The first marriage. Now. We're going to learn what
marriage is from this passage of scripture, if you really want
to know what marriage is, this passage is going to teach us.
And more importantly, we learn the gospel from this passage. The gospel is so amazingly clear
in this passage of scripture. The first marriage. Look in verse 27 of chapter one. So God created man in his own
image. In the image of God created he
him male and female created he But Eve had not yet been created
when that statement was made. She was still a rib in Adam. Look in chapter two, verse seven,
and the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life. And man became a living
soul. Now he was by himself at this
time, but he became a living soul. And then in verse 18, and
the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone. Now, everything up to that point
had been good, hadn't it? God saw what he did and it was
good and it was good. This was the thing that was said
after each of those days of creation. But now when the Lord God looks
at the man dwelling alone, he said, it is not good for man
to dwell alone. Now, my question is why? Well, man was created in the
image of God. We've already read that. Before creation, the three persons
of the Trinity loved one another. Now, I realize that I'm dealing
with things that we know very little about, but we do know
this. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit
loved one another and had fellowship and communion with one another. The Father loved the Son. The Father loved the Spirit. The Son loved the Father. The Son loved the Spirit. The Spirit loved The father,
the spirit loved the son and there was communion and fellowship
between the three persons of the Godhead. The one God in three
distinct persons in perfect equality, equal with one another. And to
say anything less would be blasphemous. Equal with one another, yet dwelling
together in a glorious subordination. The son willingly and joyously
subordinated himself to the father. The spirit willingly and joyously
submitted himself to the Father and the Son. The Trinity in unity,
equal with one another, yet a joyous, willing subordination. Now think of what was said of
the Lord in Philippians chapter two, verse five. It said, let
this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being
in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with
God. You know why he was equal with
God? He was God, God, the son, the second person of the Trinity.
Yet he made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of
a servant. He subordinated himself to the
father joyously. We don't look at this as a bad
thing, do we? It's a glorious thing that he
subordinated himself to his father. God, the Holy Spirit. Our Lord
said he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear
that shall he speak. He shall glorify me. Oh, the subordination of the
spirit to the son. The subordination of the Spirit
to the Father. Now the subordination in the
Trinity is not degrading to their persons, is it? It's glorious. Now this is important for us
to have some grasp of to understand this relationship between Adam
and Eve. A man was made in God's image
Made to have fellowship. Made to love. Made to have a relationship. But there was nobody for him
to love. There was nobody for him to have
a relationship with. And that is why God said it is
not good for man to dwell alone. So God's purpose was to make
a help suitable for him. Look what he says in verse 18. And the Lord God said, it's not
good that the man should be alone. I will make an help meet or suitable
for him. He's the one created in God's
image and God makes a help. suitable for him. Now, this thing
of marriage is not a man-made institution. God had this take place before
the fall. God is, has a family. We read of the family of God,
and it's meant for man to have a family. I look in verse 19
and out of the ground, The Lord God formed every beast of the
field and every fowl of the air, and he brought them under Adam
to see what he would call them. And whatsoever Adam called every
living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names
to all cattle and to the fowl of the air and to every beast
of the field. Now, I have no doubt that when these animals
were presented to Adam for him to name, they were presented
as couples, male and female. But Adam had
nothing like that. Look what it says in verse 19
or verse 20. And Adam gave name to all cattle
and to the fowl of the air and to every beast of the field,
but for Adam there was not found and help, meat or appropriate
for him. Verse 21, and the Lord God caused a deep
sleep to fall upon Adam. Now here, I guess we would call
this the first case of anesthesia. Is that the way you say anesthesia?
