Biblical Principles for Marriage - Part IV

(To download an mp3 file of this sermon, click on the title above. To listen online, click on the play button of the audio player here.)

This is the fourth sermon in a series of messages on the biblical view of marriage. It was given on Jan. 31, 2016.

Written Excerpts:

Genesis 2:23-24 (NKJV) ²³ And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." ²⁴ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Introduction:

I want to start off by sharing a couple of humorous stories about marriage.

Unknown Author – I was escorted to a wedding by my twenty-four-year-old bachelor son. He appeared unaffected by the ceremony until the bride and groom lighted a single candle with their candles and then blew out their own. With that he brightened and whispered, "I've never seen that done before." I whispered back, "You know what it means, don't you?" His response: "No more old flames?" (Illustrations Unlimited.)

A golden anniversary party was thrown for an elderly couple. The husband was moved by the occasion and wanted to tell his wife just how he felt about her. She was very hard of hearing, however, and often misunderstood what he said. With many family members and friends gathered around, he toasted her: "My dear wife, after fifty years I've found you tried and true!" Everyone smiled approval, but his wife said, "Eh?" He repeated louder, "AFTER FIFTY YEARS I'VE FOUND YOU TRIED AND TRUE!" His wife scowled as she shot back, "Well, let me tell you something—after fifty years I'm tired of you, too!" (Illustrations Unlimited.)

Over the past few weeks we have been talking about some of the biblical principles for marriage the way God intended. We’ve covered these two principles so far:

Marriage Is Gender Specific We believe the Bible teaches us that marriage is one man with one woman for life. We didn’t have time to go into the matter of monogamy vs. polygamy, but we did talk about the gender issue.

Marriage Is a Complementary Partnership We believe that the emphasis in Scripture is for husbands and wives to complement each other – each one making up for the weaknesses of the other, working together as a team and as a partnership.

Today, we are going to discuss the next principle of marriage:

Marriage is the complete union of two personalities.

Some have emphasized the idea of union or oneness strictly in the sense of physical intimacy implied by the phrase, “one flesh” that is stated repeatedly in the Bible. However, I believe that there is plenty of evidence in the Bible to show that the union is more than merely physical. I believe that the union between a husband and a wife is spiritual, emotional and physical.

Some people believe that spouses need to maintain their distance in order to make their marriage last. If they’re apart, they don’t fight as much, they say. If they’re together only short periods, they don’t have time to get on each other’s nerves, they say.

Rodney Dangerfield is a comedian that I don’t know much about but I read that he said this:  — We sleep in separate rooms; we have dinner apart; we take separate vacations. We're doing everything we can to keep our marriage together. (Phillips' Treasury of Humorous Quotations.)

The sentiments expressed by his comment, whether he was joking or serious, is not the sentiment that is expressed in a Christian marriage. For our time in the Word this morning I want to share various Scriptures and explain how they demonstrate the unity that should exist between spouses in a marriage.

Let’s start with the most obvious one first…

I.      Becoming one flesh

Genesis 2:23-24 (NKJV) ²³ And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." ²⁴ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

There are at least 6 places where this phrase is quoted throughout the NT. When we understand this verse in the context of the creation story, God brought the man and the woman together to be joined together in one flesh in order to populate the earth. Even though populating the earth is the primary purpose mentioned in the creation account, the Bible clearly teaches that the physical union between a husband and wife is also designed for their pleasure and for strengthening their love and commitment overall.

I am from the “old school” in the sense that I always want to be careful what I say in a mixed company like this today. I believe that some topics are best discussed in private or at least in smaller group settings. However, our society is saturated with all the wrong messages about sexuality, and if we don’t talk about it from a biblical perspective our children and youth grow up with all the wrong ideas about it.

Sexuality was created by God, and He created everything good. But the devil is bound and determined to destroy every good thing God has made. Physical intimacy or Sexual intimacy was always part of God’s plan for husbands and wives and the Bible is filled with explanations of boundaries that God has set for this relationship in order to keep it sacred and special.

