62. Marriage and the Trinity (Marriage Series Part 1)

The War on Marriage and the Need to Wake Up

Welcome back to the podcast where we prod the sheep and beat the wolf. This is episode 62 the marriage and the Trinity. Recently, I remembered why I stopped noticing the sounds of war during my deployment in Operation Iraqi freedom.

You see when we first entered the country every cell in my body was on heightened alert. My adrenaline was constantly pumping every staccato rat-a-tat of a distant AK -47 was enough to make my hair stand on end.

Every civilian standing in a crowd could be a potential suicide bomber. Every vehicle could deliver the IED that would send me home looking like lieutenant Dan and With every mortar round fired the reality of going home in a box and my mother receiving a triangular folded American flag pressed heavy upon my mind.

Yet as the deployment war on these sounds sort of melded into a strange kind of normalcy for me. For instance every morning around 3 a .m The reverberating shock and rumble of incoming mortar round would agitate the little mud brick house that we were living in.

Those first nights in the Iraqi theater I awoke in great alarm from every blast putting on my gear ready for combat trying to get myself ready and protected. But Once I realized that the Iraqis with their mortar rounds were about as effective as hitting sand when falling off of a camel I eventually settled down and Slept right through the explosions as if nothing strange was happening to me.

See the thunderous eruptions that once jarred me became the ethereal drum tap of the desert's lullaby. Time like an ancient spell had wove its enchantment upon my senses leaving me unconscious of my surroundings.

Which is exactly what I believe has happened to the modern American Church. You see in Satan's timeless malice He has assailed the sacred bond of marriage for so long that the sounds and the signs of warfare Have sort of faded into the cacophony of noises that we have become accustomed to.

We have grown numb to the relentless onslaught at the devil's hands. So that divorce infidelity and broken homes have become the normal tapestry woven together into the threads of our society. For this reason It is incumbent upon us to wake up from our slumber and To recognize that there is a war being waged all around us and that we need to cling to the weapons of warfare that our compassionate General has given us.

For all who call themselves Christians it's time for us to rekindle our love for the hallowed word. As followers of Christ we must valiantly Thwart the adversaries advances on marriage in general and on our marriages in particular by Embracing God's design for us for our marriage for our children for our homes.

That is all revealed in Holy Scripture today. We're gonna begin a brand new series on the broadcast on Marriage by traveling back to the genesis of it. By seeking solace in the profound wisdom that is spoken by our God in his word.

And in this collection of essays or episodes depending on where you're reading or listening to this content We're gonna lean into what scripture teaches about marriage. We're gonna glean from our makers timeless intentions for this institution.

Genesis 1:26–28 and the Trinitarian Design of Marriage

That's going to illuminate our path forward and today We're gonna be speaking about the actual design of marriage from the very first biblical text on marriage. Which is Genesis 1 26 through 28. This is the text.

Then God said let us make man in our image according to our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and Over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.

God created man in his own image in the image of God. He created him male and female. He created them and God blessed them and God said to them be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and rule over the fish of the Sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing That moves on the earth.

Genesis 1 26 through 28. Now what we see here is that there is a trinitarian design for marriage. The Bible describes the creation of man in marital language. God did not merely create two distinctly gendered individuals calling them very good in their disconnectedness or individuality.

Instead he created a pair of people who would become one flesh together in The same way that shoes come in twos and socks come in pairs. God made man as a male and female unit That would join together to become one very glorious thing, which of course was the very good part That he was talking about.

Now in this we must also notice that the creation of man was a trinitarian event. God does not create the first domestic commune without blueprints. Instead He patterns it off the divine community that has existed forever in eternity at the height of the creation enterprise.

God speaks saying let us the Godhead Make man in our triune image. When God does this it is not it not only serves to prove the Trinity for us, which that is important. But it also proves that God Intended the same kind of intimacy that has existed in the tri unity To be a part of human marriage.

Now, let's look at the triune community. What kind of fellowship do they have? Well for all eternity members of the Godhead Father Son and Holy Spirit have existed in perfect harmony in Self-giving love an exquisite dance of divine affection.

