Marriage Sermon:
For the love of Christ constraineth us.
2 Corinthians 5:14
Although you may have heard the expression "a marriage is made in heaven,” there is no such thing as a perfect marriage. Not since the fall into sin! In the beginning, marriage was perfect. God had created a perfect man and a perfect woman, and brought them together in a perfect union. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24 This is what marriage was supposed to be, two people cemented together by love, in a union so close that they become one, so close that they give up everything else in life, including parents, to be together. There were no arguments, no shouting, no harsh words about who should do what. Eve reverenced her husband and gave herself to him. God had brought them together with a perfect love, a union we call the holy estate of marriage.
When sin entered the world, love became hate, trust became suspicion, concern for the other became concern for self, and man had to learn how to love all over again. Isn’t that the case in secular society? The world encourages us to be selfish, married or not! They tell us to have our own way, to do our own thing. When this happens in marriage, disaster results. When two people get married, they make radical vows, vows that they, by nature, can’t begin to keep. They vow to cling to each other, to love each other until death do them part. Now who can do that? Unregenerate man can’t. We can’t begin to love each other until we’ve experienced the love of God for us.
It is one thing to love someone who loves you. It is quite another thing to love someone who doesn't like you, but isn't that what God did? "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:.8. Our Savior humbled Himself and became obedient to death on the cross so that you and I might have the forgiveness of our sins. Today when we plead, "Forgive us our sins," He graciously responds, "be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee.” Matthew 9:2. Tomorrow, when we plead, "Forgive us our sins," He graciously forgives us again. Our Lord keeps on giving and giving, forgiving our sins, blessing our lives, and keeping us in His care unto everlasting life. His love never runs out. Jesus so overwhelms with His love that only a callous and ungrateful person wouldn't want to love Him in return. "We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19.
For marriage is to succeed, we need all the love we can get, and you get it only from His word. The world can't make you love. Marriage counselors can't do it either. Love is a fruit of faith, "faith [that comes} by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17. Only by hearing and learning God's word, in church and at home, can we receive the kind of love that makes marriages last.
Just as Jesus put your well-being above His own, so He would have you do the same to each other. Just Jesus' mercy is new to you every morning, so He would have you begin each new day with a love for each other that cares and forgives. Should it happen that your marriage becomes a shouting match, and it can happen, don’t forget the love of Jesus. As Jesus humbled Himself for you, so learn to humble yourselves before each other. “The love of Christ constraineth us.” A marriage based on the love of Christ is not only a healthy marriage but is also indeed “a marriage made in heaven.” Dear Daren and Jill, may the Lord grant you a marriage like that.