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Understanding God's Blueprint for Marriage

By Jim Chapman, President, RMFC

In America over the last several decades, we have managed to transform marriage, the most basic and universal of God’s human institutions, into something controversial. Since the beginning of time, men and women have married, formed families and raised children. This timeless institution has brought cultural stability, economic prosperity and honor to God.

With the advent of the divorce culture in the late twentieth century, the concept of life long marriage has slowly eroded from being the premier adult human relationship to one of several alternatives. But that is not God’s blueprint for marriage. From the beginning of scripture, marriage is seen as a mirror of God’s ongoing redemptive and relational plan for humanity. Marriage is the first human relationship in the Garden of Eden; Jesus did his first miracle at a wedding in Cana; and the Apostle Paul made marriage a major theme in his writings. The fact remains that marriage is more than just a union of one man and one woman. It’s a picture of love, sacrifice and commitment that is not only the core of human marriages but at the core of God’s redemptive eternal work. It is God’s covenant with humanity.

• Marriage embodies God’s redemptive plan for humanity-Matthew 19:1-7
  

Marriage mirrors God’s redemptive work for men and women. Marriage is the human union by which redemption, reconciliation, renewal and growth occurs. God designed it as a life long relationship of love, commitment, sacrifice, fidelity and grace.

• Marriage builds covenant unity- Genesis 2:22-25
  

The marriage union reflects the union of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Creating and building new unions is at the core of God’s eternal work. Thus, marriage is designed to create a new union between a man and a woman.

• Marriage builds oneness of flesh- Genesis 2:22-25
  

The Genesis scripture introduces the core marriage principle of oneness of flesh. God architected marriage to bring together a man and a woman, forming a new family. It reflects God’s eternal relational union. Thus, God designed marriage to be a life long covenant relationship.

• Marriage is a witness to the world- 1 Corinthians 7; Hebrews 13:4
  

The institution of marriage is a powerful witness to the world. It models love, commitment, fidelity, loyalty and sacrifice. History has shown its value as a modifier of human behavior; a transformer of culture; a generator of economic success; and a mirror of God’s redemptive work.

• Marriage reflects Christ’s future union with the Church- Ephesians 5:22-32
  

Marriage is a powerful symbol of Christ’s future union with the Church. While Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on a cross redeemed His Church, his action serves as a contemporary model for marital actions.

Rocky Mountain Family Council

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Westminster, CO 80031

(303) 292-1800

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