Sermon Series: “Better Together ” — Sermon: “God Made The Marriage Covenant Not You”

Sermon Series: “Better Together ” — Sermon: “God Made The Marriage Covenant Not You”

Philippians 2:5 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: … servant …”. If no proper foundation all you build will be unstable.

Dr Dean Ornish (Ornish Lifestyle Medicine)

“Love and intimacy — our ability to connect with ourselves and others, is at the root of what makes us sick and what makes us well, … People who feel lonely and isolated have a 300-500 percent greater risk of premature death due to 

physical illness.”

Ruth Graham was asked if she ever considered divorce, She answered, “No, never divorce. Murder, yes. Divorce, No!”

“It is a foolish woman who expects her husband to be to her that which only Jesus Christ Himself can be: ready to forgive, totally understanding, unendingly patient, invariably tender and loving, unfailing in every area, anticipating every need, and making more than adequate provision. Such expectations put a man under an impossible strain. The same goes for the man who expects too much from his wife.” — Ruth Bell Graham

“A happy marriage is the union of two great forgivers.” — Ruth Bell Graham

Asked his secret of being married fifty-four years he said: “Ruth and I are happily incompatible.’”

— Billy Graham

Matthew 19:5-6  “He answered, ‘Haven’t you read in your Bible that the Creator originally made man and woman for each other, male and female? And because of this, a man leaves father and mother and is firmly bonded to his wife, becoming one flesh …

 … no longer two bodies but one. Because God created this organic union of the two sexes, no one should desecrate his art by cutting them apart.’”

Hebrews 13:4 (Message) “Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex.”

Malachi 2:15-16 “God, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does he want from marriage? Children of God, that’s what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don’t cheat on your spouse. …

 … ‘I hate divorce,’ says the God of Israel. God-of-the-Angel-Armies says, ‘I hate the violent dismembering of the ‘one flesh’ of marriage.’ So watch yourselves. Don’t let your guard down. Don’t cheat.”

Proverbs 18:22 “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the Lord.”

God Made The Marriage Covenant Not You 

Matthew 26:28 (AMP) “for this is My blood of the [new and better] covenant, which [ratifies the agreement and] is being poured out for many [as a substitutionary atonement] for the forgiveness of sins.”

Hebrews 9:15 (ESV) “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”

Elements Of A Covenant:

Terms Agreement — Solemn Vows — Exchange Of Gifts — Witness Or Memorial — Covenant Meal

Cutting / Shedding Of Blood

Covenant:— A unilateral, unconditional, permanent commitment that creates a relationship where the two become one sealed by the shedding of blood.

We have a relationship with God that is unshakable!!!  

Blood Covenant — His precious blood!  He is not moody and fickle. 

He is faithful and committed.   He is gracious and forgiving.

“Do you, ______, take _______ to be your lawful wedded spouse, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?”

Unilateral:— I am all in in my commitment no matter  what. 

Unconditional:— I will be constant no matter your performance.

Permanent:— Nothing can weaken the bond.

Contract:— A bilateral agreement between parties that is governed by the performance of the agreement.

Contract to limit distrust.  — We better put that in writing. — I do this and you do that.

Contracts have expectations:

Make me happy. — Perform the conditions — Sexual satisfaction— Nothing change 

Everything Change — I can opt out if you fail

It’s difficult to become one with someone you can’t trust.

Covenant deals with distrust right at the outset of the relationship.

Its hard to be intimate and vulnerable when no safety.

Genesis 2:18 “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

helper:— (ezer) strong help comparable:—  

Comparable:—(kenegdo) as in front of him; perfect match, same nature.

Complementarian:— the theological view that although men and women are created equal in their being and personhood, they are created to complement each other via different roles and responsibilities as manifested in marriage, family life, religious leadership, and elsewhere. It is also known as the Traditionalist or Hierarchical view.

Egalitarian:— within Christianity, the theological view that not only are all people equal before God in their personhood, but there are no gender-based limitations of what functions or roles each can fulfill in the home, the church, and the society.

The Bible teaches the fundamental equality of women and men of all racial and ethnic groups, all economic classes, and all age groups, based on the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.

New Covenant has a New Commandment:

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”