Take Note
In this message from our Kingdom Commodities series, we look at the mystery of marriage from Genesis 2 and Ephesians 5.
Since this was a Family Sunday at Cedar Springs, the question is made simple enough for kids to follow and direct enough for adults to feel mildly exposed, which is generally how Scripture works when we let it speak plainly.
Why aren’t men good enough?
Why do we need women?
Those sound like strange sermon questions, and maybe dangerous ones depending on who gets the microphone next. But Genesis 2 gives us the first thing in creation that God calls “not good”: “It is not good that the man should be alone.” God then creates woman as a helper fit for him, someone who corresponds to Adam and is different from Adam.
Then Genesis gives us marriage: a man leaves his father and mother, holds fast to his wife, and the two become one flesh.
Paul returns to that exact passage in Ephesians 5 and says, “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”
Marriage was never only about a husband and wife. God built into marriage a picture of something much larger: Christ and His church.
That means Christian marriage has a purpose beyond happiness, romance, kids, retirement plans, vacations, shared bank accounts, and keeping score over who loaded the dishwasher correctly. Those things may be part of married life, some more sanctifying than others, but they are too small to explain what God designed marriage to display.
Marriage is one of the gifts God gives in this life that can be invested toward eternity.
A marriage can turn inward, focused only on comfort, family goals, personal happiness, and building a small earthly kingdom. Scripture warns us that plenty of things that look responsible and impressive in this life will be burned up when Christ returns.
A marriage can also turn outward.
A husband and wife can serve together, give together, welcome people together, disciple together, raise children toward Jesus together, and use their home, money, time, energy, and abilities for the gospel.
That calling extends beyond biological children and private family life. God’s plan has always been larger than genetic material and shared last names. In Christ, God is building a family joined by His blood, His redemption, and His Kingdom.
This sermon invites married couples to ask what their marriage is actually for.
Does our marriage make us more available to God’s purposes, or less?
Are we building primarily for comfort in this life or reward in eternity?
Are people outside our family being blessed because God put us together?
Do we encourage each other toward sacrifice and obedience, or toward comfort and self-protection?
Are we using our home, money, time, and abilities together for the gospel?
Are we raising our children primarily for earthly success or for faithfulness to Christ?
If our marriage ended today, what would remain eternally because of it?
Scripture passages include Genesis 2:18-24, Matthew 19:4-6, 1 Corinthians 7:3-9, 1 Corinthians 7:32-39, and Ephesians 5:22-33.
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Cedar Springs Community Church
Graham, Washington 98338
cedarspringsnw.com