This celestial community lives an exquisite blissful intimacy lavishly pouring out Fragrant love upon one another heralding each other's praises and melodious harmonies that have echoed across the unformed realms holding back nothing from one another across eons of affectionate fellowship.

In the embrace of the father love emanates as an eternal wellspring an Outpouring of perfect affection towards the Son and the Spirit. The father's love boundless and unchanging encapsulates the essence of nurturing care and tender compassion.

It is a love that delights in the sons obedience and wholeheartedly affirms his eternal sonship. It's a love that seeks to glorify and honor the Sun above all things. The Sun in response Reciprocates this love with perfect devotion and filial obedience.

His passion for the father is marked by complete surrender and an unwavering desire to fulfill the father's will. It is a love that willingly steps into the realm of humanity taking upon himself the weight of the world's transgressions offering himself as a perfect sacrifice a demonstration of love That knows no bounds.

The Holy Spirit the breath of life within the Trinity embodies the love that flows between the Father and the Son. It is a love that unites and empowers and guides the spirits. Love is like a gentle wind constantly moving and animating the divine dance.

It is a love that testifies to the unity and the oneness of the Godhead bringing forth the fruit of eternal love in the hearts of believers together. The love within the Trinity is a symphony of self giving perfect love.

It is a love that transcends time and space existing in boundless eternity. It is a love that invites us to behold the divine dance and to participate in its harmonious rhythms. Through the love of the Trinity we catch a glimpse of the infinite depth of love that we have been invited to enter into in a transformative relationship with the triune God on the basis of Christ by the power of the Spirit where we too Can experience the boundless love that has united father son and spirit together forever.

This of course is best pictured in human marriage. Now many scholars and authors will attest that when our triune God patterned man according to God's image He was undoubtedly creating individuals. With rational and creative capacity to think feel love and do that's right but The Bible was not written in an individualistic society and there's more to the story.

God also was making man a Community of persons male and female With whom it would not be suitable or good for them to be alone. Thus that community patterned off the Godhead would possess an innate desire to enjoy participate and be Satisfied by holy intimate fellowship that imitates the eternal inner trinitarian realities that are observed in God.

Let me say that simply Humans want relationship because we were made by a relational triune God. The height of human relationships is marriage this finite expression this intimate joyful loving and sacrificial community.

That is at the height of intimacy and care is what we call marriage and that is what was created by God to image The Trinity now We need to talk about how this works itself out in marriage. How is the marriage meant to image the Trinity?

How do we in a very small sense picture the very big thing? That is the Trinity and this is not an easy topic for anyone to speak about when you talk about the Trinity. You are you are sort of tiptoeing near the line of heresy.

So I want to be very careful in the way that I speak about these things. You can sort of flippantly easily try to talk about these things and not understand them. That is a completely different thing so what I want us to do is I want us to see what does it look like for human marriages to image an eternal infinite Trinity and And once we understand that how are we going to progress in that grow in that?

Which are valuable questions for us to consider now if we're gonna get near to an answer to this We must first catch a glimpse of the divine community. The human marriage was designed to resemble and imitate if you want to understand how the marriage relationship functions.

Especially at the design level then we need to understand how the designer Engages in relationships and then let that inform our theology and our practice of marriage. So in the ensuing minutes what I'm gonna do.

It's not gonna be an exhaustive exposition by no means that's not feasible nor prudent for me to endeavor upon at this moment. But what we are gonna do is we're gonna confront the enigma of the unfathomable deity Whose essence transcends all human comprehension and instead of doing that with a comprehensive theological approach We're just gonna present a few concise examples Offering a a glimpse into the very select facets that draw parallels between the Trinity and marriage and then we're going to show how Marriage is supposed to image the Trinity.

Sixteen Ways Marriage Images the Trinity

So we're gonna look at 16 Attributes of the Godhead and we're gonna show how those 16 attributes are Imaged in marriage. So number one love at the core of the Trinity resides in eternal and impeccable affection a Boundless unreserved and unblemished love shared in perfect unity among the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Now similarly in the sacred covenant of marriage love assumes a foundational role Demanding unfaltering presence between the husband and wife just as the divine persons Mutually love and selflessly care for one another.

