2:18, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
Genesis 2:22-24 “the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. [and] The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, 'for she was taken out of man." For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”
Matthew 19:6, “ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
2 Corinthians 11:2, Paul said he had “…a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.”
2. The point of marriage is our sanctification
3. The purpose of marriage is God’s glory
· A right view of marriage has implications for singles
Hebrews 13:4 says, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.”
· A right view of marriage has implications for those pursuing marriage
· A right view of marriage has implications for those who are married
· A right view of marriage has implications for how we view divorce
· A right view of marriage has implications for those who are divorced
Application Questions:
1. How has your view of marriage been shaped or changed in light of this message?
2. Why is it important to remember what your marriage is meant to be a picture of?
3. How does seeing the point of marriage as your sanctification affect how you view problems or difficulties in marriage?
4. Since the point of marriage is sanctification – how should we respond or treat our spouse differently?How does rightly understanding
