WELCOME God The Designer God The Ultimate Designer

WELCOME God The Designer

God: The Ultimate Designer The Creation Itself Romans 1: 18 -20 (p 939) The qualities of God are seen in what he has made. . . we are without any excuse. Job 12: 7 -10 (p 424) What God made teaches and declares that he made them all. Psalm 19: 1 (p 456) “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims. And his handiwork. ” Our Bodies/Our Very Life (Also Our Soul) Psalm 139: 13 -14 (p 522) “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Ecclesiastes 12: 7 (p 559) “and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. ”

Frequent Problem Man Tends To Not RESPECT What God Has Made/Designed And This Truth Extends To God’s Design For Marriage And Also His Kingdom, The Church And

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5: 22 -33 (p 978 -9) MARRIAGE AND THE CHURCH Translation: ESV Unless Otherwise Noted

Marriage And The Church Similarities Between Marriage And God’s Kingdom Created/Instituted By God Marriage: - It is an institution designed for. And a man and woman (Gen 2: 18 -24 p 2) - There is a status required for those desiring to enter into it: Ø Without a prior marriage - because marriage is life-long; man shall hold fast to his wife (Eph 5: 31 p 979); not separate (Matt 19: 6 p 824) Ø But if there was a prior marriage - only two reasons for that marriage ending: Death (Rom 7: 2 p 943) - it releases one from law of marriage ending: Fornication Divorce (Matt 19: 9 p 824) - injured party - It makes TWO become ONE; unity (Ephesians 5: 31 p 979) - Life-long commitment/faithfulness (Matt 19: 6 p 824; Heb 13: 4 p 1009) - Love binds them together (Song of Sol 8: 6 -7 p 564; Eph 5: 25 p 979)

Marriage And The Church: - For repentant/obedient (Acts 2: 21; 38 p 910; Matt 7: 21 p 812) - Obedient faith response for those desiring to enter into it: Ø Is a product of hearing the full gospel message (the conversion accounts in the book of Acts (Acts 2; 8; 9; 10; 16. . . ) Ø The faith that is generated (Mark 16: 16 p 854; Heb 11: 6 p 1007) moves the person to reject sin/choose the righteousness of God; Repentance (Acts 2: 38 p 910; 3: 19 p 911) And Ø That obedient faith continues to move the person to confess Jesus as both Lord and Christ (Matt 16: 16 p 822; Rom 10: 9 -10 p 946) Ø Full obedience to the gospel is realized upon water baptism (Acts 2: 38 p 910; Rom 6: 1 -5; 17 -18 p 942 -3; Gal 3: 27 p 974) - Brings oneness to God/Man; unity (Rom 5: 10 p 942; 1 Cor 6: 19 p 955) - Life-long commitment/faithfulness (Luke 9: 62 p 868; Rev 2: 10 p 1029) - Love binds everything together (Rom 5: 8 p 942; Matt 22: 37 -39 p 828)

Marriage And The Church Independent/Self-Governing Marriage: - The ‘intended’ leave father/mother and become bound to one - another (Gen 2: 24 p 2); not bound to any other (except God) Ø The authority/decision-making over their new family rests with them as they submit themselves to God’s leadership (Eph 6: 1 p 979) The Church: And - Each local congregation of the Lord’s church is self-governed; - elders appointed for local congregation only GOD - (Acts 20: 17 p 929; Titus 1: 5 p 998) Ø Although self-governed (congregations don’t have authority over other congregations), each local body is to submit to the authority and headship of Christ as the Chief Shepherd (Heb 13: 17 p 1010; 1 Pet 5: 1 -5 p 1016) Individual Family Local Congregation

Marriage And The Church Authority Structure Marriage: - The husband is specified to be the head of the wife (Eph 5: 23 p 978 Ø Not a cultural observation; was true from the beginning – in the Garden of Eden, Eve was created for man 1 Corinthians 11: 8 -9 (p 958) “For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman And for man. ” - also Gen 3: 16 (p 3): “. . . and he shall rule over you. ” (deceived) Ø This is not a license for husbands to act like dictators over their households; they serve and love their families as they follow Christ. The Church: - Christ is specified as the head of the church (Eph 5: 23 p 978) Ø The church is Christ’s body; he gave himself up for that body - his blood (Acts 20: 28 p 930); possesses sacrificial love for his church shed Ø This informs the headship of husbands: The serving and loving is sacrificial in nature (Eph 5: 25 p 979); and wives are to honor and respect their husbands (Eph 5: 33 p 979)

Marriage And The Church The authority over God’s institutions has typically been done by men throughout biblical history (consistent). Under Christ’s headship, church leadership has been designated for qualified men. - Church elders are identified as men, husbands to one wife, as - are deacons to be husbands to one wife (1 Timothy 3: 2; 12 p 992) And - Men are to take the leadership role in worship services; the - women are instructed to keep silent (1 Corinthians 14: 33 -35 p 961) Again, this is nothing new from a biblical history perspective, but we must observe that this role in no way denigrates her worth, quality, dignity, or significance. - Gal 3: 28 (p 974): “. . . you are all one in Christ Jesus. ” -Every Christian has the same value to God. - But God has identified for us different roles.

Key Applications: 1. Don’t Mess With God’s Design 2. God’s Design Promotes Relationship And

Marriage And The Church The Beauty Of God’s Design. . . Relationship God’s purposes in the marriage institution and in the kingdom, his church, is all about the close bonds of relationship. Man/Woman ONENESS Foundation: Love For God And God/Church ONENESS Brotherly ONENESS Ephesians 5: 31 (p 979) “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. ” Romans 5: 10 (p 942) “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, we be saved by his life. ” shall 1 John 4: 21 (p 1023) “And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. ”

God’s Design Is The Best Design And