He put him in a coma in order to perform this operation on
him. 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 thereof. You know, I feel quite
sure Adam didn't have a scar after this operation. I think
his flesh was just as it was before. Verse 22, and the rib. Now remember, this
was literally taken out of Adam's body. This is not figurative
language. He actually took a rib that belonged
to Adam and brought this rib out of the body. And the rib,
which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman. Now the word made is builded. This is the first time this word
is used with regard to creation. He took Adam's rib and the scripture
says he builded a woman with his infinite creative genius. He made what I believe is the
most beautiful of his physical creation. I doubt that I'll get
much argument from men about this. The woman, the woman. What a beautiful woman this must
have been. And I have no doubt that she
was the most beautiful woman to ever live. And God in love,
verse 22, in the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man,
made he a woman and he brought her unto the man. Now, I don't
know whether you could say the marriage ceremony is included
in that, but I kind of believe it was in the Lord's physically
bringing this woman to the man that he made for her or for him. And he brought her unto the man. And I'm sure Adam was stunned
at her beauty. and overjoyed that this woman
was going to be his lifelong companion, his help mate. I love the way she's called in
Malachi, thy companion, his best friend from here on out. He was so happy. Verse 23, and
Adam said, this is now bone of my bones now i believe the reason
he's saying this is because the lord told him what he did and
here's what i did i took a rib out of your side and i made the
woman from this rib and he's speaking literally when he says
and this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh he knew
that this woman actually came out of him She shall be called woman because
she was taken out of man. Therefore shall a man leave his
father and his mother. Now he knew that Adam didn't
have a mom and dad the way you and I do. He was the first created
man, but he knew God's purpose in the family. And he says, therefore,
Shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave
unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh. Now, leave your father and mother. This is the most important of
relationships. You're to leave your father and mother. You know,
it's a bad thing when In a marriage, somebody's parents makes the
decisions. It causes nothing but trouble.
You're to leave your father and mother. That doesn't mean you
don't care about your father and mother, you love them and
respect them, but you're to leave your father and mother. This
is now the most important relationship. You're to leave your father and
mother and cleave unto your wife. And they too shall be one flesh
which speaks of the act of intimacy made by God for the happiness
of man and woman. Now, Matthew Henry in his commentary,
and maybe you've heard this in marriages before, I have. Matthew
Henry in his commentary says this, Eve was not taken from
Adam's head to rule over it. She wasn't taken from Adam's
feet for him to trample on. She was taken from his side to be his equal, to walk with
him. Now there's a subordination,
we know that, but the subordination does not mean that man is superior
to woman. She is to be his equal, to walk
by his side. in fellowship and communion. She's to be as equal. Man is
not superior to woman. There is a subordination, as
there's a subordination in the Trinity. And we don't look at
that as a bad thing, that's a glorious thing. And it's the same thing
with a man and woman. He's taken from her side, or
she is taken from his side, from under his heart for him to love. under his arm for him to cherish
and protect. What a beautiful picture we're
given. Now, in this glorious marriage,
look what it says in verse 25, and they were both naked, the
man and his wife, and were not ashamed because they didn't have
a sinful nature the way you and I do. There was nothing that
would promote anything unclean or sinful. They were naked and
not ashamed. The perfect man and woman, the
perfect marriage with no sin to mar the relationship. Alas,
that will not last. We'll see that in the fall next
week in Genesis chapter three, Lord willing. But let me remind
you, let me make some comments about marriage before we get
into the gospel from this passage of scripture, because the gospel
is set forth so clearly and amazingly in this passage of scripture.
But let me remind you, marriage is not a man-made institution.
