Marriage is a sacred institution ordained by God, and Christian marriages should reflect the love, commitment, and values that God intends for the union between a man and woman. Here are some key ways that Christian marriages should be set apart:
Centered on God
A Christian marriage should have God at the center. The couple should share a common faith and commitment to following Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 6:14). They should make decisions prayerfully and seek to honor God with their relationship. Their ultimate purpose is to glorify God together (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Roles and Responsibilities
The Bible gives guidance on roles within a Christian marriage. The husband should love and lead his wife as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). The wife should submit to and respect her husband’s leadership (Ephesians 5:22-24). Both should serve each other humbly and fulfill their marital duties to each other (1 Corinthians 7:3-5).
Permanence and Exclusivity
Christian marriage is intended to be permanent and exclusive. What God has joined together, let no one separate (Matthew 19:6). Spouses should remain faithful to each other (Hebrews 13:4). Divorce should only be considered in extreme circumstances due to adultery or abandonment (Matthew 19:9). Even then, reconciliation should be pursued if possible.
Unity and Intimacy
In Christian marriage, the couple joins together as one flesh (Genesis 2:24). This speaks to the profound unity and intimacy to be nurtured in marriage. The spouses should prioritize their relationship, being vulnerable, communicating openly, making decisions cooperatively, and meeting each other’s needs.
Extending Grace and Forgiveness
Since both spouses are imperfect people, Christian marriage requires extending grace and forgiveness to each other regularly (Colossians 3:13). Couples should be quick to apologize, forgive, and restore the relationship when offenses occur. This reflects God’s gracious forgiveness toward us.
Serving and Sacrificing
Christian spouses are called to serve and sacrifice for each other. They should care more about the other’s needs and happiness than their own (Philippians 2:3-4). Husbands in particular are instructed to love their wives sacrificially as Christ gave Himself for the church (Ephesians 5:25). This agape love seeks the spouse’s highest good.
Resolving Conflict Biblically
Conflict will occur in any marriage. Christian couples should seek to resolve conflict according to biblical principles – humbly, honestly, quickly, forgivingly, and without sinning in their anger (Ephesians 4:26-27; Matthew 18:15). Peacemaking and reconciliation should be priorities over winning arguments.
Growing Spiritually Together
An important aspect of Christian marriage is helping each other grow in faith and godliness. Couples should pray together, read Scripture, attend church, and encourage each other in spiritual development (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:24-25). Marriage provides a unique opportunity to spur each other toward deeper love for Christ.
Modeling God’s Love
Above all, a Christian marriage should reflect God’s covenant love. Unconditional, faithful, sacrificial, gracious. As the couple lives out biblical love, they bear witness to the world of Christ’s love for the church (John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:7-12). Their marriage can powerfully declare the gospel as they model it to others.
In a culture where marriages struggle and fail, Christian couples have the opportunity to represent something better – a lifelong, thriving marriage for the glory of God. By following biblical principles and God’s wisdom, Christian marriages can reflect the beauty of the relationship between Christ and the church.
Christian husbands and wives who root their marriage in their faith and God’s Word can experience deep joy, growth, and fulfillment together as they pursue God’s design and purpose for marriage. While it requires commitment and effort, the blessings are infinitely worth it.
As Christian author Gary Thomas expressed it: “Your marriage is more than a sacred covenant with another person. It is a spiritual discipline designed to help you know God better, trust him more fully, and love him more deeply.” When Christian couples live out biblical marriage with God at the center, the benefits and witness for Christ are tremendous.
The key is relying on God’s grace to transform our selfish hearts and enable us to love each other as He designed marriage to be. Christian marriage is intended to be a beautiful picture of the gospel and God’s eternal love for His people.
By following God’s blueprint and walking in the Spirit, Christian couples can experience marriage as God meant it to be – a lifelong union reflecting who He is and His love for us in Christ.
Though it requires work, Christian marriage is incredibly rewarding. The Bible provides indispensable wisdom for having a marriage blessed by God. As Christianity has long taught, marriage is sacred. When centered on biblical principles and God’s purposes, Christian marriage can be a beautiful thing.
By surrendering to God’s will and design for marriage revealed in Scripture, Christian couples allow their union to point to eternal realities and bring glory to God. They undertake marriage not merely as a social construct or human endeavor, but as a God-given opportunity to grow in grace and fulfill their calling.
Christian marriage is intended for companionship, completion, and continuation of God’s creation mandate. Most importantly, it symbolizes and displays the relationship between Jesus Christ and His bride, the church.
As Christian spouses faithfully model the love of God in their one-flesh union, living out biblical marriage, they have the immense privilege of testifying through their lives to the redeeming relationship of Christ and His people. That is the sacred beauty and witness of Christian marriage.