1. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject

2. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject

3. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  One of the most used “marriage texts” – Eph 5  Paul’s subject matter = Christ and the church, not marriage v. 32  Marriage offers the example to illustrate the importance and beauty of this relationship vv. 22-33

4. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  Husbands must “love” their wives Eph 5:25a  Love = agape (sacrificial love shown for the best interest of another) Jn 3:16 Rom 5:8  Wives must “love” their husbands Titus 2:4  Love = phileo (emotional affection or good will shown to another) Mt 10:37 Jn 11:36

5. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  The different “types” of love commanded for husbands & wives bears evidence of their individual strengths brought to the relationship  Men Ù task driven; love shown in sacrificial deeds done for the wife’s benefit  Women Ù relationship driven; love shown in emotional support for the husband

6. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  The husband’s example – Christ Eph 5:25  He loves his wife “as Christ loved the church”  A love shown by giving of himself for her benefit  Such a love will prevent him from becoming “embittered” against his wife Col 3:19  He will know his wife’s worth Prov 18:22 Gen 2:18  This will also help her show submission

7. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  How did Christ obtain a “bride” that is such a blessing to Him? Eph 5:26-27  By totally sacrificing for her  What if a husband wants this kind of wife today?  He won’t “get lucky” and fine one…he will have to sacrifice for her just as his Jesus did for His

8. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  This “giving up of himself for his wife” doesn’t just mean he is willing to die for her  There are several ways a husband can “give up himself” for his wife besides physically dying  He will deny himself so that his wife can have what she needs & wants

9. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  Husbands need to love their wives to the degree they love themselves Eph 5:28-30  Paul’s teaching harmonizes with what happened at “the beginning” Eph 5:31 Gen 2:24  Since a husband & wife are “one flesh”…he will love his wife as he loves his own body

10. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  Husbands must also “live with their wives in an understanding way” 1 Pet 3:7  Many men exclaim “I can’t understand my wife!!”  This passages refutes that notion  Husbands must know their wives’ needs & wants… how she thinks…her strengths & weaknesses  This will enable him to lead her…love her

11. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  Just because the husband is portrayed as the “stronger vessel” does not mean he is superior  He must remember his wife is also his “fellow heir of the grace of life” 1 Pet 3:7  There is no distinction in Christ Gal 3:28  A failure to recognize this hinders his prayers

12. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  Interesting observation…wives are not taught to “understand their husbands”  We believe this implies women possess a greater intuitive strength in “understanding” a spouse  This emphasizes her contribution to the marital relationship…a wise husband recognizes this

13. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  Wives must submit to their husbands Eph 5:22  Because it is “as unto the Lord”  Because it “is fitting in the Lord” Col 3:18  Her husband is her head…just as Christ is Head of the church Eph 5:23  As the church is subject, so is the wife Eph 5:24

14. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  The wife’s example is the church Eph 5:24  The church is subject to Christ “in everything”… so should the wife be to her husband  This is not a statement of her inferiority  It is a Divine declaration re: her role as man’s “suitable helper”

15. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  Some believe, teach the woman’s submission is attributable to Eve’s actions Gen 3:16  If woman was made submissive to her husband because of the first sin, what does that imply before Adam & Eve committed sin?  They would have been marital equals or peers

16. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  Husband & Wife enjoying equal roles prior to sin is not the teaching of the Scripture  Submission is based upon creation, not sin 1 Tim 2:12-15 1 Cor 11:3, 8-10  God was reminding the woman of her place when He spoke what is recorded in Gen 3:16

17. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  Obviously, this is not “politically correct”  We’re concerned with eternal truth, not politics  Man’s authority over woman is God-given  Woman’s authority is “usurped” 1 Tim 2:12 “To seize & hold in possession by force without right or wrongfully” - Webster

18. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  The love required between husband & wife is defined in 1 Cor 13:1-8a  Actions toward another without love are meaningless vv. 1-3  Marital love is always thoughtful toward the other vv. 4-6

19. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  The love required between husband & wife is defined in 1 Cor 13:1-8a  Marital love bears up under injustice…believes the best in the other…hopes for the best…endures when the best doesn’t happen v. 7  Marital love never quits v. 8

20. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  N.T. Christians are fully aware of the importance of civil authority & its role in daily living Mt 22:15-22 1 Pet 2:17 Rom 13:1-6  There may exist a difference between Divine authority & human authority on an issue  In such cases, God’s will rules Acts 4:19 5:29

21. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  This is equally true re: the marriage relationship  Even though marriage is a “Divinely regulated” relationship, human civil regulations are involved  Cultural requirements dictating when & how one is married must also be considered  Requirements that must be respected Rom 13:2, 5

22. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  Throughout the centuries, different customs have been observed that constitute when 2 people are considered “married”  Isaac and Rebekah Gen 24:67  “Jumping the broom”  Modern-day civil customs & social ceremonies

23. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  A relationship regulated by God  When these “customs” are observed, the man & woman are considered “married”  This union may or may not have Divine approval... however, it is a “marriage” Mt 19:9 Mk 10:11-12  The “reverse argument” re: divorce is equally true  An important point for our next discussion

24. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject MARRIAGE – Love Designed By God  One final question…Who May Marry? Ê Those who have never been married before Gen 2:18 1 Cor 7:8-9, 25-28, 36 Ë Those whose mates have died Rom 7:2-3 1 Cor 7:8-9, 39 Ì Those whose mates were unfaithful and were put away (divorced) Mt 19:9

25. Biblical Examinations Of An Emotional & Controversial Subject