It's a covenant made between a man and woman that is lifelong. Hear the words again. leave,
cleave, be at one. Two are one. Three can't be one flesh, can
they? That's impossible. Three can't be one flesh. Only
two can be one flesh. This is an eternal, lifelong
union built of mutual love, Mutual respect being, as the scripture
says, help mates. Help, suitable for one another. Help mates. Now let me speak
for just a moment about that concept. You know, some marriages
seem almost like codependent relationships, where they don't
really help each other, they seem to enable each other to
go on in bad behavior. And that's never good. That is
never Right, you see, you're supposed to be helpmates one
to another. Women, you see the flaws in your husband, and you
love them, and you have their back, and you're not supposed
to just enable them to go on like that. You're supposed to
say something to them about it. Men, you see the flaws in your
wife. Not many, I'm sure, but you see
some. And your responsibility before
God is to be their helpmate. to point out certain things about
them to help them to be a better person. The wife is to submit
herself to her husband as Christ submitted himself to the father
and the church submits themselves to Christ. Nobody thinks that's
a bad thing. It's a glorious thing. It's a
glorious thing for a woman to willingly subordinate herself
to her husband. It speaks so highly of her. And the husband is to love his
wife as Christ loved the church. The Lord does not believe in
divorce and he will not divorce his bride. Hebrews 13, four says,
marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled. Now turn
with me for a moment to first Peter chapter three. First Peter chapter three. Verse one, likewise, you wives
be in subjection to your own husbands. If any obey not the
word, they may also without the word be won by the conversation,
the conduct of their wives, while they behold your chaste conversation.
coupled with fear, the fear of God, who's adorning, let it not
be the outward adorning of plating the hair and of wearing of gold
or putting on of apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the
heart in which is not corruptible. That's talking about the new
man, the new nature that's not corruptible, even the ornament
of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great
price. And that's in a woman and in
a man, that's the new birth. But he's talking about the woman's
relationship with her husband. Verse five, for after this manner
in the old time, the holy women also who trusted in God adorned
themselves being in subjection to their own husbands. Even as
Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord. Whose daughters you are as long
as you do well. and are not afraid with any amazement.
Likewise, ye husbands dwell with them according to knowledge.
Now the word knowledge is love, is love, not just knowing stuff.
Adam knew his wife Eve. This has to do with love and
all the husbands love your wives as Christ also loved the church
and gave himself for it. Likewise, ye husbands dwell with
them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as
unto the weaker vessel, and being heirs together of the grace of
life. What's that last statement? That
your prayers be not hindered. Now, to man and to woman, to
husband and wife, if I'm not treating my wife or my husband,
my spouse, the right way. The scripture says, my prayers
are hindered. Now that's what the Lord says.
That's what the Lord says. Your prayers are hindered. Now I have seen, I've witnessed
this and you have too, I've seen men who under the guise of headship
are tyrants with their wives. You've seen that. They're tyrants
under the guise of headship. And I've also seen men who shirk
their responsibilities as the head and look to their wife to
lead. That's wrong. Totally wrong. I've seen women who seek to assert
the authority of their husbands. As a matter of fact, I think
that's included in what the Lord is saying after the fall when
he says, your desire will be to him and he'll rule over you.
Some people would say what that means is you're gonna wanna rule
over him and he's gonna rule over you, but you're gonna wanna
rule over him. And you see that in women. And you also have seen
women who are like wallflowers. who are like Stepford wives and
just let their husbands run all over them without trying to be
a helpmate to him. The scripture calls the wife
your companion. Now what that means is that husband
and wife are to be best friends. That means they're to help one
another. You see your husband going in a wrong way, you need
to tell him. You see your wife going in a
wrong way, you need to tell her. You see in this loving relationship,
a relationship of love, you can do that. Lynn's got my back. I know that. She's got my back. She corrects me. Might be hard
to hear. Might be hard to hear. But it's always right. I never
like anybody telling me what to do. I've just got to think
about that. And I think there's probably
a few other people in this room like that. Husbands, correct your wives. I mean, we need correction, don't
we? We need each other's help. That's what a help suitable for
them. To walk in friendship. Best friends,
may the Lord enable us to be good husbands and good wives,
which reflect his glory. Now turn to Ephesians chapter
five. Verse 22, very familiar passage
of scripture. Wives, submit yourselves unto
your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is the
head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church, and
he's the savior of the body. Therefore, as the church is subject
under Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even
as Christ also loved the church. and gave himself for it, that
he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water
by the word, that he might present it to himself, a glorious church,
not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should
be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives
as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth
himself. For no man ever yet hated his
own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord
the church. For we are members of his body,
of his flesh, and of his bones. Just as Eve was from Adam, the
church is from Christ. this cause shall a man leave
his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and
they too shall be one flesh." Paul quotes from Genesis chapter
2 that we just read, and then he makes this statement, this
is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. All this stuff I've been saying
about marriage, this is about Christ and Nevertheless, let every one of
you in particular so love his wife even as himself, and the
wife see that she reverence her husband. Now, turn back to Genesis chapter
two. Now, the first thing that I would
like to point out about this first marriage is that Eve was
in Adam before, prior to her physical creation. She was in
Adam. Christ's bride, the elect, have
eternally been united to him. Just as she was in Adam before
she ever came out, the church, every believer, finds its origin
in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, this is a great mystery.
