Divine Design: Understanding Marriage Through Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Marriage as a Sacred Covenant

Marriage is not a human invention but a divine institution ordained by God. It is a profound mystery that reflects God's design and grace. Understanding this helps us see marriage as a sacred covenant rather than a mere social contract. [02:03]

Marriage is a divine institution, established by God from the very beginning of creation. It is not merely a social contract or a human invention but a sacred covenant that reflects God's design and grace. This understanding elevates the significance of marriage, reminding us that it is a holy order meant to mirror the relationship between Christ and the church. In a world where the concept of marriage is often challenged and redefined, recognizing its divine origin helps us appreciate its true purpose and value.

By viewing marriage as a sacred covenant, we are called to honor and uphold its sanctity. This perspective encourages us to approach marriage with reverence, commitment, and a deep sense of responsibility. It reminds us that our marriages are not just about personal happiness but about reflecting God's love and grace to the world. As we strive to live out this divine model in our relationships, we can experience the fullness of God's blessings in our marriages.

Ephesians 5:31-32 (ESV): "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church."

Reflection: How can you honor the sacredness of your marriage today, recognizing it as a divine institution ordained by God?

Day 2: Servant Leadership in Marriage

The roles of husbands and wives, as outlined by Paul, are often misunderstood. Husbands are called to be servant leaders, sacrificing for their wives, while wives are to submit out of freedom and respect. This mutual submission mirrors Christ's relationship with the church. [08:53]

In the biblical model of marriage, husbands are called to be servant leaders, emulating Christ's sacrificial love for the church. This means that husbands are to lead with humility, selflessness, and a willingness to put their wives' needs above their own. It is a call to love deeply, serve faithfully, and sacrifice willingly. On the other hand, wives are called to submit to their husbands out of freedom and respect, reflecting the church's submission to Christ. This submission is not about oppression or inferiority but about mutual respect and love.

Mutual submission in marriage is a beautiful reflection of Christ's relationship with the church. It is a partnership where both husband and wife honor and serve each other, creating a harmonious and loving relationship. By embracing these roles, couples can experience a deeper level of intimacy, trust, and unity in their marriage. It is a call to live out the gospel in our most intimate relationships, demonstrating Christ's love to the world.

Ephesians 5:25-28 (ESV): "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you practice servant leadership in your marriage today, reflecting Christ's sacrificial love?

Day 3: Marriage as a Model of Christ and the Church

Marriage is a living example of Christ's relationship with the church. Just as Christ sacrificed for the church, husbands are to sacrifice for their wives. Wives, in turn, submit out of love and respect, reflecting the church's submission to Christ. [14:19]

Marriage is designed to be a living example of Christ's relationship with the church. This profound mystery is beautifully illustrated in the way husbands and wives are called to love and submit to each other. Husbands are to love their wives sacrificially, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. This means putting their wives' needs above their own, serving them selflessly, and leading with humility and grace. Wives, in turn, are called to submit to their husbands out of love and respect, mirroring the church's submission to Christ.

This divine model of marriage is a powerful testimony to the world of God's love and grace. It demonstrates the beauty of mutual submission, where both husband and wife honor and serve each other, creating a harmonious and loving relationship. By striving to live out this model in our marriages, we can reflect Christ's love to those around us and experience the fullness of God's blessings in our relationships.

Colossians 3:18-19 (ESV): "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them."

Reflection: How can your marriage better reflect the relationship between Christ and the church? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate sacrificial love and mutual respect?

Day 4: Striving for Reconciliation in a Broken World

In our fallen world, the ideal of marriage is often marred by sin and human failings. Issues like oppression, abuse, and infidelity can distort the divine model of marriage. However, we are called to strive for reconciliation and reflect Christ's love in our relationships. [17:07]

In a broken world, the ideal of marriage is often marred by sin and human failings. Issues such as oppression, abuse, infidelity, and other forms of brokenness can distort the divine model of marriage. These challenges can create deep wounds and fractures in relationships, making it difficult to live out the biblical model of love and submission. However, even in the midst of these struggles, we are called to strive for reconciliation and reflect Christ's love in our marriages.

Reconciliation in marriage requires humility, forgiveness, and a willingness to seek God's guidance and grace. It involves acknowledging our own shortcomings, extending grace to our spouse, and working together to rebuild trust and intimacy. By striving for reconciliation, we can experience the healing and restoration that God desires for our marriages. It is a journey of growth and transformation, where we learn to love and serve each other more deeply, reflecting Christ's love to the world.

Matthew 18:21-22 (ESV): "Then Peter came up and said to him, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.'"

Reflection: Is there an area of brokenness in your marriage that needs reconciliation? How can you take the first step towards healing and restoration today?