So our spouses Called to emulate this Sacrificial love with unwavering care for their marriage partner the Trinity Loves each other unreservedly. Marriages are called to love each other in the same way We are to shadow or to picture or to image what is already happening in the Trinity.

That's number one number two unity. The members of the Trinity Exemplify a sublime state of perfect unity. They seamlessly embody their divine essence and purpose. There is nothing of discord or disunity among the members of the Trinity.

They are in perfect harmony with one another. Now analogously in the institution of marriage unity is Supposed to be a paramount significance both to the husband and the wife as they merge into Union with one another becoming in essence one flesh.

There's to be no discord there no division there they are enjoined to diligently pursue a godly and biblically aligned Unity that aligns their lives their overarching direction and the purpose that they are committing to with unwavering fidelity throughout a shared lifetime together as The Trinity has unity.

Marriages were designed by God to be in his triune image so that marriages are Supposed to have great unity. A marriage without unity is a marriage that is rebelling against its paradigm. Number three submission.

The interrelationships within the Godhead unveil a symphony of mutual submission and harmonious Concord between the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Son willingly submits to the will of the Father and the Holy Spirit proceeds forth from the Father and the Son likewise within the sacred bond of marriage.

The principle of mutual submission finds expression as both husband and wife reverently yield to one another Motivated by love and by mutual respect for each other while the husband assumes the mantle of servant leadership Offering guidance and stewardship to his family in the same way that there is a hierarchical structure in the Trinity there's a hierarchical structure in the marriage in the same way that there is mutual submission and Respect and love in the Trinity.

There's mutual respect and love and submission in the marriage. Number four selflessness. Within the triune fellowship an ethos of selflessness Permeates every interaction as each divine person ardently seeks the glorification and exaltation of the others.

They are not in it for themselves, but they are praising and acting and working and doing Everything for the benefit of the other on the same way in the realm of marriage selflessness assumes a pivotal role with both partners intently Prioritizing the needs and the aspirations of their spouse above their own.

If you have a marriage where there's selfishness. It's not patterned off the Trinity and it will destroy that marriage. Marriage functions only when it resembles the Trinity. So if you want a healthy marriage, it can't have selfishness.

It must have self lessness, which is Because it was designed by a triune God who made it in his image. Number five intimacy. The Trinity partakes in an intimate boundless communion a Sacred fellowship unmarred by boundaries or reservations.

There are no walls in the triune God Characterized by perfect knowledge and unceasing bliss. Analogously intimacy assumes a crucial dimension in the sanctity of marriage encompassing emotional intimacy spiritual intimacy and physical intimacy between the man and woman.

It Engenders an environment of trust vulnerability and profound understanding. Mirroring the intimate dynamics that we see within the Godhead. Put simply The Father Son and Holy Spirit have perfect intimacy.

There is no division. There's no walls. There's no borders. There's nothing that they've hidden. Everything is out front. Perfect vulnerability and intimacy, which is why a marriage that does not have these things will not flourish.

Because marriage was made by God to resemble the Trinity. So if you want a healthy marriage, you need intimacy because that's the way the Godhead functions. Number six faithfulness within the eternal bond of the Trinity a tapestry of unparalleled dedication weaves the divine persons together unfailingly loyal pure in devotion and unblemished by the need for improvement or apology.

They are faithful to one another unreservedly so. Similarly faithfulness assumes a paramount role in the institution of marriage embodying an unwavering commitment steadfast loyalty and Resolute devotion throughout the Sacred Union just as the Trinitarian members epitomize unwavering faithfulness to one another.

So to our spouses called to manifest unswerving faithfulness and devotedness. Constancy and faithfulness within their marriage if you have a marriage that is built on unfaithfulness. Whether it be in communication or whether it be in Sexuality or whatever it is.

If you have a marriage based on unfaithfulness, it will not work because it was not Patterned by a god of chaos. It was patterned by the one true and living God who is a faithful God who exemplifies faithfulness Throughout eternity in the Godhead number seven.

Communication at the heart of the triune God. There's a mystery that lies perfect in complete communication a Divine exchange that has resonated with unbridled joy between the Father Son and the Holy Spirit since the dawn of eternity.

Before time and space were even a thing the divine persons were engaged in celebratory Harmonious and passionate dialogue with one another. Effective communication between God the Son and the Spirit has always been.

