Marriage
Genesis 2:18-25
Genesis is the book of beginning. In chapters 1 and 2 we have the events of creation. [Gen 1:27-28 NASB] 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." Man is created in the image of God, and God created them both male and female for the purpose of multiplying the earth. In Genesis 2:18-20 God created every living thing from the ground and had man name them all, but a helpmeet for man was not found. Verses 21-23 tell of from man's own side God made a helpmeet that was suitable in all ways for man. Man recognizing this special creation from his own side God made a mate for himself, and he called her woman because she was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. [Gen 2:24 NASB] 24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. The beginning of the institution of marriage between a man and a woman, husband and wife.
Looking at the spiritual beginning of the church through Christ Jesus. For Christ came and built His church, Matthew 16:16-18, with the purchase of His own blood, Acts 20-28. That blood of which He bought the church was from His own side, John 19:32-34, of His flesh and of His bone, Ephesians 5:30. He is the head of the church, Colossians 1:18, as the husband is the head of the wife, Ephesians 5:23. Jesus' love for the church was so great that He gave Himself for her, 1 John 3:16, making her holy and without blemish, Ephesians 5:27. Through Christ Jesus, God has justified us freely by grace through His redemption being the propitiation in His blood for the remission of sins, Romans 3:24-25.
The intimate relationship of the husband and wife can clearly be seen through the relationship of Christ and the church. Giving his life for her to provide for her everything she needs both physically and spiritually, 1 Peter 1:3. He understands her in all of her infirmities, giving her the confidence to come to Him in her time of need, Hebrews 4:14-16. The church in turn completes Him, [Eph 1:22-23 NASB] 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. This special union God has put in place for mankind had its beginnings in Genesis, and its fulfillment in Christ Jesus building that spiritual union with His own church. Have you become one flesh with Christ?
Mike Parks
Hardin County Church of Christ
February 24, 2021
