July 4-5 - Malachi 2:14-15

the Lord was a witness between

you and … your wife by covenant.

And what does the one God desire?

Godly offspring. … Do not let anyone

be faithless to the wife of his youth.

Malachi 2:14-15

 

What is marriage?

 

You probably have a definition.

 

Ugandans probably have a different definition.

 

Buddhists probably have yet another definition.

 

The culture in Ghana surely has a definition. The culture in Guatemala certainly has a definition. The cultures in Georgetown, Green Bay, and Gastonia have definitions. And you know, there are probably still a few “uncontacted” cultures on very remote islands that probably have still yet another definition.

 

Question: Before you go any further, write your definition for marriage!

 

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Well, if peoples and cultures have definitions for marriage, it shouldn’t surprise us that God has a definition. He has defined it frequently and consistently in His Word.

 

Read our lesson for today. According to this passage (as an example … and in accord with the consistent testimony throughout scripture) marriage involves six things:

 

1.    “You” (the husband)

2.    “Your wife”

3.    “The Lord”

4.    A “covenant”

5.    “Faith[fullness]” and …

6.    The properly ordained context for human sexuality and “offspring.”

 

Like many churches, our congregation has statements and policies defining sex and marriage according to God’s definition:

 

From the beginning of Scripture (and through to the end), God makes clear the context for sex and marriage. In the beginning, God created male and female (Genesis 1:27). It is God and Scripture who ordain the joining of one man and one woman in a “one flesh” union (Genesis 2:24 and later ratified by Jesus quoting this truth in Mark 10:7-9). This is a centuries-old covenant between a man and a woman and God -- not a social contract between people (Malachi 2:14-15). This covenant relationship is called “marriage” (Mark 10:9 and as Jesus said, “What God has joined together, let no one put asunder”). 

 

From the beginning of Scripture (and through to the end), God ordains the intertwining of sex and marriage. The primary purpose of human sexuality is procreation (Genesis 1:28; indeed, the natural fruit of a one flesh union is children). Therefore – and though not all marriages are blessed with children – marriage is the only Biblically ordained context for sexuality; indeed, Scripture consistently testifies that all sexuality outside of the marriage covenant – including lusting in one’s heart (Matthew 5:28) – is sinful. 

 

Question: How did your definition match God’s definition?

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy who wants God

to be his dictionary

(not the world)