Hebrews 13:4 (NIV) Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

Remember what we’ve often stated in the past, God didn’t give us boundaries to restrict our freedom or destroy our happiness; but rather to guarantee them. If we insist on living outside the moral boundaries, it has a detrimental effect on us in dozens of ways.

Physical union is clearly distinct from the union of soul and spirit, but they are all tied together. By that I mean that having a physical relationship with someone always involves the spirit and emotions, unless a person has defied God’s boundaries so long that their soul and spirit has become hard as stone.

There is so much that can be said on this subject, but let me just say this before I move on: Young people, you need to realize that sexual intimacy was created by God to be experienced and enjoyed with your spouse. If you choose to violate those boundaries, there’s no way to predict the heartache that awaits you down the road in your life.

II.    Becoming one soul

Last Sunday I mentioned the pastor who talked about people watching commercials for these match-making websites, and they get the impression that there is one soul-mate out there somewhere that is perfectly suited for them if they will only “take the test” and find each other. Those spouses who may not be as fulfilled in their marriage as they once was or had hoped to be, may think they’ve “missed” their “soul-mate” because they didn’t “take the test.”

Well, this pastor said, and I believe the Bible indicates, that a “soul-mate” is not necessarily a person you have to “find,” but a soul-mate is created by sharing years and years of common experiences, mutual care and respect.

Malachi 2:13-14 (NKJV) And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. ¹⁴ Yet you say, "For what reason?" Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

This passage uses the word “companion” to describe the relationship between husband and wife.

“Companion” – This is a feminine noun and this is the only place it is used in the OT.

(TWOT) The main idea of ḥābar in the OT is "to join or unite" two or more things. However, the root idea of the term "to bind" also appears, especially in the concept "charm." ….

The verb ḥābar in the sense of "join" is used with four specific references. 1) Objects were joined together, e.g. curtains in tabernacle… shoulder pieces in… the priests' holy garments… wings of the living creatures touching one another (Ezekiel 1:9). 2) Men were joined together in political and military activities… 3) Men are joined in a general manner as belonging to the race of the living (Eccles. 9:4) and in a specific way as a group of people who are formed into a strong unified city (Psalm 122:3 “Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together.”). 4) Men of Judah wrongly joining with faithless Israel in military and political ventures (2 Chron. 20:35) displeased God... God's heartrending complaint against Ephraim is that he is joined to idols (Hosea 4:17 "Ephraim is joined to idols, Let him alone.”). To be joined to idols means to have forsaken God.

All of these nuances certainly imply that the word “companion” carries a strong message of bonding and union between husband and wife that goes way beyond physical intimacy.

Listen to another passage in the NT that seems to have something to say about the union between the husband and the wife that goes beyond mere physical unity.

1 Peter 3:7 (NKJV) ⁷ Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

To “dwell with understanding” and to “give honor” to the wife, means that a husband needs to learn a lot more about his spouse than he ever dreamed he needed to know. It clearly involves much more than mere physical attraction and satisfaction of biological desires. Both women and men are complex individuals that are never easy to figure out. It is important that we bond emotionally and intellectually to truly experience the joy God intended for marriage.

Men, as the Scripture states, the effectiveness of our prayers depends on how well we understand and honor our wives. And, having an intimate knowledge and understanding of our spouse is a life-time pursuit. It is a life journey of bonding together in our very heart and soul.

III.   Becoming one spirit

Finally, husbands and wives are united in spirit.

To be united in spirit doesn’t necessarily mean Christian faith. We are created by God as spiritual beings, so the union even between non-Christian spouses still has a spiritual dimension. It includes that part of us that is intangible, mystical yet clearly inseparable from our overall personality. However, as we speak of the spiritual union today, we do so from the point of reference that husband and wife are Christians and therefore, the spiritual aspect of their union is clearly related to their faith in Christ.

There are a number of references that pertain to this aspect of the union.

2 Corinthians 6:14, 17 (NKJV) ¹⁴ Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ¹⁷ Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."

