God wants married couples to reproduce children – in His “likeness.” Couples who are competitive, angry and divided, are not fully able to nurture children in God’s image. Why? In order to teach children the principles of agape love, godly discipline, and good morals, it must first be modeled by parents. Words are not enough! As parents puts aside their innate selfishness and trust God to meet their needs, petty disagreements fade in comparison to their love for their children.  The Christian couple who does not have children can fulfill this purpose by making others disciples of Jesus Christ.

3.   Reign in Spiritual Warfare

The third purpose for marriage is to reign:

       God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in
 number; fill the earth and subdue it.”  Genesis 1:28a

We are to be stewards of the physical resources entrusted to us and we must do our share in the spiritual realm.  A spiritual battle goes on in every heart. Only as couples come together in unity and oneness will the enemy of our souls be defeated. Just as the Godhead represents perfect unity and is a force for God’s will in His universe, the Christian couple is to pray and discern God’s will in all situations.

Two Becoming One

To accomplish God’s purposes for your marriage – to reflect, reproduce and reign together – you must be at one with your spouse and with God. Oneness happens as a result of believing that God has uniquely placed you together in agreement with God’s will and with each other. The practical results are cooperation, unity and encouragement.

In Ephesians 6:12, we learn, “… our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the…spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  Practically, our struggle is not against our spouse but against Satan who wants us to believe that our spouse is the problem. We must learn to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ and not on people.

If you are a Christian couple considering marriage, who have been married for a while, or whose marriage is in trouble, God can make the most out of your situation.  Just turn to His Word and follow His plan for your marriage.

© 2003 Christian Family Life

Two Becoming One publications and small group resources help couples understand God's purposes, principles and provisions for marriage.  Many key concepts in Two Becoming One are taught in the popular FamilyLife Ministry marriage seminars.


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