This is my first sermon in a series covering marriage, family, and the church. This message was delivered on May 27, 2012 at Hillcrest Baptist Church. This message deals with the origin of marriage, covering 6 main principles. You will find the text of the sermon, and the audio. Please note that the sermon text is NOT a full transcript. Typically, as I preach, I add to what is in my notes. So, for the full sermon, please listen to the audio version.
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SERMON TEXT:
Genesis 2:18-24 – The Origin of Marriage
There are 6 main points to cover as we look at the origin of marriage.
1) It was created by God, and therefore defined by God.
2) It was God’s first institution.
3) It is one man and one woman.
4) The act of getting married is ceremonious.
5) It is Christ centered.
6) It is the foundation of society.
CREATED BY GOD, THEREFORE DEFINED BY GOD:
v.18:
Man was not meant to be a loner.
In fact, isolating ones self is not a good thing, so God made Adam a helper.
So. . . here are the beginnings of God’s marriage.
Jesus also reiterates that it is of God’s making, as he was speaking to the Pharisees on the topic of marriage.
Matthew 19:4, 6
Mark 10:6
Created at the beginning of creation (the 6th day), this was the very first institution created and ordained by God.
vv.19-20:
Prior to creating Eve, God gave Adam an amazing demonstration that would, undoubtedly help him to appreciate Eve all the more.
God demonstrated to Adam that despite how wonderful His creation was, that man is unique, special, above and superior to animals.
Although animals are beneficial to serve man, though we even love and become attached to them, they cannot replace human companionship.
They are simply a lesser creature.
vv.21-22:
In creating just one helper for Adam, God also demonstrated that marriage is to be only between one man and one woman.
Some may ask how we can assert that God meant only for monogamous relationships, with so much polygamy on the Bible.
Many events in the Bible are used to justify unbiblical and immoral relationships, and/or a warped view of marriage.
You need to remember that the Bible is a record of many historical events. Just because an event is recorded in Scripture, it doesn’t mean that God condones it.
In fact, polygamy is not condoned in Scripture, and just about every occurrence of it is marked with disaster.
God said that “it is not good for man to be alone,” so what did He create? Two men? Two Women? No! One man and one woman!
One MAJOR thing that they were meant to do is procreate.
Genesis 1:28
This also precludes the notion that homosexuals can enter into a legitimate marriage.
The Bible very clearly lists homosexuality as a sin.
Leviticus 18:22
Leviticus 20:13
Deuteronomy 22:5 (cross dressing)
Well, you say, thats the Old Testament, we live under grace, in the New Testament.
The sinfulness of homosexuality is clearly carried over into the New Testament, as well.
Matthew 19:4
Mark 10:6
Romans 1:26-27
1 Corinthians 6:9
Since it is clearly sin, it cannot constitute a God ordained marriage, and does not fit the Biblical description of marriage. Therefore, we cannot even call it marriage.
To do so would require us to redefine what God has created. We do not have that authority!
vv.23-24:
The Bible also refutes our flippant attitude toward marriage in todays society, where people enter in and out of marriage on a whim.
But even the first marriage was a big deal, we see that it was marked by a ceremony. It didn’t matter that no one else was around, the bottom line is that it is a big deal, and should be treated seriously.
We see here that a vow was made, and it was a serious commitment. It didn’t just happen!
In fact, v.22 tells us the God brought her to Adam.
This is our model for a father giving away his daughter in marriage, and that is still the proper way to do things.
Eve was under God’s direct care until she was brought to Adam.
Likewise, a women remains under the care of her father until he entrusts her to another man, and gives her away in marriage.
Marriage requires a cleaving to each other, which means that other relationships must now take a back seat, even the parental relationship (shall leave his mother and father).
This word (leave) actually paints a picture of total commitment to the spouse. In fact, it leaves no room for a half hearted commitment.
Your priorities must change, and your first earthly responsibility must be to your spouse.
Just as Adam and Eve were literally one flesh, God will spiritually unite two christians in marriage.
In some special way, known fully only to Him, a man and woman in a marriage relationship can truly become one flesh, just as Adam and Eve were one flesh after Eve had been fashioned from Adam’s side.
A bond is created that cannot be adequately explained, and can only be understood once it is experienced.
This is why, very often, when someone loses their spouse, it is literally as if part of them has died.
This is also why a husband and wife will no longer operate independently of one another, as their lives are no longer their own.
They now belong to each other.
1 Corinthians 7:3-4
Marriage is not something just to hop in and out of, it is a serious and lasting commitment.
Because marriage is God’s own creation, a Biblical marriage must be Christ centered.
As opposed to evolution centered, which is interested only on carnal pleasure and not loving commitment.
A loving commitment (which is a requirement of marriage) is also characterized by a right relationship with Jesus Christ.
It is also interesting to note that Christ’s doctrine of marriage has no logical foundation, by the way, nor do we have any reason to marry, if Adam and Eve were not real, specially created people.
We can rightfully conclude that since Adam and Eve were the only two people in existence at this time, that they and their marriage constituted the beginning of society.
It was from this union that society was born, and Biblical marriage is the very foundation of all society.
It is with our family that we have the very first human interaction, and through them that we learn to build relationships.
It is safe to say, and obvious to see, that when the family is compromised, society goes downhill. The worse the family gets, the worse society gets.
Change starts at home, and to have a Biblical marriage, and to be a Biblical family, the parents must be devoted Christians, and raise their children to be the same.
This begins with faith in Jesus Christ, making Him the center of your life and family.
In Defense: The Blog 
Posted on May 27, 2012
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