This verse has been used by a lot of people to denounce marriages between Christians and non-Christians. Well, you probably already know that neither the verse nor the context is specifically talking about marriage. Yet, the principle that is taught here definitely can be applied to marriage. When both husband and wife have a vital relationship with Christ, then they have a spiritual bond between them that nothing else can provide.

In addition to this text, we find elsewhere some general commands about prayer that can be applied to marriage.

1 Timothy 2:1 (NKJV) ¹ Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (Context is prayer for civil authority.)

James 5:16 (NKJV) ¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (context of church life)

Yet, what better person to confess to and have the prayer support from than your spouse? Almost every morning I pray with Kris and she prays with me. I can’t tell you how much that has enriched the spiritual bond between us. Just the very act of asking God to protect, lead, and bless your spouse gives an added perspective on who he/she is – not just your husband/wife, but a person you deeply care about who is in need of God’s grace and love another day.

Conclusion:

After all we’ve said about the union of two spouses in spirit, soul, and body, I want to close the message today by taking this concept and applying it to the church as the Apostle Paul did. Paul explicitly stated in Ephesians that the kind of union that exists between a husband and wife is the kind of union that exists between Christ and the church.

We’re obviously not speaking about physical/sexual intimacy in this context. But there clearly is a spiritual and emotional union with the Lord. And as we bond together with our Lord, the Bible makes it very clear that we are to bond with each other as members of His body and His bride.

All of the NT references that specifically define the kinds of compassion, care and concern that Christians should exhibit toward each other reveals their union with Christ Himself. Paul said that the kind of love and care that a husband has for the wife is “like” the love that Christ has for His church. And, practically speaking, Christ expresses His love for His church through the hands and feet of His church members.

To have stronger marriages, we need stronger unions of spouses in body, soul and spirit. To have stronger churches, we need more unity between Christians, and stronger union with the head of the church, Jesus Christ.

Let us close the service today by singing the two songs that are listed in the bulletin:    Bind Us Together / Blest Be the Tie that Binds

Let’s sing these songs as a prayer and a testimony, not only for husbands and wives, but also for members of the body of Christ.

Biblical Principles for Marriage - Part III

(The audio recording of this sermon is unavailable.)

This is the third sermon in a series of messages concerning the biblical view of marriage. It was given on January 24, 2016 at Wayside Community Church.

Written Excerpts:

Genesis 2:18 (NKJV) And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."

Introduction:

We’ve started this series of messages on marriage to bring us up to Valentine’s Day, which falls on a Sunday this year. In the first sermon I gave a definition of marriage that consisted of several aspects of marriage that are expressed in Scripture. Since then, I have been taking each portion of the definition and explaining it in much more detail. Last week we talked about the fact that marriage was originally designed by God to be “gender specific.” The concept of marriage in the Bible never implies that the relationship is intended or even permitted to be of the same gender. Today I want to move on to the next phrase in the definition that I originally gave during the first sermon.

Marriage is a complementary partnership.

I suppose the first thing I need to do is distinguish which form of the word “complementary” I’m talking about. I am NOT talking about the one that is spelled with an “i.” That word would indicate that the marriage relationship is filled with compliments flying back and forth between the spouses as they continually brag on each other. (Oh, your muddy footprints look so nice on our carpet. Or - That dinner was so delicious, you know I used to eat salt right out of the shaker when I was a kid.)

That is not to say that giving compliments to each other isn’t important. In fact, they are vitally important to a vibrant, loving relationship. However, I am talking about the word “complementary” that is spelled with an “e.” Here is a dictionary definition of the word as I wish to use it:

(Merriam-Webster Dictionary) …mutually supplying each other's lack. To me, this seems to be the best idea of how marriage is a “complementary partnership.”

The Bible presents a picture of marriage where each partner is not only designed to complement the other, but each one is also motivated by love to find every possible way to complement his/her spouse for the benefit of their relationship and their home. In this kind of relationship, there is no jockeying for power or control. There is no manipulation of each other to get our own way. It is a team, both working together for each other’s benefit and for the glory of God.

Let’s take a look at how this complementary partnership is expressed through Scripture.

