When reading the Scriptures, we often come across terms that might seem academic or distant from our everyday experiences. ‘Theology’ and ‘doxology,’ might appear at first glance to be reserved for theologians or scholars. However, they encapsulate a profound truth about our faith journey: the seamless exchange between understanding God (theology) and worshiping Him (doxology).
In Genesis 2, we find the roots of marriage. This passage, along with later verses in the New Testament, forms a blueprint for what marriage should be. God, the supreme architect, lays out His design for a gospel-centered family in Scripture. This design is meant for daily living and spiritual durability. As we dissect Genesis 2:18-24, we recognize marriage not as a human invention but as a divine institution, crafted by God Himself as the foundational unit of society and the church. It is described as the standard, the ideal — an original definition humanity often veers from due to sin. However, despite our sins, the divine blueprint remains clear and recoverable.
The Bible does not gloss over the messiness of human relationships. Instead, it offers these blueprints as a corrective lens, a way to realign with God’s original designs. It acknowledges our missteps and provides a path back to structural integrity. Like any diligent builder consulting a blueprint to correct deviations in a building project, we too can return to Scripture to address the fractures in our family foundations.
This message is especially essential today as society tries to redefine family and marriage. As societal definitions drift further from biblical models, the effects are negative. Yet, Scripture remains a steadfast manual. Genesis 2 does not just instruct; it inspires. It calls us not to lament our past errors too long but to strive toward living out the divine blueprint in our current family structures. It is an invitation to build or rebuild on a foundation that has not and will not falter.
As we delve deeper into this series, each element of the family, each part of the blueprint, will be explored, starting with marriage. In God’s plan, marriage is the cornerstone of the family, a union designed to reflect God’s glory and proclaim the gospel to the world. This task demands intentionality, commitment, and a deep desire to align our most intimate human relationships with the blueprint laid out in Scripture.
In a world where the integrity of marriage is both questioned and assaulted, understanding and adhering to God’s original plan for it is revolutionary. It is a radical call to live counter-culturally, to build families that are beacons of love and truth in a confused and searching society.
1. Marriage Is God’s Plan… Strive to Do It His Way
At the beginning of Genesis, we find marriage — not as a cultural construct but as a divine institution. Embedded within the creation story is a profound declaration of marriage’s inherent goodness. God, after crafting the universe, saw that “it was good.” Therefore, if God himself proclaimed the inherent goodness of all He created, including marriage, it stands as a firm rebuttal against any dismissals or negative connotations often joked about in society today. From the outset, God designed marriage to be a partnership of equals, though not identical in roles. Adam was created first, not as a statement of superiority but to set a foundation of leadership. When God noted that “it is not good for the man to be alone,” He did not immediately create Eve as a mere afterthought or a subordinate to Adam. Instead, He first established Adam’s role as a caretaker and leader of creation.
When Eve was created from Adam’s side, it symbolized equality and partnership, not subordination. She was made from his side to stand alongside him, not from his head to top him, nor from his feet to be trampled underfoot. This imagery beautifully illustrates that Eve was neither above nor below Adam but beside him — a helper suitable for him. In Hebrew, Eve is described as an “ezer,” a word used elsewhere in the Bible to describe God himself when He comes to help His people. This implies that a wife is not merely an assistant but an indispensable partner in the marital covenant.
The biblical portrayal of a wife as a “suitable helper” reflects a role that is both complementary and essential. She is there not only to support but also to challenge and refine her husband, ensuring that together they fulfill God’s purpose more effectively than either could alone. This divine blueprint for marriage illustrates a model where both husband and wife, though distinct in their roles, are united in purpose and function. The husband’s role as leader in the family does not imply a dictatorial stance but a loving stewardship, calling for sacrifice, protection, and guiding the family towards God’s will. The wife’s role as a helper involves support, wisdom, and at times, necessary confrontation to ensure the family remains aligned with God’s statutes.
In a society where the definitions and structures of marriage are increasingly fluid and subject to personal preference, returning to Scripture provides clarity and stability. God’s design for marriage is not merely functional; it is also holy, set apart to reflect the unity and diversity within the Godhead itself. Marriage is a divine institution meant to mirror the relational aspect of God’s character — His love, commitment, and covenantal loyalty.
As we strive to embody the biblical model of marriage, we must approach our relationships with intentional commitment to these roles, understanding that while cultural norms may shift, the divine blueprint remains steadfast. This calls for a renewed commitment to pursue marriage God’s way — a way marked by mutual respect, sacrificial love, and a shared commitment to God’s glory.
2. Live God’s Purpose in Your Marriage by Proclaiming the Gospel Through It
The marriage covenant is ultimately a reflection of Christ’s sacrificial love for His church, a theme eloquently explored in Ephesians 5:31-32. Here, Paul draws directly from Genesis, highlighting that the union of a man and woman in marriage is a profound mystery mirroring Christ’s union with the church. This divine perspective elevates the purpose of marriage beyond personal satisfaction to a calling where each couple is tasked with displaying the gospel’s power through their relationship. How Christ loves the church — His bride — with unyielding commitment and sacrificial love, sets the standard for how spouses are to love one another.
In this light, the purpose of a Christian marriage becomes a testimony of Christ’s love to the world. Each act of love, each moment of forgiveness, and every instance of enduring patience becomes a sermon preached not from the pulpit but lived out in the daily grind of married life. The way you love your spouse should mirror how Christ loves us — unconditionally and sacrificially. This reflection then poses the question: Are we as committed to our spouses as Christ is to us? This question is not meant to condemn but to inspire a deeper introspection on how we manifest Christ’s love in our marriage.
Paul’s instruction for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church underscores the gospel-centered purpose of marriage. It challenges cultural narratives that trivialize or diminish marital commitment and calls for a profound understanding that marriage is a ministry of reconciliation. It shows the world a picture of Christ’s love through practical, everyday interactions. This means that the way we interact with our spouse is continually communicating something about Jesus to our children, our community, and the watching world. A commitment to marriage based on Christ’s example tells our children that Jesus’s commitment to us is secure and everlasting. It tells our friends and neighbors that the gospel is not just believed but also lived out in a loving, sacrificial community.
Living out this gospel purpose in marriage requires intentionality. It means prioritizing time with your spouse, not just for leisure but for mutual edification and spiritual growth. It involves regular moments of connection — whether those are date nights, shared activities, or simply times of conversation — that reinforce the partnership and unity you share. This dedicated time together is not just about maintaining your relationship but about enriching it so that it more clearly reflects Christ’s relationship with us.
In a world where marriages are often seen as contractual rather than covenantal, where the prevalence of divorce speaks to a lack of permanence in marital commitments, living out a gospel-centered marriage becomes counter-cultural. It becomes a beacon of Christ’s enduring love and faithfulness in a world of fleeting loyalties. As we endeavor to reflect the gospel in our marriages, let us remember that while perfection is unattainable, progress and perseverance are always within reach. Let our marriages be a living doxology, a tangible expression of praise to the God whose love is everlasting, whose commitment to us never wanes, and whose gospel is the true foundation of every holy matrimony.
