THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT (God’s Gift of Marriage) You shall not commit adultery. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we lead a pure and decent life in words and actions, and that husband and wife love and honor each other. Lesson 15

Aim: What does God teach us about his gift of marriage?

1. How did marriage get started? Genesis 2: So the L ORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the L ORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

IT WAS ESTABLISHED BY GOD

2. What does God want marriage to be? Matthew 19:5,6 [God] said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Romans 7:2 2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. lifelong one man and one woman

3. How does God want us to go about entering into marriage? 1 Thessalonians 4:4,5 …that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; holy and honorable

4. With what gifts does God bless a husband and wife in marriage? Genesis 2:18 18 The L ORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” companionship

4. With what gifts does God bless a husband and wife in marriage? Ephesians 5:24–25 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her companionship and love

4. With what gifts does God bless a husband and wife in marriage? Genesis 2:24 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

4. With what gifts does God bless a husband and wife in marriage? 1 Corinthians 7:2–5, 8,9 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. … 8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. sexual happiness

4. With what gifts does God bless a husband and wife in marriage? NOTE: Chastity is a word that means “a God pleasing use of our sexuality within marriage alone.” sexual happiness

4. With what gifts does God bless a husband and wife in marriage? Psalm 113:9 9 He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the L ORD. Psalm 127:3 3 Children are a heritage from the L ORD, offspring a reward from him. children