I.      The complementary partnership is expressed in the creation of Eve.

Genesis 2:18, 21-23 (NKJV) And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to (KJV, help meet for) him."

I think I said this before but after describing God’s creation and declaring that it was all good, this verse declares that something was not good – that man was alone.

“helper comparable” / “help meet” – The word indicates a helper to complement; not a slave or a supervisor.

Dr. Charles Carter was a theologian and author who taught at Indiana Wesleyan University and other educational institutions. In his discussion of marriage he writes:

(Charles Carter, A Contemporary Wesleyan Theology, Vol. 1) “Marriage is the only satisfactory provision for the complementation of the sexes. [The words in Gen. 2:20], But for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him suggests the incompleteness of his being and life as he stood alone to become God’s delegated sovereign over the created natural order.”

Carter goes on to describe the creation of Eve from Adam’s side. “…God formed a woman from the very side or flank… of Adam, not from one of his several ribs the loss of which he would not feel.” (Even though the English translation uses the word “rib.”)

By making this point Carter is stressing the fact that much more was taken from Adam than a simple bone in order to create his help meet.

(Ibid) Another theologian by the name of R. Payne Smith stated, “She is one side of man; and though he may have several sides to his nature and character, yet without woman one integral portion of him is wanting.

“She is something that he once had, but had lost; and while for Adam there is simply the closing of the cavity caused by her withdrawal, she is molded and refashioned, and built up into man’s counterpart. She brings back more than the man parted with, and the creator Himself leads her by the hand to her husband.”

Smith continues, “At last… he [Adam] found one standing by him in whom he recognized a second self, and he welcomed her joyfully, and exclaimed, ‘This at last is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.’”

I came across a little story where the author was speaking about the mutuality that exists in the church and he was comparing it to the marriage relationship.

(Illustrations Unlimited) Another important emphasis … is mutuality. By our differences we complement one another in the body of Christ. I think it was in the Reader's Digest I saw the story about the woman who was away for a few days at a teachers' convention. Suddenly she remembered it was Monday, trash day, and she expressed her concern to her friend. But her friend tried to calm her fears, reminding her that her husband was still at home and he could certainly put out the trash by himself. But she said, "It takes both of us to take out the trash. I can't carry it and he can't remember it."

I think that there are probably a few ladies here today that can personally relate to this story. It illustrates the ways that husbands and wives sometimes work together to complement one another, which is exactly the way God originally made them.

II.    The complementary partnership is expressed in Scriptures that define spousal responsibilities.

1 Corinthians 7:2-5 (NKJV) Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. ³ Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. ⁴ The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. ⁵ Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

While the passage is obviously talking about physical intimacy, there is a more general principle behind it.

(William Barclay, quoted in A Contemporary Wesleyan Theology, Vol 1) “Paul strikes a supremely great principle. Marriage is a partnership. The husband cannot act independently of the wife, nor the wife independently of the husband. They must always act together….”

The passage in 1 Cor. 7 is just one of many examples throughout the Bible where specific counsel and instructions are given to husbands and wives covering a multitude of different subjects related to everyday life.

1. Just as we noted a moment ago in 1 Cor. 7, every directive or instruction that is given has a more general principle behind it that clearly shows how each spouse is meant to complement one another and work together. If we discover the principle, it can be applied in a number of different contexts and settings, not just in the specific manner described in that chapter and verse.

2. When a certain passage says husbands should do… or wives should… it probably doesn’t mean that the other spouse cannot do it. e.g. Titus 2:5 – The older women were to teach the younger women to be “…keepers at home.” (i.e. busy at home or workers at home.) This probably doesn’t mean that husbands should not do any house work. Ladies, don’t let your husbands convince you that it is a violation of Scripture for him to do dishes or vacuum the carpet.

More than likely it simply means that, as a general rule, one spouse is designed by God with qualities that are more suited for certain roles than the other one is. I know that people who hold more modern values would classify my statement as chauvinistic, but that’s okay.

As we read through the Bible and discover the principles that are defined for the relationship between husbands and wives, we soon learn that there clearly is a mutual cooperation between them as they fill the roles and responsibilities in the relationship, in the home and in society.

