Counseling: Purpose of Marriage

Question 1

Primarily what is marriage

Answer 1

Marriage is a God-ordained institution, between a man and a woman

Question 2

Why was eve created?

Answer 2

For companionship, because Adam was alone, and it was not good to be alone

Question 3

Key Truths about Marriage

Answer 3

1. God-ordained Institution
2. Between a man and a woman
3. Commendable by God
4. Normal, but not mandated

Question 4

What is God’s attitude towards marriage

Answer 4

Hebrews 13:4
Matthew 19:6
Leviticus 18:20
Proverbs 18:22
Proverbs 31:10-12

Question 5

Should everyone get married?

Answer 5

Normal, but not mandated. Some have been gifted with singleness (unique gift specific for service unto God)

Mathew 19:10-12

1 Corinthians 7:2-3, 6-7

Question 6

What does it mean when we say that marriage is an institution established by God

Answer 6

God set the roles and functions of marriage

Through marriage, God fostered unity and trust

Through marriage, God initiated a blessing

Husband and Wife are bound together by God

Question 7

Satans attack on marriage

Answer 7

Satan hates marriage

Creates role and function confusion

Sows disunity and distrust (Adam and eve blaming each other)

Through the fall, invited a curse on marriage

Loves to rend marriages apart

Question 8

Gen 2: 18 - 25

Answer 8

Gen 2:18 - 25

18 Then the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him. 19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,

This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Question 9

Old Testament Conception of marriage

Answer 9

1. Two joined in affinity with one another
2. Expressed in terms of belonging one to another (his wife, her husband)
3. Expressed in terms of the wife being “given” to her husband (Genesis 2:22, 3:12, 34:8)
4. Expressed in terms of a husband “taking” for himself a wife (Deuteronomy 24:1, proverbs 18:22)

Question 10

New Testament Conception of marriage

Answer 10

1. Marriage means to combine and unite
2. Relationship of a man with a woman, who are mutually yoked, mutually serving, mutually caring, in mutual submission
3. The relationship between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:22 - 32).

Bridegroom imagery (Matthew 9:15, Mark 2:19, Luke 5, John 3:28-30)

Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7 - 9)

Question 11

Example of a marriage that draws the heart away from God

Answer 11

1 King 11:1-3

Question 12

Example of a marriage used for Political Ends

Answer 12

Daniel 2:43

Question 13

Example of marriage as Diverging Allegiances

Answer 13

2 Corinthians 6:14

Question 14

What is the ultimate goal of marriage

Answer 14

To foster a spirit of worship, obedience, and faithfulness to God

1. Marriage provides companionship and Fosters Unity
   - created for human relationship (Genesis 1-2)

- Leaving and Cleaving 
# Pysical Union and intimacy (Gen 2:18-25, Matthew 19:5-6, Mark 10:8, Ephesians 5:31)
#Miracle of the one-flesh union
#Protection from fornication

- Partnership 
# Daily life - Same Goals, Motivation, Growth
# Work of the ministry

2. Anchors the Family
   # Procreation (Genesis 1:22, 27-28,9:1, Malachi 2:15)
   - Image Bearer (Genisis 5:1-2, 9:6, James 3:9)
   - Representative Rule (Psalm 8:6-8)
   - Populate the earth (Genesis 1:28)
3. Discipleship (Ephesians 5, Deuteronomy 6; Proverbs 2)
   - Responsibilities of Parents (Deuteronomy 4:10, Psalm 34:11, 78:5)
   - Duties of Children (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Ephesians 6:2)

Human Society

• Government
• Church (Titus 1:7-9)

Marriage displays the Gospel
- Biblical Love (Ephesians 5:25, Mark 10:45)
- covenant and Commitment (Malachi 2:16, Mark 10:9)
# not casual, careless or nonchalant

-Eye on the Eternal ( Revelation 19)
# the expectation of the bridegroom
# The celebration of the wedding supper

Marriage Refines spouses (and others) in Holiness (crucible)

• Sinfulness exposed
• Opportunities to Deny Self (Ephesians 5:25-26)
  # forgive and restore
  # Show Mercy (Titus 3:4-7)

Proclaimers of the Gospel

Striving towards Good deeds (Hebrews 10:10, 24-25, Titus 2:11-14)

Question 15

Is sex the foundation for marriage?

Answer 15

No

The woman at the well

This also means that adultery does not automatically nullify the marriage

Question 16

What does the union of the one flesh mean for couples that are intentionally hurt each other?

Answer 16

If you hurt your partner you are also hurting yourself.