The story of the first marriage as described in the Bible is rejected by many today as a myth that has no bearing on 21st century relationships in a sophisticated society. This sermon will challenge that notion and present the marriage between Adam and Eve as God's design for all marriages. The creative differences God made are good, true, and beautiful.

2. God’s design for marriage is:God’s design for marriage is:
1) Good1) Good
2) True2) True
3) Beautiful3) Beautiful

3. God’s design for marriage is:God’s design for marriage is:
1) Good1) Good

4. The LORD God said, “It is not good forThe LORD God said, “It is not good for
the man to be alone.”the man to be alone.”
- Genesis 2:18 (NIV)- Genesis 2:18 (NIV)

5. Now the LORD God had formed outNow the LORD God had formed out
of the ground all the wild animals andof the ground all the wild animals and
all the birds in the sky. He broughtall the birds in the sky. He brought
them to the man to see what he wouldthem to the man to see what he would
name them; and whatever the manname them; and whatever the man
called each living creature, that was itscalled each living creature, that was its
name.name.

6. So the man gave names to all theSo the man gave names to all the
livestock, the birds in the sky and alllivestock, the birds in the sky and all
the wild animals.the wild animals.
But for Adam no suitable helperBut for Adam no suitable helper
was found.was found.
- vv. 19-20- vv. 19-20

7. ““I will make a helper suitable for him.”I will make a helper suitable for him.”
- v. 18- v. 18

8. God’s design for marriage is:God’s design for marriage is:
1) Good1) Good
2) True2) True

9. So God created man in his own image,So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created them,in the image of God he created them,
male and female he created them.male and female he created them.
- Gen. 1:27- Gen. 1:27

10. ““It is entirely possible for God toIt is entirely possible for God to
subordinate Himself, in a certain sense, tosubordinate Himself, in a certain sense, to
human beings. He does so whenever Hehuman beings. He does so whenever He
undertakes to help us. He does not “un-undertakes to help us. He does not “un-
God” Himself in helping us; but He doesGod” Himself in helping us; but He does
stoop to our needs, according to hisstoop to our needs, according to his
gracious and sovereign will.gracious and sovereign will.

11. Similarly, I subordinate myself to mySimilarly, I subordinate myself to my
children when I help them with theirchildren when I help them with their
homework. I do not empty my mind of myhomework. I do not empty my mind of my
own knowledge; but I do come down toown knowledge; but I do come down to
their level to see their questions from theirtheir level to see their questions from their

12. perspective and to point them towardperspective and to point them toward
solutions they can understand. Theirsolutions they can understand. Their
needs set my agenda.”needs set my agenda.”
- Dr. Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.- Dr. Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr.

13. ““And I will ask the Father, and he willAnd I will ask the Father, and he will
give you another Helper, to be with yougive you another Helper, to be with you
forever…”forever…”
- John 14:6- John 14:6

14. So the LORD God caused a deepSo the LORD God caused a deep
sleep to fall upon the man, and while hesleep to fall upon the man, and while he
slept took one of his ribs and closed up itsslept took one of his ribs and closed up its
place with flesh. And the rib that the LORDplace with flesh. And the rib that the LORD
God had taken from the man he made intoGod had taken from the man he made into
a woman and brought her to the man.a woman and brought her to the man.
Then the man said,Then the man said,

15. ““This at last is bone of my bonesThis at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”because she was taken out of Man.”
- vv. 21-23- vv. 21-23

16. God’s design for marriage is:God’s design for marriage is:
1) Good1) Good
2) True2) True
3) Beautiful3) Beautiful

17. Husbands, love your wives, as ChristHusbands, love your wives, as Christ
loved the church and gave himself up forloved the church and gave himself up for
her,her, that he might sanctify her, havingthat he might sanctify her, having
cleansed her by the washing of water withcleansed her by the washing of water with
the word, so that he might present thethe word, so that he might present the
church to himself in splendor, withoutchurch to himself in splendor, without
spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that shespot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she

18. might be holy and without blemish. In themight be holy and without blemish. In the
same way husbands should love theirsame way husbands should love their
wives as their own bodies. He who loveswives as their own bodies. He who loves
his wife loves himself. For no one everhis wife loves himself. For no one ever
hated his own flesh, but nourishes andhated his own flesh, but nourishes and

19. cherishes it, just as Christ does thecherishes it, just as Christ does the
church, because we are members of hischurch, because we are members of his
body.body.
- Ephesians 5:25-30- Ephesians 5:25-30