The Christian View of Marriage

Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:3-6; John 2:1-5

GOLDEN TEXT: “Marriage is honourable in all.”—Hebrews 13:4

THE details of human creation imply that Adam lived in Eden sometime alone and perfect. Some Bible Students infer from the chronology that it was about two years from the time of Adam’s creation until the expulsion from Eden. The cause for the division of Adam into two persons is stated; the earth was to be filled, populated with a race of his species, and among all the creatures, none was suitable as a companion for him, or fit to be his mate, and the mother of an offspring in his likeness.

Thus again is shown that Adam was distinctly different from apes and monkeys, and all the other creatures placed under his control. He was in the likeness of his Creator. Other Scriptures show us that after the earth shall have been filled with a population, it is the divine purpose that the sex quality in humanity shall be dropped. Jesus’ words are, They that shall attain unto that age [of perfection—future] will neither marry nor be given in marriage, but be like the angels in heaven—sexless.—Luke 20:34-36

The division of Adam into two parts, male and female, left the headship with the male, and deprived him of some of his sympathetic qualities. His wife, predominating in the sympathetic tendencies, had in her perfection less of the masculine and aggressive traits; but the two were perfectly adapted to each other’s needs, and fulfilled each other’s ideals. The fall from God’s favor has affected both sexes and has disturbed the original balance and harmony, producing extremes of coarseness and effeminacy, destroying perfection and robbing the marriage relationship of much of its ideal happiness.

The restitution or resurrection of the willing and obedient, to be brought about by Messiah’s Kingdom, will not mean the restoration of sex perfection, but rather the gradual perfecting of each individual into the image and likeness of God and personal completeness, such as Adam possessed before his division. The sex attractions having passed away, man will not be alone, as Adam was originally; for the earth will be full of human brethren, all in the image of God and in full fellowship of spirit, enjoying the world-wide paradise. Such a condition of things can be appreciated only as we take the divine standpoint and realize the superior perfection of God and the angels in their sexless condition—though always spoken of as masculine.

We should not forget that Adam and Eve in some respects foreshadowed Christ and the church. Jesus personally is the great Savior of mankind, whose death constituted the ransom price for the sins of Adam and the entire race. He is to be the great life-giver, or father of mankind. During His Millennial reign He will give back earthly life to Adam and to as many of his race as will receive it—raising them gradually out of sin and death conditions, up to perfection during that thousand years—the times of refreshing that shall come from the presence of the Lord, the times of restitution of all things, that God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. (Acts 3:19-21) This will be the glorious work of regenerating the world. “Whosoever will” may then drink the water of life freely.—Rev. 22:17

But before beginning His work of regenerating the world, God has arranged that first, from the wound in Christ’s side, figuratively speaking, an elect church shall be formed to be His companion and joint-heir in His Kingdom—the second Eve, on the spirit plane, as He, the Heavenly One, is the second Adam. The church will not be the life-giver or father, but she will be the mother or caretaker of the regenerated host of humanity during the Millennium. Under her care the willing and obedient will regain the image of God in the flesh.

Had disobedience, sin, not entered the world, the intimation is that there would have been no death in the human family but that a perfect race would have been developed, all of them in the image and likeness of God. We have here, then, strong condemnation of the thought of some that it is sinful to marry and bring forth children. On the contrary, the Lord expresses this as a part of the blessing upon the first pair, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” It was a part of the curse that woman’s conceptions and incidental sorrows were increased—leading, nevertheless, to the rapid filling of the earth so that the estimated 20,000,000,000 of Adam’s children who have been born and have died will constitute quite a fair filling of the earth in its; perfection when the great Redeemer shall bid them all come forth from the tomb.

While thus contradicting those who speak against marriage, and the begetting of children, our position as the Lord’s followers should not be misunderstood; hence, we add that the Lord’s words in this connection were to the natural man and woman and not to the church—the new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is for each one of the church to consider his consecration of life to the Lord and His service, His cause, and to remember the example of our Lord Jesus who, by the power of His consecrated will, became a eunuch for the Kingdom of heaven’s sake. (Matt. 19:12) The apostle lays down certain lines and furnishes certain advice in I Corinthians 7, which is considered in the “Studies in the Scriptures,” Volume 6, chapter 12, to which we refer our interested readers.

There is but one cause mentioned in the Scriptures as proper grounds for the dissolution of the marriage bonds. (Matt. 19:3-10) The disciples, hearing these, our Master’s words on the subject, were as much surprised as the Pharisees, and said that if the case stood thus, that is, if the marriage covenant were so binding and indissoluble, it would be better not to marry—it would be too great a risk to run. (verse 10) But this is just the way the Lord would have us view the relationship. The marriage contract is one that should stand till death makes the separation.

QUESTIONS:

What was the cause for the division of Adam into two persons? Will this division of the race into male and female continue forever?

Who is the second Adam and the second Eve?

Is the marriage relationship contrary to the will of God for either the world or the church?

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