There's never been anything less than perfect communication within the Godhead. Now that plays a pivotal role in the covenantal fabric of marriage nurturing understanding harmonizing conflicts fostering mutual growth.

Communication is critical. Spouses are encouraged to cultivate this an atmosphere of open honest interest and respectful communication Which will enrich their relational dynamics and bring them into alignment with the divine example.

Put simply The father talks to the son. Son talks to the spirit. They speak with one another they communicate with one another perfectly. And if they made marriage male and female Together to be an image of them then you would assume that communication is an essential component of human marriage.

Number eight complementarity the Trinity embodies a harmonious symphony of distinct roles and Functions seamlessly interwoven within the divine essence. In the same way the sacred institution of marriage encompasses a complementary interplay between the husband and wife.

Where in their unique strengths gifts and roles Converge to establish a balance and flourishing relationship this complementarity far from implying inequity embodies an appreciation for the diverse contributions of each spouse.

Divinely ordained brings to the Union and fosters a unity that echoes the Trinitarian harmony. Again God is not The father the father the father. There's not three fathers it's father son and spirit which means that there's a complementarity of roles.

There's a father who plays out his role. There's a son who plays out his role and there's a spirit who plays out his role and all of that one. God three persons demonstrates that there is a harmonious aspect a complementarity a Difference in role but in equality in person that exists within the Trinity and that is the exact same thing that we see in Marriage, there is one marriage and two persons in the same way that there is one God and three persons.

There's one marriage with two distinct human beings who play different roles and In those different roles, they're equal in person but different in The things that they've been called to do. This is designed by God to reflect the Trinity.

Number nine sacrifice the triune. God embodies sacrificial love in its purest form as The father dispatched the son to pour out his life for the redemption of humanity and the son willingly embraced that ultimate sacrifice.

The father the son and the Holy Spirit demonstrate that they are a sacrificial union. Within similarly the sacred covenant of marriage sacrificial love finds its embodiment through selfless affection and through the deliberate Relinquishment of personal needs for the sake of the spouse.

It entails acts of self-sacrifice and intentional choices That prioritize the well-being and the flourishing of the beloved. Moreover the husband assumes the role of Christ in his sacrificial leadership mirroring his sacrificial love for his church the father the son and the Holy Spirit for all eternity.

Have been sacrificing and giving sacrificial love to one another looking out for the needs of the other above the needs of themselves. And as they've been doing that they've been pouring out love on one another forever and Their love actually abounds in in this glorious symphony because they're not focused upon them Selves, but they're focused on the love that they have for one another in the same way Marriages are made.

Not for husbands to seek their own good not for wives to seek their own gain. It's for the husband to pour out everything upon his wife the wife to pour out everything upon her husband for the two to Sacrificially serve one another to meet the needs of one another to live selflessly entirely.

Like the husband is supposed to live like the wife is His chief affection and that she is the one that he's going to serve in every possible way. He's gonna outdo her in service and the wife is supposed to reciprocate by pouring out her love her Affection her respect her service on to her husband so that everybody's needs are being met.

But their needs are not being met through selfishness or through self-seeking, but their needs are getting met through the through the other. The wife's needs are getting met from her husband. The husband's needs are getting met from his wife and both are imitating God number ten Forgiveness mercy and grace.

And it is here that we need to recognize that within the dry the divine Community of the Trinity there is no such thing as sin and transgression or the need for forgiveness. There's no need for mercy and there's no need for grace because God the Father or Son or Spirit has never sinned yet God perfect in every facet of his being reveals himself as a God of forgiveness a God of compassion and of God of grace extending these divine attributes not within the Trinity but from Inside to without to fall in humanity to recipients of his undeserved favor and love.

So God from all of eternity has been pouring out his love within the Trinity and then once sin occurred He's now pouring out his grace from without the Trinity. In the same way spouses are supposed to imitate this divine attribute.

But in a different way those spouses bear inherent imperfection within the sacred tapestry of their marriage. They are called to emulate the divine example by extending forgiveness showing mercy and Bestowing grace upon one another.

