1. Genesis 2:24 [By Ron Halbrook]

2. 2 Introduction: 1.Marriage is God’s gift to man & woman Gen. 2:24

3. 3 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Gen. 2

4. 4 Introduction: 2.Seek to better understand this gift: What God did in the beginning Includes the gift of children Means two friends in love Permanent relationship Ordained of God as holy & honorable

5. 5 Introduction: 1.Marriage is God’s gift to man & woman 2.Seek to better understand this gift 3.The better we understand it, the more we value it: Show God we are thankful! Fulfill our duties to God & to our mates! Cultivate the relationship!

6. 6 I. In the Beginning A. Gen. 1:1, 24-27 Man & Woman Unique: In God’s Image

7. 7 Gen. 1

8. 8 In God’s Image GOD GOD: Father, Son, Holy Spirit Spirit Intelligence Moral choice Emotion Fellowship GOD GOD: Father, Son, Holy Spirit Spirit Intelligence Moral choice Emotion Fellowship MAN MAN: Male, Female Spirit Intelligence Moral choice Emotion Fellowship MAN MAN: Male, Female Spirit Intelligence Moral choice Emotion Fellowship

9. 9 B. Gen. 2:18-24 Woman: God’s Crowning Work— She Has No Equal in Her Role! I. In the Beginning

10. 10 Gen. 2

11. 11 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Gen. 2

12. 12 I. In the Beginning C. Cultivate the Garden of Marriage!

13. 13 A. God Ordained Birth & Nurturing of Children in Marriage Child needs father & mother Deepens fellowship of marriage Enriches character of parents Perpetuates mankind II. The Gift of Children

14. 14 B. Ps. 127:3-5 Children: A Heritage, A Reward from God Home stronger, happier with children II. The Gift of Children

15. 15 Ps. 127:3-5 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

16. 16 II. Gift of Children C. Eccl. 4:9-12 God Blesses Father, Mother, & Child in This Intimate Relationship

17. 17 Eccl. 4:9-12

18. 18 A. Song of Sol. 2:7 Song of Solomon Celebrates Steadfast Love from Courtship to Marriage. III. Friends in Love

19. 19 7 Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases [NKJV]. Song of Sol. 2:7

20. 20 B. Song of Sol. 8:6-7 The Bride Extols the Value of True Love. III. Friends in Love

21. 21 Song of Sol. 8:6-7 6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. Remember Irrevocable Eternal flame Indestructible Priceless

22. 22 C. Experiences of Friendship Deepen in Marriage. Prov. 18:22 Marriage God’s gift, celibacy not greater gift or higher calling III. Friends in Love

23. 23 22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. Prov. 18:22

24. 24 C. Experiences of Friendship Deepen in Marriage. Prov. 18:24 “All weather” not “fair weather” friend III. Friends in Love

25. 25 24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Prov. 18:24

26. 26 C. Experiences of Friendship Deepen in Marriage. Prov. 13:20 Choose carefully: friends influence friends III. Friends in Love

27. 27 20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Prov. 13:20

28. 28 C. Experiences of Friendship Deepen in Marriage. Prov. 27:17 Share, test ideas— constructive criticism III. Friends in Love

29. 29 17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Prov. 27:17

30. 30 A. Mal. 2:13-16 God Hates Divorce. IV. Permanent

31. 31 Mal. 2:13-16

32. 32 15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. Mal. 2:13-16

33. 33 Mal. 2:13-16

34. 34 B. Lawful to Divorce for Every Cause? Annie’s Mailbox: Man With Dying Wife— Divorce Her, Marry Cora (Louisville Courier-Journal, 9-1-03) Matt. 19:3-9 Jesus’ Answer Different IV. Permanent

35. 35 Matt. 19:3-9

36. 36 Matt. 19:3-9

37. 37 C. “Except It Be for Fornication” Porneia: Unlawful Sexual Intercourse in General Fornication Including:  Harlotry, Prostitution  Adultery  Incest  Homosexual Acts  Unlawful Marriages  All Such “‘sexual intercourse’ in gen. without more precise definition” (Kittel, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament VI:584, 587)

38. 38 D. God’s Gift of Marriage Given to a Man & a Woman: If Never Before Married (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-5) IV. Permanent

39. 39 Matt. 19:4-5

40. 40 D. God’s Gift of Marriage Given to a Man & a Woman: If Mate Died (Rom. 7:2-3) IV. Permanent

41. 41 Rom. 7:2-3

42. 42 D. God’s Gift of Marriage Given to a Man & a Woman: If Divorce Mate for Fornication (Matt. 19:9) IV. Permanent

43. 43 Matt. 19:3-9

44. 44 E. God Does Not Sanction Man’s Sinful Desires: Easy Divorce (Mal. 2:16; Matt. 19:3-9) IV. Permanent

45. 45 Mal. 2:16

46. 46 Matt. 19:9

47. 47 E. God Does Not Sanction Man’s Sinful Desires: Homosexual Acts: Against Nature (Rom. 1:26-27) IV. Permanent

48. 48 Rom. 1:26-27

49. 49 A. Heb. 13:4 When God Joins a Man & a Woman, Marriage Is Holy, Honorable. V. Marriage Holy, Honorable

50. 50 4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Heb. 13:4

51. 51 B. Look to God for Guidance Eph. 5:22-33 Roles Given to Husband & Wife V. Marriage Holy, Honorable

52. 52 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Eph. 5:22-33

53. 53 B. Look to God for Guidance Col. 3:18-21 Duties of Parents & Children V. Marriage Holy, Honorable

54. 54 Col. 3:18-21

55. 55 V. Marriage Holy, Honorable C. Divine Law Overrules Human Law & Social Standards. God Gave Man & Woman Marriage:  NOT Bestiality  NOT Fornication Outside Marriage  NOT Adultery In Violation of Marriage Vows  NOT Homosexual Acts  NOT Incest  NOT Pedophilia  NOT Pornography  NOT Divorce on Demand

56. 56 Conclusion: 1. Cultivate the Garden of Marriage!

57. 57 Conclusion: 2. It Is Time for Our Nation to Repent— Or Face God’s Judgment!

58. 58 Conclusion: 3. It Is Time for Each Sinner to Repent & Obey the Gospel:  Jn. 3:16 Christ, Perfect Sacrifice for Our Sins

59. 59 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jn. 3:16

60. 60 Conclusion: 3. It Is Time for Each Sinner to Repent & Obey the Gospel:  Acts 2:38 Repent & Be Baptized

61. 61 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38

62. 62 Conclusion: 3. It Is Time for Each Sinner to Repent & Obey the Gospel:  2 Thess. 1:7-9 Reject Gospel, Punished in Flaming Fire for Eternity

63. 63 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 2 Thess. 1:7-9