Biblical Marriage

Session Three

The Acts of Marriage: Husband and Father (Part 1)

Ephesians 5:21-33 

Outline 

We established that marriage is the doing of God. Marriage is established at the very beginning. Before the sixth day of creation ends we see our first wedding. We are created to be image bearers. We bear the image of our Creator. As God made man in His own image, so He made earthly marriage in the image of His own eternal marriage with His people. Therefore, as long as Christ tarries, marriage will stand for one thing only, Christ loving his church. In other words, marriage is the image bearer of the Gospel.

As such, our marriage is a covenant relationship that mirrors the New Covenant in the Blood of Christ. Marriage is not a function of self gratification; it is a vessel of sacrificial love rewarding all who participate.

In this session we look at the role of husband and father. In Paul’s definition of the one flesh relationship recorded in Ephesians 5:21-33, husbands are compared to Christ, wives are compared to the church. Husbands are compared to the head; wives are compared to the body. Husbands are commanded to love as Christ loved. The roles Paul describes are unique. In this session we begin to explore their uniqueness.

Roles begin in Mutual Submission (vs 21)

Mutual Submission

Humble service to the other

Build each other up

Does NOT cancel out Headship

Mutual Submission is defined in Unique Roles (vs 22-33)

Husbands compared to Christ

Wives compared to the church

Husbands compared to the Head

Wives compared to the Body

Roles are not arbitrary or reversible

MEN – Bring Your Headship into Conformity 

Husband Headship – one of the most broken parts of our culture

Sin corrupted- Brutal / Passive

Christ-like Servant Leader who:

Provides

Protects

Definition of Headship: Headship is the divine calling of a husband to take primary responsibility for Christ-like, servant leadership, protection, and provision in the home.

***Homework***

LIFE APPLICATION

Getting First Things Right; Second Things ALWAYS Get Better

What is at stake here is the Gospel

Biblical Marriage

Session Two

Foundation of Marriage; Naked and Not Ashamed

Genesis 2:24-25 / Genesis 3:1-7 

Outline 

In the first session we established that Marriage is the doing of God. Marriage is a key part of the creation story. From the very beginning, God created them male and female and brought them together in a one flesh relationship. The creation story in the first chapter of Genesis ends with a wedding!

We also established that the ultimate thing regarding marriage is that it is the display of Christ and the church. The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:31-32 reveals that leaving parents and holding fast to a wife, forming a one flesh union, is meant from the beginning to display the New Covenant…Christ’s leaving his Father in heaven and taking the church as his bride, at the cost of his life, and holding fast to her in one-spirit union forever.

In other words, our weddings take place on, and remain on display from, the stage of life where as husband and wife we preach the Gospel (with our marriage union) to everyone who looks our way…especially our children. As such, we see that the primary command in Genesis 1:28, “Be fruitful and multiply”, and Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:20, “Go and make disciples”, are at their core the same command.

This week we will explore the statement at the end of the creation account which says “they were naked and not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25). It’s hard to have an understanding of such a statement in our culture. However, in this statement rests the knowledge that within our marriages there lies security, safety, and power for the purpose for which we are called to be husband and wife.

What is the main point of Verse 25?

Naked and Not Ashamed 

Verse 24 creates what verse 25 needs to be true.

‘Naked and not ashamed’ can only happen inside a one-flesh relationship

Covenant Commitment 

Creates the context for a shame-free marriage…

Is God’s design for all love relationships…

Covenant Love:

Even though I am imperfect;

I have no fear of being shamed.

Covenant Love Covers Sin:

1 Peter 4:8; 1 Corinthians 13:6

When the Covenant Collapses 

Declaration of Independence (Genesis 3:5-7)

All-trusting security of marriage disappears forever

Result of the Broken Covenant 

Vulnerability to Shame:

Learning to relate in selfishness

Feeling guilty and unworthy

Fig Leaves:

Established hypocrisy

Significance of Clothing 

Negative: We are no longer what we should be

Positive: God will one day make us what we should be through the blood

LIFE APPLICATION

The ‘Fall’ did not change God’s purpose in marriage

Love can only grow in the soil of GRACE in Marriage

Your marriage was created by God to be a safe and sacred place to be naked and not ashamed

Wednesday, October 8th, (6:00PM Arizona Time) we begin a ten week study entitled: Biblical Marriage: Can my marriage thrive in a 21st century business world? Our first session will focus on the core foundation and purpose of God’s design.

Biblical Marriage

Session One

Foundation of Marriage; God’s Design

Genesis 2:18-25 / Ephesians 5:31-32 

Outline

 

^{Genesis 2:18} Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” ¹⁹ Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. ²¹ So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. ²² And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. ²³ Then the man said,

“This at last is bone of my bones

and flesh of my flesh;

she shall be called Woman,

because she was taken out of Man.”