So they start with pouring out forgiveness mercy and grace within the marriage. Because I'm like the Father Son and Spirit. They're not perfect. So they need to start there, but Also recognizing their own frailty they also unite together in a shared endeavor to grant forgiveness and Demonstrate understanding and to extend grace to their covenant children and to the world around them.

Reflecting the divine paradigm that is set forth by the Heavenly Father. So not only do they do they have forgiveness mercy and grace for each other. But like the Father Son and Spirit they they pour out that forgiveness mercy and grace upon People who are external to them so that would be covenant children.

That would be people in the community of the church and then you can keep going on and on out in different rungs of society. Number 11 trust. Trust stands as a foundational pillar within the Trinitarian relationship.

The Father the Son and the Holy Spirit exemplify unwavering belief in one another Relentless in their devotion and unyielding in their fidelity. Well in the same way trust assumes paramount significance within the covenant of marriage.

Spouses are called to cultivate a profound trust in one another Relying upon the steadfastness of their partner's faithfulness and finding solace in the unwavering commitment that they share together.

The father implicitly trusts the son the son implicitly trusts the father in the spirit. There is a kind of trust they're believing the best in one another that is Glorious and beautiful and we are supposed to imitate that now as a sinful creatures in marriage.

We have to grow in trust. Sometimes we break trust, but trust if it is not in a marriage It will not survive. Trust must be a part of marriage because God designed it it imitates or images his triunity.

Number 12 perseverance. The members of the Trinity showcase unwavering determination and pursuing their divine purposes and plans. They don't give up within the realm of marriage. Perseverance becomes an indispensable virtue enabling Couples to navigate the challenges and the hardships that arise on their shared journey.

Spouse and spouses are summoned to embody steadfast determination in their commitment and love and relentless pursuit of The flourishing of one another even when confronted when with trials that beset them.

You think about in the Old Testament how God persevered with great long-suffering through every bump in every trial and every Idolatry and sin that his people walked through. And there were times where God Needed to bring down the hammer and there were times Where God was was very patient and very gracious and there was great wisdom in that which is the next attribute.

But before we get there in the same way, the covenant marriage is supposed to have perseverance. We're not supposed to fall apart at every bump in the road. We're supposed to cling to one another to leave father and mother cling to our bride cling to our husband and to Persevere together with fidelity and faithfulness for a lifetime.

So we image the Trinity. Marriage is not just a human institution that works well for us. Marriage is a picture of the triune God and it is and it is one of the chief ways That we can give glory to God as we persevere in our marriage.

We declare to the world. This is what God is like. When we love each other we declare to the world. This is who God is. Because marriage images the Trinity number 13 wisdom. Infinite wisdom and perfect understanding grace the members of the Trinity in the context of marriage wisdom assumes a paramount role.

Guiding couples and making sound decisions navigating conflicts with grace and humility and seeking divine guidance in all facets of their union. Couples are urged to pursue wisdom together anchoring their decisions and the timeless truth of the Word of God and seeking wise counsel from others in their community when needed as a way of imaging the triune God in The same way that God is wise.

He's created us to be wise. Think about a marriage that has no wisdom. Well, that would be a marriage that would be in shambles. The reason why marriages need wisdom is because they pattern the triune God and he has perfect wisdom.

Number 14 fruitfulness. Abundant fruitfulness permeates the divine work and purposes within the Trinity. Similarly within the covenant of marriage couples are called to embrace a multifaceted view of fruitfulness.

Encompassing not only the physical procreation of offspring, but it does include that but also extending to their shared endeavors of building a family and building a home serving others leaving a lasting impact and a legacy a heritage a reward an income a retirement building God's kingdom all of these things that the couple is called to be fruitful in raising children all of it and The reason that we're called to be fruitful in all of these things is because we were made by and Marriage was created by a very fruitful God.

Number 15 the penultimate which is joy perfect and boundless joy characterizes the eternal fellowship of the triune God. Joy is vital in The Godhead and it's also vital in nurturing a vibrant and thriving relationship in marriage.

Couples are encouraged to cultivate happiness in their shared experiences together cherishing moments of celebration. Finding delight in life's simple pleasures having fun together. Fostering an atmosphere of joyous contentment that permeates their union when we think about God.

