Most everyone today is concerned about good behavior in marriage, because most everyone, even
non-Christians, know that something must be done about the serious undermining of family life.  So
everyone is asking, "How do we shore up the foundations of our marriages, so that our society will remain
solid?"

 Very few, though, are willing to look to the proper places to learn, and few are willing to put the
work into marriage that is necessary.  God's approach to marriage is not a "Five Easy Steps to a Happy
Marriage" that you might find  in the Reader's Digest.  God's approach to marriage is this:  for a successful
marriage, you work with all your might that your marriage may reflect the beautiful relationship that exists
between Christ and His Church (His people).  This is the plain teaching of Ephesians 5:22-33.

 How many young couples marry, believing that their marriage must be patterned after Christ's
marriage to His church?  Yet this is the Bible's teaching.

 The relationship of marriage, as you and I know it - the loving bond between a man and woman -
exists because the relationship between Christ and the church exists.  In the mind and will of God, not our
marriages were first, but the marriage between Christ and the church was first.  And marriage in creation
was made as an illustration of, or a mirror of, the marriage between Christ and His Church.  God wants us to
know about that  great marriage; so He created earthly marriages as reflections of it.

 Ezekiel 16, Hosea 2, The Song of Solomon (a book every married couple ought to read at
bedtime), as well as Psalm 45, all point to this truth.

 It helps to see that clearly.  That's why earthly marriages pass away:  they are only pictures of real
marriage!  If we see that, it will help us think soberly about our present marriages:  they are important, but
they are not the end-all and be-all of our life.  Also, it will help us endure the loss of a spouse better:  we are
going to see that spouse again in a far more beautiful relationship than we had on earth!  Finally, it will keep
those who remain single from despair.

 Ephesians 5 points out a number of things about this relationship.  Christ is head of the church (see
verse 23).  He rules over His body, as every head rules over every physical body.  For that reason, the
church is subject to Christ (see verse 24).  This is a willing subjection, a loving subjection.  It can be a
willing subjection because Christ loves and saves the Church.  Verses 25, 26: "Christ also loved the church,
and gave himself for it . . ."  Christ nourishes and cherishes the church (see vs. 29).  By His life giving
Spirit, He keeps His Church alive, consoles Her, embraces Her and protects Her.

 This is why marriage is what it is!
 (1) This is why marriage is a "one flesh" union.  Genesis 2 teaches that marriage involves
becoming one - physically, emotionally, spiritually.  Why is this true?  Because this is true of Christ and the
Church.  By faith He is one with Her, sharing His joy, telling Her the secrets of His counsel, speaking to
Her through the gospel!

 (2) This is why marriage is living permanently with the spouse - until death!  Scripture teaches that
marriage is a permanent bond, broken only by death.  Why?  Simply because there is a permanent cleaving
of Christ to His Church.  Even when there is unfaithfulness on the part of His people, He always brings
them back.

 (3) This is why, in marriage, the wife is not the husbands equal.  Genesis 2 shows that woman was
taken out of the side of man, is his helper, fit for him.  Would the church ever dare to say that she is Christ's
equal?  In strength?  In glory?  In wisdom?  In power?  Would God's people ever dare claim to have the
same duties as Christ, to be shared equally with Him?

 (4) This is not to say that woman is not a glorious creation.  Just the opposite.  When God created
Eve, He formed her specially with His own hands, in His own image, actually reflecting His own
perfections.  Women are not to be trampled on, not to be ignored, to be treated as nothings.  They are
glorious creations of God, to be highly honored, respected, esteemed.  But why?  Again, exactly because
God created the church as a beautiful bride of Christ.  Just read Psalm45 once to see the wonderful language
describing the beauty, honor, and glory of the church.

 Don't you see then, that if we lose sight of the fact that our marriages are to be reflections of
Christ's marriage, our behavior will be all wrong!

 Now, since Christ and the church are the standard, we are taught how to behave in marriage:

 First, this means that we marry only in the Lord (see I Corinthians 7:39).  This comes out from the
original marriage.  The only reason there is a relationship between Christ and the Church is that they are
united spiritually.  For believers, the only union they may make is one with whom they are spiritually one.

 Second, this says something about weddings:  they ought to be reverent occasions.  Joyful, but
reverent.  Lately it seems, the more ridiculous the setting, the more popular the wedding. That ought not be
if our weddings reflect the wedding of Christ and the church.

 Third, during marriage, there is guidance and rule of the husband with the wife.  There is
submission of the wife to the husband, and reverence.  Husbands esteem their wives highly, treating them
with highest respect:  Christ want His bride to think of herself as a queen! (Do husbands treat their wives
this way?  In marriage there is faithfulness, because Christ is faithful.  There is forgiveness; there is
self-denial; there are children . . . All because this is what goes on in the marriage of Christ and His Church.

 Do the marriages in churches today help the church's witness in the world?  In our witnessing, we
talk a great deal about Christ's love, Christ's rule, Christ's salvation; about the church's glory, her holiness,
her submission to Him, her love for Him.  Do our marriages speak as clearly as our tongues?

 What a great goal we have in marriage!  Husbands, is this the goal you strive to reach: "God, help
me to behave toward my wife as Christ does toward His church?"  Wives, is this the goal towards which
you reach:  "Lord, may my behavior toward him be as the Church is called to behave toward Him -
submitting, loving, honoring, obeying, helping?"

 Ah, how sinful we are!  How far short we fall!  Let's pray for forgiveness when we fall.  Look to
Christ, our husband, for salvation.  There we find not only the instruction but the strength to behave in
marriage as we ought to behave.