Freedom in Marriage: From "Twoness" to "Oneness"

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Sermon Notes

If marriage was designed and ordained by God, why does it also carry the most potential for pain?

• Because what God creates and ordains, Satan wants to destroy. 
• Satan wants to destroy marriage because it carries the most potential for joy and power.
• Satan wants to destroy your marriage because it is a picture/metaphor for Christ’s connection to the Church.

We live in a post Christian, postmodern society, telling people about the sanctity of marriage doesn’t carry the weight as having a sanctified marriage. 

Genesis 1:4-9, 15-24

4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. 5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.

But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 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. 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.

WOW’s & WHAT’S

Wow #1 - There was a gap in perfection before woman!

What #1 - What does “suitable helper” mean?

What #2 - Why was Eve created in a different manner?

Wow #2 - Marriage is a Joy!

WOW#1 - There was a gap in perfection before woman! 

18a The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. 

WHAT #1 - What is a "Suitable Helper?"

Suitable = Not “that’ll work” but “perfect fit!” 

Helper = Not “less than qualified or experienced” but “someone who comes to the aid of.” Not inferior nor superior but a perfect fit bringing to bear what is missing.

Suitable Helper = counterpart or counterpartner. Different perspective, same objective.

WHAT #2 - Why was Eve created in a different manner?

One origin means united. 

WOW #2 - Marriage is a Joy!

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.” 

A couple has to find their own way together because oneness doesn’t happen at the wedding, it has to be forged out of “twoness”.

“twoness” = selfishness

God’s road to freedom in marriage “oneness”

• Freedom in marriage comes in redemption 
• Freedom in marriage comes from repentance 
• Freedom in marriage comes with forgiveness 
• Freedom comes in submission to one another

Our Path to Freedom

1. Surrender to God to make you whole

2. Repent to God and your spouse

3. Forgive your spouse

4. Submit to one another – stop resisting “oneness”