I.  Marriage is a covenant.

      A.. The covenant is between a man, a woman and God. Proverbs 2:16-19

      B.  Our marriage state affects our relationship with God. Malachi 2:13-14

           

 

 II.  Statistics about marriage today.

      A.  Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce.

      B.  Marriages of people who live together before marriage fail at at rate of 70%.

           

 

III.  Characteristics of a covenant of love.

     A.  God is a covenant partner. (Adam and Eve are an example.)

           1.  Marriage was God's idea  Genesis 1:26-27

           2.  Men and women are image bearers of God.  Genesis 1:26-27

           3.  God is the father of the bride and the groom.  Genesis 2:20-25

           4.  God has a special relationship with his children.  Genesis 3:8-17

           5.  God loves us even when we sin.  Genesis 3:21

           6.  Having a godly spouse makes us more like Jesus.  Ephesians 5:21

     B.  A godly marriage is rooted in submission.  Ephesians 5:21-33

          1.  The man is head of the family, not the master.

          2.  He is responsible to lead his family and to love his wife as his own body.

          3.  The wife respects her husband out of respect for the Lord.   

         

     C.  Godly marriagae partners forgive each other.

          1.  All humans make mistakes.

          2.  All humans have feelings.

          3.  Hosea set the example for us as directed by God to forgive

               even a wife caught in adultery.  Hosea 3