In the past I’ve mentioned my conviction that much of what we see and
experience here in this transient life and temporal world is patterned after
eternal realities in Heaven. (See my post, “Patterns.”) Not the least of
these is the fact that God made man in His own image. Jesus continually used familiar objects and situations
as illustrations to teach spiritual truth.
But the pattern I’ve been impressed by lately is the relationship between Christ and the Church as it is reflected in the relationship between husband and wife. The Scriptures speak of the Church as the bride of Christ. Nowhere is the comparison with marriage more vivid than in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (Chapter 5, verses 22-33). But how are we to understand the nature and meaning of the heavenly pattern if our view of the familiar copy, the husband and wife relationship, has been badly corrupted by the world in which we live? Where do we begin?
We have to start with what is most familiar to us in day-to-day living: the marriage institution. However, we’re brought right back to the Scriptures to learn what God had in mind with the marriage relationship in the first place. We only need to go to Genesis 2:24 to get our first clue: “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.” Interestingly, in Paul’s letter to the Ephesian believers, he appeals to their understanding of Christ’s demonstrated sacrificial love for His church to teach them how husbands should love their wives. Now, he is using the heavenly pattern to teach them (and us) how a godly marriage is intended to work.
How amazing is God’s wisdom! First, He begins with a familiar earthly situation, marriage, although badly distorted from His original intent by the Fall of Man. Then, when our spiritual eyes are open, He applies that knowledge to help us better understand Christ’s relationship with His bride, the Church. In turn, Christ’s example of love for the Church teaches us what marriage should be like to reflect the heavenly pattern.
The deeper we look into the marriage relationship and family life, the more parallels with our relationship with Christ, both corporately and individually, we find. For example, the statement that a man is to leave his father and mother, cleave to his wife and become one flesh, teaches that this is to be an exclusive relationship and a union on a level different from all others. How like our relationship with Jesus this is. When we receive Him as Savior and Lord of our lives, we are choosing to exclude all other people and things from that relationship. The first of the Ten Commandments given was, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Our allegiance to Him must take precedence over all others.
Another parallel is in the way each relationship forms. As with a normal marriage, our relationship with Christ begins as a free choice. Both relationships then develop through an ongoing lifetime of choices, small and large. Wrong choices strain the relationship and hinder communication. Good choices bring strength, joy and fruitful outcomes.
The key element in these (and any relationship, for that matter) is the one without which there could be no real relationship at all. That element is trust. In regard to Christ, “without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). In fact, is by faith and faith alone that we come into a relationship with God through Jesus.
On the other hand, a marriage cannot be meaningful or long survive without trust. Of course, none of us is perfect, therefore, no marriage is perfect. And none of us are worthy of the perfect kind of trust that we owe Jesus. But this is where forgiveness and humbleness of spirit come in to offer healing and restoration. As the Scriptures admonish us, “let anyone who thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall” (I Corinthians 10:12).
I think I have just begun to scratch the surface of all the spiritual lessons that God may want us to learn from marriage and family living. In fact, I believe it forms a model for us to understand much about the kingdom of God. That is the reason for the title of this post, "The Marriage Gospel", and my hope to share more thoughts in future posts.
But the pattern I’ve been impressed by lately is the relationship between Christ and the Church as it is reflected in the relationship between husband and wife. The Scriptures speak of the Church as the bride of Christ. Nowhere is the comparison with marriage more vivid than in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (Chapter 5, verses 22-33). But how are we to understand the nature and meaning of the heavenly pattern if our view of the familiar copy, the husband and wife relationship, has been badly corrupted by the world in which we live? Where do we begin?
We have to start with what is most familiar to us in day-to-day living: the marriage institution. However, we’re brought right back to the Scriptures to learn what God had in mind with the marriage relationship in the first place. We only need to go to Genesis 2:24 to get our first clue: “For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.” Interestingly, in Paul’s letter to the Ephesian believers, he appeals to their understanding of Christ’s demonstrated sacrificial love for His church to teach them how husbands should love their wives. Now, he is using the heavenly pattern to teach them (and us) how a godly marriage is intended to work.
How amazing is God’s wisdom! First, He begins with a familiar earthly situation, marriage, although badly distorted from His original intent by the Fall of Man. Then, when our spiritual eyes are open, He applies that knowledge to help us better understand Christ’s relationship with His bride, the Church. In turn, Christ’s example of love for the Church teaches us what marriage should be like to reflect the heavenly pattern.
The deeper we look into the marriage relationship and family life, the more parallels with our relationship with Christ, both corporately and individually, we find. For example, the statement that a man is to leave his father and mother, cleave to his wife and become one flesh, teaches that this is to be an exclusive relationship and a union on a level different from all others. How like our relationship with Jesus this is. When we receive Him as Savior and Lord of our lives, we are choosing to exclude all other people and things from that relationship. The first of the Ten Commandments given was, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Our allegiance to Him must take precedence over all others.
Another parallel is in the way each relationship forms. As with a normal marriage, our relationship with Christ begins as a free choice. Both relationships then develop through an ongoing lifetime of choices, small and large. Wrong choices strain the relationship and hinder communication. Good choices bring strength, joy and fruitful outcomes.
The key element in these (and any relationship, for that matter) is the one without which there could be no real relationship at all. That element is trust. In regard to Christ, “without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). In fact, is by faith and faith alone that we come into a relationship with God through Jesus.
On the other hand, a marriage cannot be meaningful or long survive without trust. Of course, none of us is perfect, therefore, no marriage is perfect. And none of us are worthy of the perfect kind of trust that we owe Jesus. But this is where forgiveness and humbleness of spirit come in to offer healing and restoration. As the Scriptures admonish us, “let anyone who thinks he stands, take heed, lest he fall” (I Corinthians 10:12).
I think I have just begun to scratch the surface of all the spiritual lessons that God may want us to learn from marriage and family living. In fact, I believe it forms a model for us to understand much about the kingdom of God. That is the reason for the title of this post, "The Marriage Gospel", and my hope to share more thoughts in future posts.
Thanx Hu. I look forward to more.
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