There are three unions within a true marriage ( Matt.19:6
):
- Physical union but its ultimate fullness is realized while
conscious of God's warm and tender mercies ( Eph.5:25-33
).
- Mental union of sharing each other's life, hopes and dreams,
and the working together to realize these hopes and dreams.
- And the spiritual union which is the melting and molding of
each other's spirit. This can be wrought only by God. For it is
God in the ultimate Who causes them to be one person, of one flesh.
Two problems that emerge usually:
- One or both refuse to be or unwilling to be bound together
by the Spirit of God.
- Problem of one or both of the spouses unwilling to break away
from dependency upon the parents.
Christ and His love are the symbolic example for the husband.
The church and it love for Christ are the symbolic example for
the wife.
This says several practical things:
- The Christian home is to be lived in the very presence and
atmosphere of the Lord.
- The Christian home is to be governed by the Lord. Its decisions
are to be made in light of the Lord and His will.
- The Christian home is not to have two partners, but three
-- husband, wife and Christ.