The image of God!
Then God said, let Us make man in Our image to Our likeness.
Genesis1:26
Already on the first pages of the bible we see the purpose for male and female, and for marriage.
In Genesis 1 we read verse 27, So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. The no 1 purpose for both male and female is to be the image-bearers of God. In verse 28, God tells the man and woman to multiply and have dominion, setting up the first purpose for marriage as being the fullness of the image of God.
In Ephesians5:22-33 we get another purpose for marriage described, here it is as a painting of the gospel by instructing husbands to be imitating Christ in how they treat their wives. This is not a replacement for the purpose given to us in Genesis but a confirmation of it, which Paul makes clear by quoting Genesis2:24" Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother, and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.
We see both these summed up in 1Corinthians11:3 But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. Telling us how the relation between God the Father and Christ the Son should be imitated and lived out as Christ was our example 1Peter2:21
How we behave in marriage reflects how we perceive God!
There is no control, coersion, manipulation or violence portrayed in the God-head, or in the gospel of Christ´s ministry here on earth, and if we introduce any of those into our marriage we are essentially violating God's image and person as well as denying the gospel.
It also tells us that since Christ didn´t abuse us when He would have been justified in doing so, you being abused is not because you did something to deserve it, but because your abuser is fighting against God. Nothing you do or say can make them change. They need a personal face to face confrontation with Christ just as Paul had in Acts9:4-6
By: Mike Petersen
Reflection:
What does it mean to you that you are an image-bearer of God if you are the victim of abuse?
And how can you leave it to Him to deal with your abuser as He dealt with Paul?
Lord may we know you so we can portray you honestly and correct in all our relations.