Day 5: God's Mercy and Understanding in Difficult Marriages

God understands the complexities and struggles within marriage. While divorce is not God's desire, it is permitted in cases of infidelity, abandonment, or abuse. God's mercy extends to those in difficult marriages, and He calls us to seek His guidance and grace. [17:48]

God understands the complexities and struggles that can arise within marriage. He knows that we live in a fallen world where sin and brokenness can impact our relationships. While divorce is not God's desire, it is permitted in cases of infidelity, abandonment, or abuse. God's mercy extends to those who find themselves in difficult and painful marriages, offering grace and compassion in the midst of their struggles.

In difficult marriages, it is important to seek God's guidance and grace. This may involve seeking counsel from trusted spiritual leaders, engaging in prayer and reflection, and taking practical steps towards healing and restoration. God's mercy is abundant, and He desires to bring healing and wholeness to our relationships. By leaning on His strength and wisdom, we can navigate the challenges of marriage and experience His transformative power in our lives.

Psalm 34:18 (ESV): "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Reflection: Are you facing challenges in your marriage that feel overwhelming? How can you seek God's guidance and grace to navigate these difficulties and find healing?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we continue our sermon series, "Walk This Way," focusing on the subject of marriage. The foundation of our discussion is the often-debated text from the Apostle Paul, which addresses the roles of husbands and wives within marriage. In today's world, marriage faces numerous challenges, including no-fault divorce, premarital and extramarital sex, same-sex marriage, and gender confusion. These issues raise the fundamental question: What is marriage? According to Scripture, marriage is ordained by God, not a human invention.

Martin Luther grappled with the concept of marriage, especially given his celibate background. He acknowledged that while marriage is a profound mystery, it does not fit his definition of a sacrament, as it does not grant the forgiveness of sins. However, marriage remains a holy order, a sign of God's grace and design for humanity.

Paul's text instructs wives to submit to their husbands as the church submits to Christ, and husbands to love their wives as Christ loves the church. This often causes discomfort, but it is crucial to understand that submission in marriage is not about oppression but about mutual respect and love. Husbands are called to be servant leaders, sacrificing for their wives, just as Christ sacrificed for the church. Wives, in turn, are to submit out of freedom and respect.

Marriage is a model of Christ's relationship with the church, characterized by love, sacrifice, and mutual respect. It is a process of learning, friendship, and growing together as one flesh. In a broken world, this ideal is often marred by sin and human failings, but we are called to strive for this divine model in our relationships.

In conclusion, whether you are married, single, or widowed, look to Christ's relationship with the church as the ultimate example of love and submission. In your marriages, strive to be different from the world, clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Remember, God is merciful and understands the complexities and struggles within marriage. May your marriages reflect Christ's love for His bride, the church.

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Key Takeaways

1. Marriage as Divine Institution: Marriage is not a human invention but a divine institution ordained by God. It is a profound mystery that reflects God's design and grace. Understanding this helps us see marriage as a sacred covenant rather than a mere social contract. [02:03]
2. Roles in Marriage: The roles of husbands and wives, as outlined by Paul, are often misunderstood. Husbands are called to be servant leaders, sacrificing for their wives, while wives are to submit out of freedom and respect. This mutual submission mirrors Christ's relationship with the church. [08:53]
3. Marriage as a Model of Christ and the Church: Marriage is a living example of Christ's relationship with the church. Just as Christ sacrificed for the church, husbands are to sacrifice for their wives. Wives, in turn, submit out of love and respect, reflecting the church's submission to Christ. [14:19]
4. Challenges in a Broken World: In our fallen world, the ideal of marriage is often marred by sin and human failings. Issues like oppression, abuse, and infidelity can distort the divine model of marriage. However, we are called to strive for reconciliation and reflect Christ's love in our relationships. [17:07]
5. God's Mercy and Understanding: God understands the complexities and struggles within marriage. While divorce is not God's desire, it is permitted in cases of infidelity, abandonment, or abuse. God's mercy extends to those in difficult marriages, and He calls us to seek His guidance and grace. [17:48]
### [17:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:04] - The State of Marriage Today
[02:03] - Marriage as a Divine Institution
[03:07] - Controversial Text: Wives Submit to Husbands
[04:43] - Husbands Love Your Wives
[05:33] - Marriage as a Sacrament?
[06:49] - The Mystery of Marriage
[07:34] - Mutual Submission in Marriage
[08:13] - Christ's Relationship with the Church
[08:53] - Servant Leadership in Marriage
[09:30] - The Fall and Its Impact on Marriage
[10:09] - Misconceptions About Submission
[11:23] - Sacrifice and Submission in Marriage
[12:04] - Spiritual Leadership in the Home
[12:43] - The Reality of a Broken World
[13:20] - Christ's Ultimate Sacrifice
[14:19] - Christ and the Church: A Model for Marriage
[15:23] - Marriage and Other Relationships
[16:34] - Examples of Christ-like Marriages
[17:07] - Striving for a Christ-centered Marriage
[17:48] - God's Mercy in Difficult Marriages
[18:27] - Closing Prayer and Reflection