III.   A Complementary partnership does not require perfect compatibility.

Some people would conclude from the message today that it is most important for a couple to be compatible.

I heard a recorded presentation by a pastor who talked about how the commercials on TV and other media regarding matchmaking services (e-Harmony; match.com) can cause some spouses to conclude they “married the wrong person” because they didn’t take a compatibility test. He went on to say, “We’ve been taught that compatibility is something we find or test for, but [instead,] it is something we create. We learn to be compatible.”

It certainly may be pleasant when we discover that we are compatible in certain ways with our spouse. However, I believe the biblical model for marriage is for us to create compatibility in our relationship through mutual cooperation and intentionally learning to complement one another.

If a married couple is completely compatible, that probably means that their strengths are twice as strong, but so are their weaknesses. Therefore, I propose that our goal should not be so much to marry the person we’re the most compatible with, but we should find ways to be more compatible with the person we marry.

Look around at marriages that have longevity and endurance and you will often find couples that are opposites in many ways. Yet, in spite of their differences, they discovered ways to become a partnership and complement one another, and in the process came to appreciate each other more and more.

Conclusion:

Marriage partners have equal value before God.

One of the fears that many people express whenever we begin to speak about roles and responsibilities in the marriage partnership is the claim that one spouse is shown more value than the other. The NT makes is very clear that men/women, husbands/ wives, are equally valued by God.

Galatians 3:26-28 (NKJV) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

This verse emphasizes that all distinctions vanish in the family of God. No matter what our role or situation is, both husband and wife are equal in the sight of God. The love of God and the gospel of Jesus is equally available for everyone.

(Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World) “Marriage is that relation between man and woman in which the independence is equal, the dependence is mutual, and the obligations are reciprocal.” – Louis K. Anspacher

So, that means your spouse is your sister or brother in Christ. Therefore, we need to work together on the spiritual growth and development of each other just as much or more than we work on the day-to-day responsibilities of work and home.

Biblical Principles for Marriage - Part II

(To download an mp3 file of this sermon, click on the title above. To listen online, click on the play button of the audio player here.)

This is the second sermon in a series of messages on marriage. It was given on Jan. 17, 2016 at Wayside Community Church.

Written Excerpts:

Genesis 1:27 (NKJV) So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Introduction: 

According to the Bible, “marriage is gender specific.”

There are at least three reasons why I believe the Bible teaches that marriage is gender specific.

I.    God purposely created two genders with specific distinctions.

Not only do we have the specific gender language used regarding the creation of humans (Gen. 1:27, which we’ll talk more about in just a moment), but we have Scriptures clearly indicating God that designed and required a distinction to be maintained between the genders. For example, in Deut. 25, there is a passage that condemns “cross-dressing” (women wearing men’s clothing and men wearing women’s). It is described as an abomination to God.

Even though people have different interpretations and ideas on how to apply that scripture to everyday life, almost all Bible scholars that I’ve read agree that the underlying principle of this passage is that God intends for there to be a clear distinction between the sexes. There are other passages which teach the same principle. But, our culture has been intentionally blurring the lines of distinction between the genders for decades.

I think it can be said that clear gender distinctions were the standard in our society until the “sexual revolution of the 1960’s.” There has been a constant push away from the “old worn out standards” and “stereotypes” and a cry for bold experimentation and acceptance of new “norms.” It seems like there are plenty of advocates which talk and act as if this is something “new” and “bold” and full of great possibilities, but little do they realize it is just a recycling of old perversions that permeated pagan cultures and societies for millennia. They’re the same practices that God condemned thousands of years ago and forbid His people to either condone or practice as they repeatedly sought to “be like their pagan neighbors.”

Twenty-four years ago, on January 20, 1992, Time Magazine ran a cover story by Christine Gorman about the differences between men and women. I’ve heard Rush Limbaugh refer to this article on the radio different times, but I looked it up online to see verify it.

