There is no doubt about it – The Bible highly esteems
marriage. At the very start of Scripture, we're witnesses to the first marriage
ceremony in all creation: Adam being united to Eve, his bride, in Genesis
2:18-25. When asked about divorce and remarriage, Jesus points back to the
foundation of marriage by describing God's design for human sexuality at
creation, the way things were supposed to be before man disobeyed Him:
He answered, 'Have you
not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
and said, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold
fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh"? So they are no
longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man
separate' (Matthew 19:4-6, ESV).
What exactly is God’s original
design for marriage?
One Man + One Woman
As seen in Matthew 19, Jesus first reminded His followers
that in the very beginning, God made us in His own image, male and female. Men
and women are different, yet complementary; specifically designed by God to
complete each other. Both are intrinsically valuable. The male body and the
female body show us we are physically complementary, but being a man or a woman
isn’t only about biology; a husband and wife fit together in body, soul and
spirit.
In Lifelong Union
Jesus also pointed His followers to God's plan for marriage.
Marriage uniquely brings together a man and a woman so the two may become one.
God established marriage to be a lifelong, faithful relationship between a
husband and a wife — full of joy, love and intimacy. Marriage is a relationship
where two people, joined to each other and to God listen and talk to each other,
pray and worship together, share work and ministry in the world and create and
raise a family together.
With Sexual Intimacy
Sex is a good thing, as it was created by God. Sexual desire
moves us toward intimacy
with another, and marriage is the one place God established for sexual love
to occur. Such intimacy is powerful, uniting two people physically, emotionally
and spiritually. God's desire was for a married couple to enjoy each other
without fear, hiding or shame.
Bringing New Life
The marriage relationship was also intended to be fruitful.
After all, one of the more obvious results of a sexual relationship is
children. A husband and wife typically bring new life into the world. God
designed marriage to join them to each other to be mother and father to their children.
Mom and dad are the two best people to provide for and educate their children. Because
marriage creates, nurtures and equips the next generation, it rests at the
foundation of society — before government, religion, schools or other man-made
institutions.
Reflecting a
Spiritual Picture
While every person reflects aspects of the image of God, a
husband and wife union is the most important picture in the Bible of how
intimate our relationship with God can be. God is portrayed as the Husband who loves us, and
we are the wife, who responds back to Him. In the New Testament, Christ is
pictured as the groom; the Church is His bride. Marriage shows us how deep and
intimate our relationship with God can be!
In honoring God’s design for marriage, we uphold the union
of one man and one woman, united for life, with loving intimacy that reflects
Christ, and capable of bringing new life into the world. Most importantly, every
marriage — even those not consciously aimed at God's glory — images the greater
covenant between Christ, the redeemer-husband, and the Church, His sinful but
blood-bought bride.
Adapted from The
Foundation of Marriage by Jeff Johnston © 2014 All rights reserved. Used by
permission from Focus on the Family.
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