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 5:22-33 (ESV) — > Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

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Observation Questions

What does Paul instruct wives to do in their relationship with their husbands? ([03:07])
How are husbands instructed to love their wives according to Paul? ([03:59])
What analogy does Paul use to describe the relationship between husbands and wives? ([04:43])
How does Paul describe the mystery of marriage in relation to Christ and the church? ([04:43])

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean for marriage to be a divine institution rather than a human invention? How does this perspective affect our understanding of marriage? ([02:03])
How can the concept of mutual submission in marriage be understood in the context of servant leadership and respect? ([08:53])
In what ways does the sacrificial love of Christ for the church serve as a model for husbands in their marriages? ([08:13])
How does the brokenness of the world impact the ideal model of marriage described by Paul? ([09:30])

Application Questions

Reflect on your own marriage or relationships. How can you better embody the servant leadership that Paul describes for husbands? ([08:53])
For those who are wives, what are practical ways you can show respect and submission out of freedom in your marriage? ([08:53])
How can single individuals or those who are widowed look to Christ's relationship with the church as a model for their interactions and relationships? ([16:34])
What are some specific challenges you face in striving for a Christ-centered marriage, and how can you seek God's guidance and grace in these areas? ([17:07])
In what ways can you and your spouse work together to reflect Christ's love and sacrifice in your marriage, especially in times of conflict or difficulty? ([17:48])
How can you support friends or family members who are struggling in their marriages, offering them encouragement and pointing them to Christ's example? ([17:48])
Consider the concept of mutual submission in your relationships. How can you practice this in a way that honors God and strengthens your relationships? ([12:04])

Sermon Clips

1. "And to rob marriage really of God's design is really to rob from His Word and His meaning. Grace and peace to you today from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. We continue on our sermon series, Walk This Way. And today it's about the subject of marriage. The text that we're framing this message around is often a controverted test, meaning it draws a lot of dialogue and a lot of concern within the marriage unit with individuals considering marriage, just because of some of the words that the Apostle Paul gives us." [01:04] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "So husbands ought to love. Love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it just as Christ also does a church because we are members of his body. And finally, for this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great, but I'm speaking with reference to Christ and the church." [04:43] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "So, therefore, it is a little s sacrament for us in our church. It is a sign of God's grace. It is a sign of God's design, not human design, for mankind. And so, we have the words from Genesis that began it all. This is why a man leaves his father and mother and becomes attached to his wife and they become one flesh. It's a model of a complete family. It's a model of maturity for a relationship. It's a model of transition where you move from the authority of your parents and you now are a singular flesh operating as a singular unit with respect for one another." [06:49] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "How did Christ relate to his church? I think you know the answer. Was he an oppressor in his great lordship? Did he lord over us with great oppression? Or did he come as a humble servant, suppressing his divinity while he was on earth to sacrifice himself on the cross? You know that is what he did. And also as submission. He submitted his divinity to his father. He submitted to the will of his father to give up his life for his church, for you and I. That is the meaning of marriage. That we are to be walking as Christ walked on this earth." [08:13] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Through Christ we learn that Lordship is exercising one's powers not to lord over someone in a relationship, but to sacrifice for them. And that's the key in particular for the husbands out here. You are not to lord over your spouse. You are to sacrifice for your spouse. It's a much different role as being the head of the marriage. You also are supposed to be the spiritual leader in your homes. And if you're not, you should be. You need to be engaged in word and sacrament. You need to lead your family unit around the word of God. That is your role and your vocation as husband and parent." [11:23] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "You have to die to self in order to make room for another. Do we not? And what happens in our baptism? We die to self. So you are baptized children of God. In our relationships, we are asked to act differently. But it doesn't always work that way, does it? We know that in this world, we have many, many problems. And there are individuals, there are husbands that lord over their wives. There are wives that maybe act inappropriately. And the relationship is not always healthy because we are in submission. A broken world. But we are always directed back to the cross." [12:04] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Marriage mimics the church and mimics Christ's relationship to his bride. So as you contemplate and as you look around, whether single or married, keep in mind how Christ has dealt with us as individual believers. Keep in mind that you are now a new creature. So in your marriage, you should be different than the odd duck that is not a Christian and has not been baptized. You are created and you are renewed. You are clothed with the righteousness of Christ. So therefore in your marriage, if you're husband, do not lord over someone as to oppress him, but treat them with servant leadership." [17:07] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "We always want to seek reconciliation in our marriages, but it is not always possible in this broken world. So I know some of you, as I'm talking about this, I'm mentioning that because this brings out great anxiety when you talk about marriage and when your marriage is not working as God maybe had designed it. And as you feel it's a failed marriage and you're struggling with it because it kills you. Because you know you want it right, but you can't get it there. And you know that God is a God of mercy and He understands when there is true oppression in your marriage." [17:48] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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