Marriage Helps #2
Paul’s progression of thought establishes a significant lesson about marriage. The gospel of Christ always comes first. Before he assembles his specific instructions to husbands and wives in Colossians 3:18, 19, he lays a gospel foundation in 3:12-17. Consider four applications of the truth implied by this pattern.
1. You need the Savior, so check in at the cross
The gospel of Christ must be the foundation of your marriage. Every husband and every wife needs the gospel benefits that Christ gives to sinners, which are acceptance with God (“having cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross,” Colossians 12:14) and the ability to live for Him (“bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might,” Colossians 1:10, 11).
2. Remember that your spouse married a sinner in need of the Savior, and so did you
Each spouse was once the seed of Adam, guilty, fallen, sold to sin; but now in Christ by God’s grace, each is a child of the living God, forgiven, made new, indwelt by the Spirit of Christ. None has arrived at perfection, even as they seek to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects (Colossians 1:10)”. Therefore, temper your expectations and fortify your graces. Christ-like humility and love must be the prevailing attitudes and governing motives of your relationship.
3. Seek Christ first in your marriage.
He is the foundation stone and the fountainhead. Look to Him. Love Him. Learn of Him. Lean on Him. Stay close to Him. The better relationship you have with Him, the better it will be with one another. The more richly the Word of Christ and the Spirit of Christ dwell in you, the more richly you will dwell together.
4. Establish patterns of practice in your marriage that allow gospel graces to be cultivated and exercised.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2).” Pray together and read and discuss your Bibles together regularly. Read and discuss good Christian books. By doing these you will better bear your spiritual burdens and desires with one another. Seek to actively encourage one another in Christ, “that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love (Colossians 2:2).” Pray for each other. Pray for the protection of your marriage.