We're not thinking about a dour somber very Morose kind of being. No we are. We're thinking about a joyful happy God a God that sings over us and dances and takes our worship and and Abounds it for his own glory.

We're talking about a happy God who is happy within the relationship of the Trinity who pours out his Joy upon his son and his son receives that and celebrates. We're talking about a celebrating community of joy.

Why would marriage need to be this dour morose boring kind of thing? Let your marriage be joyful let your marriage have fun. Let your marriage have blessedness and happiness and let your joy be filled with with all of the blessings that Christ has given you.

You're called to have joy. I mean think about a joy less marriage joy less marriage is a is an unhappy marriage is a marriage that that may continue together in drudgery. But it's not patterned off what the Bible says.

It's not patterned off of who God is. Number 16 the final one that we're going to be discussing there's more that we could discuss but in Keeping this article and in keeping this podcast Relatively concise.

This is number 16. This is our final one eternity the relationship within the Trinity transcends the confines of time embracing an eternal nature without beginning or end. Well in marriages spouses are called to mirror this eternal perspective as well committing themselves to a lifelong partnership That reflects the enduring nature of love and fidelity.

Guided by the everlasting covenant that they have entered into in their salvation couples are encouraged to anchor their marital covenant and The timeless principles and values that reflect the eternal nature of that bond because God is eternal.

Without beginning or end faithful throughout all phases of his eternality and infinite in infinitesimal existence we in a very finite way get to pattern that by being faithful and temporal for a lifetime.

That's why marriage is between one man and one woman for a lifetime because That is that is the time that we've been given in the time that God has been in Which is he sort of an oxymoron because he created time but in in his realm He's been faithful from beginning to end in our realm.

We have a very short window of time, but we're called to do the same to be faithful from beginning to end. Conclusion a Multi-volume work could and probably should be written on the comparisons between the Trinity and human marriage.

There's so much more that needs to be said, I don't know if you noticed how Dense this episode was just in trying to say as much as I could possibly say with as few words as I could possibly use because this could be a Multiple series or a full-length tome on this topic.

There is so much to say. But my point Was not to be exhaustive. My point was simply to demonstrate that this reality of Us resembling the Trinity in our marriages was not by accident, but it was by design and It sprang forth.

Not by happenstance, but it sprang forth when God deliberately said let us make man in our image and We know that the man that he made he called male and female mankind. Now knowing this The question that we have to wrestle with is what picture is our male and female marriage?

Imaging if my marriage is supposed to point to the Trinity. What is it pointing to is? It pointing to the magnificent character of God the glory of his inner Trinitarian Love the beauty and the selflessness of his divine intimate communion and fellowship.

Is that what my marriage is pointing to? Or is my marriage telling the story of chaos selfishness Joylessness and misery. No marriage on earth is going to tell the story perfectly, but every marriage is going to say something.

Take some time today and diagnose your marriage and Have the courage to repent. Where your marriage is falling short. Maybe where you as a spouse is falling short. If your spouse if the one that you're married to is falling short pray for him pray for her.

Pray that repentance would come and that the two of you together would image the love joy peace patience kindness mercy grace long suffering perseverance forgiveness kindness Creativity joyfulness all of the aspects of who God is that your marriage would embody that and That your marriage would be a picture of the gospel as you fight for your marriage today, and you seek to grow up into this glorious institution.

Remember that the enemy hates what marriage represents and the enemy hates it because he hates God. And he hates everything that reminds him of God and there should not be any wonder at all. Why he so despicably detests marriage because marriage is dripping with the design and purpose that was given to it by the Almighty God.

Marriage was not patterned off our opinions and it does not exist to advance our preferences. Instead God made marriage to reflect the holy eternal loving intimate joyful and sacrificial love. That he is always cherished among the members of his Godhead in that sense.

Marriage is not about you. But it is certainly for you. God has invited you today. You're married. To participate in and imitate his triune love. Perhaps this is why scripture calls marriage the mystery of the gospel.

Because unlike any other human relationship or institution it most clearly and most beautifully pictures the divine. Join us next week as we look at another crucial aspect of marriage, but until then Love God with all you've got.

Love your spouse in a way that showcases God's triune love and spend your days cultivating joy. God bless you.