So you see, human history begins with a marriage and ends with a marriage, and all the space in between is the unfolding of the result of the first marriage and the preparation for the second marriage.

That’s the first way in which the Bible emphasizes the importance of marriage. Now let me point out another way of tremendous importance, and it is this: marriage typifies the relationship of Christ to His church. Paul brings this out very clearly in Ephesians chapter 5 verses 25–27:

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.”

So the love of a human husband for his wife is a reflection of the love which Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has for His bride, the church. And then Paul goes on at the end of that chapter, Ephesians 5 verses 31–32:

“For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the Church.”

In other words, human marriage is a mystery which contains in it a picture of the relationship of Jesus Christ to His church. The most holy and sacred of all relationships is typified by marriage. What importance that gives to marriage. It’s my personal conviction that unless Christians can understand marriage in the light of the Bible, they cannot fully understand their own relationship to Jesus Christ for the marriage relationship is a pattern of that higher and eternal relationship, the relationship between Jesus Christ and His bride, the church.

Now I’ll point out a third way in which the Bible emphasizes the importance of marriage and this is the way in which God Himself has protected marriage, has surrounded it with His own ordinances of protection to keep it as sacred as He intended it to be. Hebrews chapter 13 verse 4 says this:

“Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

You see, God demands that all men hold marriage in the highest esteem. He requires that we all respect and honor this institution of marriage. This is a universal requirement of God amongst all races, all men everywhere. And He has protected the sacredness of marriage with His own declaration of His judgment against those who in any way impair it or defile it or make light of it.

The Scripture that I’ve read says “fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” Those are people who do not rightly respect marriage. Fornicators are those who seek sexual relationship outside of marriage. Adulterers are those who’ve entered into a marriage relationship and then break their marriage vow and seek relationships outside the marriage. In essence, both are guilty of showing disrespect and dishonor for the institution of marriage and God is determined that this institution shall be protected. So He has said in His Word, “fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” To me, that’s a very powerful statement. If it had said simply, “fornicators and adulterers will be judged,” that would have been suf

God Is A Matchmaker

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