This mystery of the union of the church with the Lord Jesus
Christ. But that's where we gotta begin.
Male and female created he them, but she wasn't created yet, was
she? She was in Adam. And every believer comes from
and was and is in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is speaking of the
union. between Christ and His church. I think one of the, hold
your fingers there in Genesis 2, and this is one of the best
ways I think I know of that the scripture describes this union.
Hebrews chapter 7, verse 9. And as I may so say Levi also,
Hebrews 7 verse 9, Levi also, the great grandson of Abraham
who receives tithes, it was the tribe of Levi that would receive
tithes for the maintenance of the temple and so on. Levi, who
receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham, for he was yet in
the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. You see,
when Melchizedek came before Abraham and gave him the bread
and wine and said, blessed be Abraham of the most high God,
and he blessed him the way he did. The scripture says, when
Abraham paid those tithes, Levi did, because he was in him. Now this is the relation of every
believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Lord Jesus Christ kept
God's law perfectly, I kept God's law perfectly. It does not say
it's as if Levi paid tithes, Levi paid those tithes. And every believer eternally
united to the Lord Jesus Christ, whatever he did, they did because
they were in him. I think it's so amazing when
that bone was removed from Adam, that rib, it actually came from
him. And every believer Understand
this, of course not. Believe it with all your heart.
Every believer finds his origin in the Lord Jesus Christ. I love the way the Lord uses
the vine and the branches to illustrate being in him. Listen
real carefully. The same stem that's in the vine. runs into the branches. There's
no connecting point. The same stem in the vine is
in the branches. Now, there is no truth other than
the character of God bigger than this, the eternal union of God's
people with Christ. Both he that sanctifyeth and
they who are sanctified are all of one. And every doctrine of
scripture can only be understood in light of being in Christ.
Election, chosen in Him. Redemption, redeemed by Him. Justification. Well, His righteousness
is my righteousness because I'm in Him. Eternal. Eternal union
with the Lord Jesus Christ. Now that is so clearly set forth
in Eve being in Adam before she's ever brought out. When Christ said to Saul, Saul,
Saul, why persecutes thou me? Why Christ was on the right hand
of the father. He couldn't actually touch Christ, but when he touched
one of his people, he was touching him. That's how close this union
is. Inasmuch as you've done it to
the least of these, my brethren, you've done it unto me. Inasmuch
as you've done it not to the least of these, my brethren,
you've done it not to me. Now that's clearly brought forth. Now look in verse 21 of Genesis
chapter two. And the Lord God caused a deep
sleep to fall upon Adam. Now this is given to testify
of the death of Christ. Here we have in picture the death
of Christ. In this time of life, We're given
what Moses and Elijah talked about when they talked to the
Lord on the man of transfiguration, they spake of the decease, which
he should accomplish and who the Lord caused this. Who caused
the death of Christ? His father did. Somebody says,
wasn't he killed by the Roman soldiers? Yep. Wasn't his death
desired by the Jews? Yes. but they only did what his
determinant counsel and foreknowledge determined before to be done. Through the death of Christ comes
the church. Through this deep sleep that
falls upon Adam, we have the life of the church coming from
his side. Eve came out. of the hole in
Adam's side, and the church came out of the spear pierced in his
side. Remember what came out of his
side? Blood and water. The songwriter said, be of sin
the double cure. Save from wrath and make me pure. That's exactly what happened
when our Lord died and the sword went into his side and there
flowed out blood and water, which was the complete cleansing and
salvation of the church. The Lord built Eve out of Adam
and we are his workmanship. We are His workmanship. You know, it, it bothers me when
preachers talk so much about changed lives. Changed lives. Now I'm, I'm all for proper conduct
and so on. Don't anybody get me wrong, but
my life is not a changed life. My life is a new creation built
by God. I'm not going to talk about this
