THE CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE

1. genesis 2:24 THE CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. [By Ron Halbrook]

2. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE Introduction: 1. Study Principles Revealed in Gen. 2:24 • Cornerstone: “the indispensable & fundamental basis of something” (American Heritage Dictionary, 1991) • True from Beginning Til Now—Needed Now! • Reflected throughout Bible 2. Study Principles as Used in Passages, Learn How They Apply to Our Lives

3. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE I. “In the Beginning” A. Gen., Beginning of Man • Gen. 1:26-28 Man & Woman Created in God’s Image • Spiritual Image: Inner Man (Jn. 4:24) • Innocent, Intelligent, Moral Capacity, Will Power, Emotion • Order of Existence Higher Than Animals • Share Blessings, Duties, Dominion

4. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE B. 2:18-25 Detailed Account: Woman’s Creation

5. 18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

6. 21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

7. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE B. 2:18-25 Detailed Account: Woman’s Creation • Vs. 18 Man Without Suitable Helper • Vv. 19-20 Adam Reviews & Names Animals • Vv. 21-23 Eve Made From Adam’s Rib • Joyful, Thankful Excitement! • From His Side, Not Head or Heel • Near & Dear, Union & Unity • Value, Protect as Part of Himself • Companionship, Communication, Complement • Share Blessings, Duties, Dominion • Total, Comprehensive Love

8. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE C. 2:24 The Cornerstone of Marriage • “Leave His Father & His Mother” • Relationship to Parents First, Foundation (Ex. 20:12; 21:15, 17) • New Relationship Now First • Independent Life Together • Strength, Security, Stability of New Home Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

9. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE C. 2:24 The Cornerstone of Marriage • “Cleave Unto His Wife” • Hebrew Word: Cling, Keep Close, Stick to, Adhere to, Glue—Loyalty, Devotion, Affection • 2 Sam. 23:10 “His hand clave unto the sword,” “stuck” (NKJ), “froze” (NIV) • Permanent Relationship to God (Deut. 30:20), to a relative (Ruth 1:14), to a friend (Prov. 18:24) • Take Responsibility for Her, Lead, Provide • Create Peace, Security, Stability • Closeness: Share Time, Communication, Interests • Bond Permanent, Perpetual

10. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE C. 2:24 The Cornerstone of Marriage • “They Shall Be One Flesh” • Two Lives Blend, Unite into One • Loving, Sexual Union: Expression of Closest Earthly Relationship, Symbol of Total Union of Life • Child Result, Reflection of “One Flesh:” Union Occurs Before Child Born, While Child at Home, After Child Leaves • Context of Sexual Union: Love, Companionship, Unselfish Giving • Positive Blessing, Not Necessary Evil

11. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE D. Lessons from Creation of Adam & Eve • 1 Man for 1 Woman: Excludes Fornication! • No Commune, Polygamy, Child Molesting, Incest, Homosexuality, Bestiality • 1 Man for 1 Woman: For Life! • Lifelong, Not Temporary, No Experiment • Total Commitment to Mate: No Adultery, No Serial Marriage • 1 Man for 1 Woman: Mutual Responsibility • 1 Man for 1 Woman: For All Humanity

12. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE II. Principles of Gen. 2:24 in Old Testament A. Ex. 20:14, 17; Deut. 22:22 Reinforce Gen. 2 by Condemning Adultery B. Deut. 24:1-4 Limited, Temporary Concession to Lead Man Back to Gen. 2 C. Jer. 3:1, 8, 14; 29:10 God’s Relationship with Israel Reflects Gen. 2 D. Many Admonitions Reinforce Gen. 2 • Prov. 5:15-21 Drink from Your Own Well • Mal. 2:14-16 God Hates Divorce

13. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE III. Principles of Gen. 2:24 in New Testament A. Matt. 5:31-32 End Mosaic Concession, Reaffirm Gen. 2 B. Matt. 19:3-12 Gen. 2 Cornerstone of Jesus’ Teaching on Marriage 31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

14. Matt. 19 3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

15. Matt. 19 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

16. Matt. 19 10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry. 11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

17. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE B. Matt. 19:3-12 Gen. 2 Cornerstone of Jesus’ Teaching on Marriage • Cornerstone from Beginning Til Now (vv. 4, 8) • 1 Man for 1 Woman for Life—Still True! • “What…God Hath Joined Together”— God Not Man Has Authority Over Marriage—Man Can Obey or Violate God’s Law But Cannot Overrule, Change, or Modify It! • Rule: If Put Away Mate, Marry Another Mate—Not Joined by God—Go to Bed of Adultery! • 1 Exception: Faithful Mate Put Away Fornicator, Marry Another—Joined by God—No Adultery • Sound Too Strict? Then, Do Not Marry!

18. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE A. Rom. 7:1-4 Illustration Based on the Principle of Gen. 2

19. ROM. 7 1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

20. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE C. Rom. 7:1-4 Illustration Based on the Principle of Gen. 2 • Vs. 1 God’s Law Applies While Men Live • Vs. 2 Marriage Law Applies While Husband & Wife Live • Vs. 3 Husband Lives & Wife Marries Another—Adultery • Vs. 3 Husband Dies, Wife No Longer Bound— May Marry Another • Jews Bound to Law of Moses—It Died— May Marry Christ

21. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE D. 1 Cor. 7 Answers to Questions Reflect Principle of Gen. 2 • Vs. 26 Advise Against Marriage While Crisis Facing Church • Vs. 1-5 Marriage Relationship Helps Prevent Temptation of Fornication • Vv. 10-13 Fidelity to Marriage Vow • Vs. 39 Marriage Vow Binding for Life • Only Our Duty to the Lord Is Higher

22. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE E.Eph. 5:22-33 Principles of Gen. 2 in Conduct of Husband & Wife • Vv. 23-25 Man Leads & Wife Cooperates by Unselfish Love • Vv. 28-31 One Flesh Union: Unselfish Love of Mate Blesses Both Partners, Failure to Love Harms Both • Vv. 32-33 God’s Plan for Harmony, Unity, Peace: • Christ Loves Church—Church Submits to Christ • Husband Loves Wife—Wife Submits to Husband

23. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE IV. Principles of Gen. 2:24 Greatly Needed Today A.Gen. 2:24 Teaches 1 Man for 1 Woman for Life • Matt. 19:4-6 Marriage Ordained by God from the Beginning • Lifetime Covenant Witnessed & Sealed by God • God by His Own Law Determines Who is Scripturally Married, Divorced, or Remarried • Human Custom, Law, & Concepts Secondary • False Ideas: Renewable Contract, No Fault Divorce • God’s Law Applies to All Humanity • Bible Emphasizes Lifetime Rule (1 Exception)

24. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE B. Marriage Vows Reflect Gen. 2:24 • I, Ron Halbrook, desire this one, Donna Bell, to become my lawful wedded companion, and I promise to love, honor, and cherish her in sickness as in health, in adversity as in prosperity, and forsaking all others be to her such a husband as God directs that I should until death does us part. • I, Donna Bell, desire this one, Ron Halbrook, to be my lawful wedded husband, and I promise to cling to him, honor him, continue faithfully to love and be true to him, according to all the laws of God, and forsaking all others be such a wife as God desires and commands that I should so long as we both shall live. • Lifetime Covenant Witnessed & Sealed by God

25. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE C. Responsibilities Commanded by God in Marriage • Cornerstone Duties in Gen. 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

26. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE C. Responsibilities Commanded by God in Marriage • Duties of Husband & Wife in Eph. 5:22-25 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

27. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE C. Responsibilities Commanded by God in Marriage • Duties as Mother of Children in 1 Tim. 2:14-15 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

28. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE C. Responsibilities Commanded by God in Marriage • Duties as Mother of Children in 1 Tim. 2:14-15 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

29. Duties of Daily Work in 1 Tim. 5:8-14 8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 Well reported of forgood works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. 14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

30. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE C. Responsibilities Commanded by God in Marriage • Duties as Wife, Mother, & Mentor in Tit. 2:3-5 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

31. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE C. Responsibilities Commanded by God in Marriage • 1 Cor. 9:27 Learn Submission to God, Accept Responsibility 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

32. C. Responsibilities Commanded by God in Marriage Some Leave Not Learn Responsibility GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE • I am not cut out for family life. • I want a change in my lifestyle. • I do not love her & cannot live with her. • God wants me to find my potential & self-satisfaction. • I am going out into the world to find myself. • Marriage is not an experiment! • By breaking the vow to my mate made before God?! • God commands you to learn to love your mate! • That is why God prepared marriage for you! • By throwing away God’s law & love?!

33. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE C. Responsibilities Commanded by God in Marriage • Sense of Responsibility to God & Man Lessened by Wrong Emphasis • Subjectivism (Self as Standard) • Fleshly Excitement, Experience, Stimulation • Emotion, Feelings • Infatuation • Fantasy • Immediate Gratification of Carnal Appetites

34. GENESIS 2:24CORNERSTONE OF MARRIAGE Conclusion: 1. Inscribe Gen. 2:24 on Our Hearts • Principles Given by God to Make Marriage the Greatest of Blessings on Earth • Principles Embraced in Marriage Vows • Principles Shape Our Character 2. Violation of These Principles in Thought, Word, or Deed Sinful • Separates Us from God • Harms Our Mate, Weakens Relationship, Hurt Self 3. God Ready to Forgive & Change Us: Acts 2:38