Genesis 2:21 25 (NIV) 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
Genesis 2:21 25 (NIV) 23 The man said, This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man. 24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
1. A marriage isn t a license.
License: a permit from an authority to own or use something, or to do a particular thing
Esther 1:10 12 (NIV) On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him. to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. But when the attendants delivered the king s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.
1 Corinthians 7:4 (ESV) For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
1 Corinthians 7:4 (The Message) Marriage is not a place to stand up for your rights. Marriage is a decision to serve the other, whether in bed or out.
1. A marriage isn t a license. 2. A marriage isn t a ceremony.
Ceremony: a formal religious or public occasion, typically one celebrating a particular event
Genesis 29:18 (NIV) Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, I ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.
Genesis 29:20 22 (NIV) So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her. So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.
Genesis 29:23 (NIV) But when evening came, [Laban] took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her.
Genesis 29:25 27 (NIV) When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn t I? Why have you deceived me? Laban replied. Finish this daughter s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also.
1. A marriage isn t a license. 2. A marriage isn t a ceremony. 3. A marriage isn t a certificate.
Certificate: an official document attesting a certain fact
Matthew 19:3 8 (NIV) 3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason? 4 Haven t you read, he replied, that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, 5 and said, For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?
Matthew 19:3 8 (NIV) 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. 7 Why then, they asked, did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away? 8 Jesus replied, Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning.
1. A marriage isn t a license. 2. A marriage isn t a ceremony. 3. A marriage isn t a certificate. 4. A marriage is a covenant.
Genesis 15:10 12 (NIV) Abram brought all these [animals] to [the LORD], cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other;.then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep,.
Genesis 15:17 18 (NIV) When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram.
Jeremiah 33:20 21 (NIV) If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, then my covenant with David my servant. can be broken.