The Mystery of Marriage — midweek message
by Abiding Love
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will be one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I am talking about Christ and the church.
Ephesians 5:31-32
He left his home to move close to the one he would wed. He thought about her every day. Every day he lived to bring her joy. Every day he looked forward to the moment where they would be joined forever in bliss. It was this love that even led him to give up his life for her before their wedding day.
Who is this man? None other than our Savior Jesus. He left his home in heaven, lived every day on earth in loving service to his future bride, and died with the goal that his sacrifice would bring to fruition the day He would finally be united forever with the one he loves.
Whom does Jesus love? His Church.
Can we ever fully grasp the complete, selfless love of Christ for us? May we cherish it, rejoice in it, and reciprocate it.
God has now given us a way to imitate that loving relationship between Christ and His Church. The unconditional, selfless love and unity between Christ and His Church is meant to be acted out as husbands and wives love and honor each other. The incredible joy of the earthly marriage union imitates and depicts the incredible joy of that final wedding feast in heaven.
Sin means our earthly marriages are never perfect presentations of the relationship between Christ and His Church. Yes, sin in a marriage hurts people. Sin in a marriage also robs God of glory.
Christ loved His Church and gave himself up for her to make her holy. That means he died to forgive those sins and restore us to himself. Loved by Christ, may we renew our attitudes and relationships in marriage.
This begins an 8-week series on “Marriage and Relationships: By God’s Design”
Peace in Jesus,
Pastor John Gensmer
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