1. Similarities between Marriage & being a Christian “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Rev. 21:2) “ “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (2 Co 11:2) Just as a bride and groom make commitments for life, so Christians have committed themselves to Jesus for life! When you became a member of the Lord’s church you were married to Christ! Let us study the similarities of these relationships.

2. Marriage- You promised to be faithful until death In your marriage vows you promised to love, honor, and cherish (or obey) your spouse for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, from this day forward until death do you part. Marriage is a lifetime commitment- Jesus taught, “What God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:6) But many think that if he/she doesn’t please me, I will find somebody who will. But we are to do nothing from selfishness but look to others interests first. (Philippians 2:3-4)

3. Marriage- You promised to be faithful until death Some have changed the vows to “as long as our love shall last” (but it doesn’t change God’s will). With this view, marriages have failed because no marriage is perfect and no one is without sin. Fulfilling this commitment will require us to learn about true love (Titus 2:4) as opposed to physical passion. Love... “bears all things...endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:7-8a) True love grows stronger while romantic passion fades.

4. Marriage- You promised to be faithful until death But many parents have not taught their children by word or example that marriage is for life. (More time, money & effort to plan the wedding) There are many adversities in life that will test your commitment, but you remain faithful until death as you have promised and are bound by God’s law to fulfill (Romans 7:2-3)! “For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living… if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress”.

5. Christian- You promised to be faithful until death Just as you made a vow to be faithful until death in marriage, you made a similar commitment to Christ when you were baptized (Acts 2:38-42). “Be faithful until death & I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10) When persecutions come because you are a Christian, will you remain faithful (Matt. 13:21)? If you are insulted, will you quit (Matt. 5:10-12)? If your brethren quit, will you follow (John 6:66f)? If you persevere under trials, the Lord has promised that he will give you the crown of life (Js. 1:12).

6. Marriage- You promised to forsake all others There are many temptations that test your vow to forsake all others and cleave to your spouse (beauty, flattery, immodesty, witty, charming) (Proverbs 5:3; 6:25; 7:10,21; 31:30) “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4) Do not break your promise! Keep yourself pure! God hates divorce! (Malachi 2:16) Never even consider it unless your spouse commits adultery (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). By being faithful, you avoid the possibility of AIDS, STD’s, and can enjoy your marriage (Pr. 5:15ff).

7. Christian- You promised to forsake all others Christ must come first above everything else or we cannot be His disciple. (Luke 14:26, 27, 33) There are many temptations to forsake the Lord to follow the philosophies of men (Colossians 2:8) Denominations teach that there are many faiths and many churches that are acceptable to God. There is only one faith and one body (Eph. 4:4-5) How can you be married to Christ and be a Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, Lutheran, etc? The wife takes the name of the husband like a Christian takes the name of Christ (Acts 11:26).

8. Marriage- You are commanded to love sacrificially and submit respectfully (Ephesians 5:25-33) “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless…

9. Marriage- You are commanded to love sacrificially and submit respectfully (Ephesians 5:25-33) …So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.”

10. Marriage- You are commanded to love sacrificially and submit respectfully (Ephesians 5:25-33) Husbands, do you love her as Christ loved the church? Are you kind & praise her or criticize her? (1 Cor. 13:4) Do you consider & provide for her needs above your own or are you selfish? (Philippians 2:3-4) Do you live with her in an understanding way and grant her honor as a fellow heir in the grace of life or do you ignore what she desires? (1 Peter 3:7) Wives, do you submit yourself to your husband in everything that is right and respect him? Do you open your mouth in wisdom and with kindness or complaining on your tongue? (Pr. 31:26)

11. Since Christ cleansed the church to be holy and blameless, Christians must be also (Eph. 5:27) God chose us in Christ that we would be holy and blameless (Ephesians 1:3-4). Christ left us a perfect example that we should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21ff). Are we cleansing ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit and perfecting holiness so that we might be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (2 Cor. 7:1; Matt. 5:13-16)? Let us “be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14) when Christ returns so that we might go to heaven!

12. Conclusion In marriage and as Christians we have promised to be faithful until death. In marriage and as Christians we have promised to forsake all others. In marriage and as Christians we are to sacrifice, submit, and be holy to the Lord. If you haven’t obeyed the gospel of Christ, you are not married to Christ, you are not a Christian, and are still in your sins. Obey today or be restored back to your first love! (Acts 22:16; 2 Cor. 6:2; Rev. 2:5)