“Marriage And The Gospel”
Ephesians 5:18-33
Sermon Series: “Picture Perfect Family?”
Introduction: How can we expect the world to believe the gospel if they don’t see it reflected in our marriages? It is sinful hypocrisy to claim to be a Christian and to treat the church and/or marriage lightly.
The gospel is the fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came from heaven to earth, lived a perfect and sinless life, died on the cross in our place for our sins, and was bodily raised from the dead. Salvation is by grace and is received through repentance of sin and faith in the Lord Jesus alone. When we trust Christ, God forgives our sins, gives us the gift of eternal life, regenerates our hearts by His Spirit, and places us into His family-the church. Based on the gospel, we have a personal relationship with God through Jesus.
Ephesians 5 teaches us that marriage is a picture of the gospel and the church. James Boice writes of this, “When God created marriage it was not simply that God considered marriage to be a good idea, though it certainly is that, or even because God thought it would be a good way to have and rear children. God created marriage to illustrate the relationship between Christ and the church. The relationship of a husband to a wife in marriage was going to illustrate the relationship of the Lord Jesus Christ to those he would one day redeem from sin’s slavery. The relationship of a wife to her husband was going to illustrate the relationship the people of God, the church, would have to Jesus Christ.” Thus, marriage is about much more and has a much deeper meaning than just a relationship between my spouse and me.
1. Marriage is Christ-centered (v. 23, 32, but we also see Jesus spoken of throughout the entire passage). Jesus is the motivation, example, and empowering for marriages between Christians. He should be at the center of our marriages. This is part of the reason why a Christian should not marry a non-
Christian. Is the ultimate purpose of your marriage to glorify Jesus?
2. Marriage is based on unconditional love and sacrifice (v. 23- 25). Jesus loves the church and died for the church as the substitute for us and the atonement for our sins (v. 25). Based on that and through Christ, we are to love our spouse unconditionally and sacrificially. A great marriage is built on giving while selfishness destroys marriages. Rick Warren says, “Nothing unmasks our innate self-centered sinfulness as a long-term marriage. Many would rather divorce than admit it and change. I can summarize 35 years of pastoral marriage counseling in 2 words: GROW UP. Selfishness is the root.”
3. Marriage is designed to develop holiness (v. 25-27). The ultimate purpose of salvation is for us to glorify God through holiness and becoming like Jesus. Marriage is a reflection of this. We are to relate to our spouse in a way that encourages purity. There are definitely moral components attached to the way we handle ourselves in marriage. Rick Warren goes on to say, “The purpose of marriage is to make you holy, not happy. Happiness is a by product, not an end in itself.”
4. Marriage is to be an unbreakable union (v. 30-31). The church is eternally joined to Christ. This is a mystery but also a wonderful, encouraging truth. He is never going to leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), He will be faithful even if we are unfaithful (2 Timothy 2:13), and no one can take us away from Him (John 10:28). That is a beautiful picture of what marriage is supposed to be. Those of who us who no Christ are to be as committed to the same unbreakable union as He is with us.
Conclusion: Do you trust the gospel? Is your marriage based on it?