²⁴ Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. ²⁵ And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Marriage is God’s Doing – 

Designed by God – Genesis 1:27-28 / 2:24

God made and gave the first bride – Genesis 2:22

Therefore;

God owns marriage

God and marriage can never be viewed as separate

Marriage was established during creation and doesn’t change

 

^{Ephesians 5:31} “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” ³² This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Marriage reveals God and the Gospel – 

            Marriage is a covenant – 5:31

Marriage is a pattern – 5:32

Marriage is viewed as unbreakable – 

            I will never leave you…

Matthew 28:20

Hebrews 13:5

LIFE APPLICATION

Marriage is not a picture of self-gratification; it is a picture of self-sacrifice.

Marriage is designed by God to display the Gospel to the world.

The Joy in Responsibility

(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)

Commentary

Savoring God

Hebrews 13:17-25 

Outline 

I can only imagine what it was like the day when this letter was read to the church for the very first time. No doubt, it was read in its entirety to the eager listening gathering of Christians. No doubt, it had a profound impact on the lives of those in the gathering; especially those still living that had witnessed the agony of the cross and experienced the thrill of the resurrection.

What has taken 40 weeks for us to study together, most likely only took 40 minutes for the first hears to take in. I pray that the final words of the letter, commonly known as the benediction, will have the same impact on us as it did to those of the first century.

After all, the benediction speaks of the God of peace. As we have studied together these last 40 weeks, we understand how our author worships God as absolute to creation and redemption. He calls us to draw near to God and rejoice.

God cannot be taken for granted. If anything has value, it has value because of God. Like our author, we worship God, the highest value in all creation. We know in a very objective way that Jesus Christ is Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, Shepherd, Priest and King! As the letter comes to a close, we in one accord can add our Amen to all that has been said.

Two Brief Acknowledgements  

Make Relationships with Leaders Beneficial (vs 17-18)

Obey & Pray

Find Grace in the Word (vs 22-25)

Main Idea

May the God of peace… (vs 20)

Purification for sins (1:3)

Propitiation of sins (2:17)

Sacrifice for sins (5:1)

Forgiveness of sins (9:22)

Bearing the sins of many (9:28)

Take away sins (10:4)

Offering for sin (10:19)

Blood of the Eternal Covenant (vs 20)

Covenant keeping – Promise keeping God (8:8-12)

Brought again Jesus from the dead

Sanctifying Shepherd (vs 20 -21)

Equip you with everything good

Working in us that which is pleasing

LIFE APPLICATION 

Joy in Responsibility

Live as if you have the tools to accomplish your calling

ALL of life is the Gospel and it’s pleasing to God

The Joy in Responsibility

(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)

Commentary

Strength by Grace

Hebrews 13:7-16 

Outline 

Our author has presented a number of examples of the faithful and the faithless in this love letter. Be like the faithful who ran the endurance race all the way to the appointed end well. Don’t be like faithless Israel as they grumbled in the wilderness longing to return to Egypt.  As we come to the letter’s end and the final two lessons, we are encouraged to imitate our preachers and teachers that have died well. Even though our author may not be limiting our heroes of the faith to dead people, the request is that we consider the “outcome” of their life of faith. Therefore it could be suggested that most of your study of the faithful be of those who have died but their faithful life is preaching and teaching still.

It is encouraging to learn of our leaders that grew in faith to the very end of their days. However, we have a perfect example in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Our earthly leaders come and go, but Jesus is unaffected by mortality. Nothing hinders our perfect leader from providing counsel, encouragement and strength by His Grace. With these examples, we should not be easily led astray by strange teachings.

It is good for the heart to be strengthened by Grace. This Grace is available only by the blood of our perfect sacrifice, namely Jesus. The name of Jesus is great and greatly to be praised. Let us do good, share what we have, and offer up the sacrifice of praise because Christ alone is worthy!

Remember 

Your Leaders (vs 7)

Preachers and Teachers of the Word

Consider the outcome of their life

Imitate their faith 

Jesus Christ (vs 8) 

            The same:

Yesterday (with Matthew, Mark, Luke, Paul)

Today (You are in the same relationship)

Tomorrow (You will be in the same relationship)

A Strong Heart (vs 9) 

No strength by foods

ALL strength by Grace

So, don’t be led astray

How do we eat Grace? 

            We go to the altar – the cross (vs 10)

We are not like the Priest on the Day of Atonement (vs 11)

Jesus fulfilled the Day of Atonement (vs 12)

Therefore, Move (vs 13,14) 

Outside the camp – away from comfort

To the place of sanctification

For we have no city here

Pleasing God (vs 15,16)

Through Him (Jesus)

Do Good, share

LIFE APPLICATION

Joy in Responsibility

Not building paradise on Earth

Seek the City that is to come