Definition of Marriage in the Bible and Verses about Christian marriage. We are sure everybody knows by now that the divorce rate in the church has reached the point where it has drawn even with that of the World. Ever since Moses men have sought to get out of their marriages, Jesus was asked about this. So what is definition of marriage in the Bible?
Definition of marriage in the Bible – We can learn His position from Matthew 19:3-9: “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.“
Christian Definition of Marriage
Definition of Marriage on Catholic Dictionary: “As a natural institution, the lasting union of a man and a woman who agree to give and receive rights over each other for the performance of the act of generation and for the fostering of their mutual love. Christian spouses signify and partake of the mystery of that unity and fruitful love which exists between Jesus Christ and his Church.”
The four conditions:
- there must be a union of opposite sexes; it is therefore opposed to all forms of unnatural, homosexual behavior;
- it is a permanent union until the death of either spouse;
- it is an exclusive union, so that extramarital acts are a violation of justice;
- its permanence and exclusiveness are guaranteed by contract; mere living together, without mutually binding themselves to do so, is concubinage and not marriage.
The Essence of a Christian Marriage
Jesus makes an important point all married couples need to remember, and that is when a man and a woman come together in marriage the two become one flesh. Remember always this definition of marriage in the Bible A married couple can no longer see themselves as two separate entities, they are one being working together in love and in service to the Lord. No man or woman has the right to come between them.
when a man and a woman come together in marriage the two become one flesh
If you notice, now just as then, nobody seems to come to their spiritual leaders seeking a prayer for marriage restoration for their troubled marriage. They instead jump right to divorce, asking the man of God to help them dissolve their marriages. They fail to realize that there is no exit strategy in God’s plan for marriage. Just like God said that He would “never leave us or forsake us” He expects husbands and wives to have the same devotion to each other.
Definition of Marriage in the Bible – Verses about Christian marriage
Definition of marriage in the Bible verses. New Testament marriage describes as the relationship between Jesus Christ and His church.
“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.” (2 Corinthians 11:2)
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” (Ephesians 5:21-28)
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:7-9)
“After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church – for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” (Ephesians 5:29-33)
The church, Christ’s bride, is sacrificially loved by Jesus Christ, just as a husband should love his wife:
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25 NIV)
“In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church – for we are members of his body.” (Ephesians 5:28-30 NIV)
“However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” (Ephesians 5:33 NIV)
The relationship of Jesus with the church becomes the model for a marriage relationship.
Pray to Save Marriage
Unfortunately, a lot of Christian married couples find themselves like Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane praying that God would take this “cup” of marriage away from them. They are asking for deliverance from their husbands or wives. God would rather we come to our Garden of Gethsemane praying the prayer for marriage restoration instead.
Paul tells us in Colossians 3:18-19, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands love your wives and be not bitter against them.” Paul also tells us in 1 Corinthians 7: 10-11: “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she departs, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.”
God wants us to fight for our marriages, this is His perfect will for His people. If you want to have a successful marriage you must have a successful prayer life.
Definition of Marriage in the Bible: Different prayer aspects
God has provided text in His word we can use in the prayer for marriage restoration, text such as these.
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)
Confession and open communication are very important any relationship, coupled with prayer this is a must for any marriage. The Bible also tells us about forgiveness, which is very important for marriage restoration:
“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:15)
Of course, forgiveness does not mean that a spouse should facilitate negative behavior such as pornography, alcoholism, or abuse. But, it does mean that we should be willing to forgive our spouse just as God has forgiven us.
God has ordained marriage and family from the beginning with Adam and Eve, Cain and Able. Always remember definition of marriage in the Bible. We as Christians should not be looking for ways out of our marriages, instead we need to be seeking God for the Grace and Wisdom needed to make them work, and that all starts with the prayer for marriage restoration.
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