1 Thess. 4:3-6; Gen. 1:26-30; Gal. 3:26-29, Equality

Here is an all-too-typical scenario:

§  He (she) was married...

§  Marriage lost it’s excitement...

§  He (she) poured self into job/kids...

§  Someone caught his/her eye...

§  Someone built him/her up (met a need) ...

§  Felt no one would know...

At every step it needed to be stopped! The failures in this scenario are addressed in 1 Th. 4:3-6, being an overall failure to acquire one’s vessel in sanctification and honor.


The issue in life is soul satisfaction.  The fact is that having God alone is always enough (Ps. 73:21-26; 84:1-12; Phil. 4:10-13; Heb. 13:5).  But it is also a fact that God provides for our satisfaction, giving us everything for our enjoyment (1 Tim. 6:17) including food and clothing (Mt. 6:25-34) and marriage (1 Tim. 4:3).  Thus, since marriage is God’s gift we must ask Him about how we can be satisfied deep in our souls.  Satisfying bodily urges by sex falls far short of satisfying the soul through a relationship with one’s wife (Prov. 5:15-20), the delight of your eyes (Ezek. 24:15-18).


There are no cutsie messages on secrets to marriage.  We believe the 1st and best thing is ALWAYS to return to the basics.  Our dissatisfaction is the result of getting away from God’s plan. Thus let us return to the opening chapters of the Bible (Gen 1-3) where God instituted marriage as it was intended.

I.            Enjoying marital equality, Genesis 1.

a.     The fact of marital equality.  (Gal. 3:26-29; Gen. 1:27).  The Bible teaches a basic equality of men and women.

b.     The nature of marital equality.  (Gen. 1:26-30).  It is an equality as fundamental as being created in the image of God.  The thing that separates humanity from the rest of creation is the thing that unites male and female.  The image is not a physical likeness to God who, by nature, has no physical likeness (John 4:35).  Being in God’s image means men and women are like God as being …

                   i.      Moral creatures (Eph. 4:24).

                ii.      Immortal creatures (Lk. 16:22-23).

             iii.      Personal creatures (Gen. 2:7,16; 3:8; we can commune with God).

              iv.      Rational creatures (Deut. 29:29; we can think, understand God’).

                 v.      Ruling creatures (Gen. 1:26,28f).

              vi.      Choosing creatures (Gen. 2:15-17; like God we can choose our actions).

           vii.      Relational creatures (Gen. 2:18; we need each other).

c.     The significance of marital equality.  This is fundamental to respect and honor for each other.  The husband treats his wife as he treats himself (Eph. 5:33; 1 Pt. 3:7).  The wife respects her husband (1 Peter 3:2).  Marital joy begins with recognizing we are both made in the image of God!  Do you see your spouse in this way?