old man being changed. This old man's as bad as it ever
was as far as that goes. I don't even like to hear people
talk about changed lives. That's not what the scripture
speaks of. The scripture speaks of a new creation. And that's
exactly what took place. God took that rib from out of
Adam and he built a woman. And God takes the church from
Christ and he builds this new creation that was not there before. I love this glorious presentation. God presents Eve to Adam. And what about the presentation
of the church presented? Holy Colossians 1 22 presented
holy and unblameable and unreprovable. Oh, you think of the Lord presenting
her to Adam and think of this presentation of the church by
what Christ did for Jude 24. Now unto him, that's able to
keep you from falling and to present you. faultless before
his presence with exceeding joy. I love Adam's response. This is bone of my bones and
flesh of my flesh. And that's what Christ says of
his church. That's why bone was not broken on the crucifixion.
These are his bones. And truly the church, every believer
is bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh. And remember this,
Eve was made for Adam, wasn't she? The church was made for
Christ. That's why this is the church
was made for the glory and the honor of the Lord Jesus Christ. The church is called his body,
the fullness of him that filleth all in all. Now for this cause,
shall a man leave his father and mother? What did Christ leave?
I don't even know how to comment on it other than this. You know
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though He was rich, rich
in communion with His Father, in love to His Father, in perfect
fellowship with His Father, though He was rich, yet for your sakes,
He became poor. He left all that. He left the
presence of His Father and came to this earth and did what he
did for you, for you. You know, the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich yet for your
sakes, he became poor, that you through his poverty might be
rich. and how he cleaves to his church. He says, listen to this. He says,
I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say,
the Lord is my helper. I shall not fear what man shall
do unto me. The Lord is my helper. Now, I've heard men or people
say, well, degrading that the woman is made to be a helpmate
for the man. Well, is it degrading to the
Lord that he's the helper of the church? No, it's glorious.
It's glorious. And every believer can say, the
Lord is my helper. And the two are one flesh. Now, this is a reference to the
act of intimacy in marriage, but this is given to depict the
relationship between Christ and the church. Not two, but one. Now let me close with this scripture. Turn with me to 1 John 4. 1 John
4. Verse 16, and we have known and
believed the love that God hath to us. God is love. I love that. It doesn't say God
loves. God is love. Not here is love and God does
that. No, God is love. And he that dwelleth in love,
dwelleth in God. and God in him. Herein is our
love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of judgment. Now that is such an incredible
concept, the day of judgment, that great day of the Lord, that
day when I'm going to be judged by God himself. And the apostle
speaks of having boldness, cheerful confidence on that day. How can
that be? Because as He is, present tense,
right now, as He is, so are we, present
tense, right now, in this world. How is He? Oh, He's altogether
lovely to the Father. Oh, He's holy to the Father.
He's perfectly righteous to the father. Oh, how safe and secure
is he? I mean, you could just go on
and on about how he is. So are we in this world right
now, that is the security of every believer. And this first
marriage. is given to typify this glorious
marriage. The church is called the Lamb's
Wife, the Bride of the Lord Jesus Christ, and heaven will be this
eternal wedding feast. I tell you what, everybody here
ought to be looking forward to dine. Heaven is our eternal wedding
feast with the Lamb. Let's pray. Lord, how we thank you for the
glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. How we thank you for
our husband who left heaven in obedience to your glorious command
to save us from our sins and to make us his forever. how we thank you for the gospel.
And Lord, ask in Christ's name that you would cause our marriages
to reflect the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Help
us to be helpmates one to another. Bless this message for Christ's
sake. In his name we pray, amen. Dwight.