The wording on the magazine cover read, “Why are men and women different? It isn't just upbringing. New studies show they are born that way.” Inside, the article starts out, “Scientists are discovering that gender differences have as much to do with the biology of the brain as with the way we are raised.”

I’ve heard Rush laugh at this article multiple times because the so-called experts think they are making this “new” discovery that men and women are different, when those who believe the Bible have known it all along! We were created that way!

II. Most, if not all, language used in context of marriage is gender specific.

Male vs Female – see Gen. 1:27.

This reference is used in direct connection with marriage even though the word marry/marriage isn’t mentioned. Without a doubt it is because this account clearly describes God creating a woman out of man and bringing her to him to be united with him, and because of the extended context that includes the end of chapter two… “they shall become one flesh.”

(TWOT) The word [Heb. word] zākār denotes the male [gender] of humans or animals. It is used in Gen. 1:27 in its basic sense where it occurs with "female" (neqēbâ) describing the creation of mankind. The word occurs frequently with neqēbâ denoting the sexes of humans (Gen. 5:2; Lev. 12:7, etc.) as well as of animals (Gen. 7:3, 9, 16, etc.). In short it is used for the male sex when sexual distinctions are in view.

This same author (TWOT) goes on to explain that the word is used whenever specifically “male” gender is required because of the context, i.e. circumcision, “knowing” a female intimately, and forbidding intimate relations with another male.

Man vs Woman – See Genesis 2:22-23 (NKJV) Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man [ʾādām] He made into a woman [ʾishshâ], and He brought her to the man [ʾādām]. ²³ And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman [ʾishshâ], Because she was taken out of Man [ʾîsh]."

The words used here define clear gender distinctions.

Husband vs Wife – See Eph. 5:22-33. These terms get more into an area of discussion that we will revisit next time, i.e. the principle of complementing each other in the marriage relationship.

The word used for “wife” is translated more often in the NT as “woman.” And, the word “husband” is more often translated “man.” This fact gives the clear impression that terms “husbands and wives” are gender specific.

There is no place in Scripture where the marriage relationship is described as being between people of the same gender. Some might try to argue that this only shows us what the biblical authors sanctioned or favored, but there were other views and practices that were prevalent in the world at the time.

Let me remind us that the Bible is not merely a collection of personal viewpoints by ordinary people who happened to express their opinions about the behaviors and standards of others around them. The biblical authors frequently claimed authority from God for what they wrote, and the clear message over and over was that the people of God were to be different from the prevailing culture.

There is plenty of evidence throughout both OT and NT that same sex relationships were condoned and practiced in the pagan cultures of the times, but they were condemned for the people of God, whether it included the Israelites in the OT or the Christians in the NT.

III. Biblical mandate for one-flesh union presupposes gender distinction.

I plan to expand on the concept of the union between the two people joined in marriage in a later sermon, but it has significance for this issue we’re discussing today as well.

Genesis 1:28 (NKJV) Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

The very first recorded command that God gave to the male and the female was to reproduce and fill the earth with their offspring.

Genesis 2:24 (NKJV) Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Matthew 19:4-6 (NKJV) And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' ⁵ and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? ⁶ So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."

Jesus declares that the Creator (God, the Father) was the first one to say, “…the two shall become one flesh.” They were designed by the Creator to be physically united. The physical union was specifically designed by God for the male and the female.

Conclusion:

As we bring the message to a close I want to remind you that we’re doing this series of messages to honor marriage. I’m trying my best to avoid any attitude of condemnation, but rather to define and describe for you how God made us and for what purposes He created us.

People who believe the Bible as the standard for marriage are often characterized by the media and others as hate-mongers and bigots, etc. We do not hate people. The Bible tell us that God hates certain behaviors, so as His people we must not condone them either. But we love people and want the very best for them.

If we really accept the fact that God is our Creator, we need to understand the biblical truth that God loves us with a love beyond our comprehension, and all of the boundaries or laws God laid down for human beings to follow or live by, were all given to protect us and to guarantee our joy.

When I preached on the Ten Commandments in the past, I remember saying that so many people think that God gave us the commandments to restrict our freedom and to ruin our happiness. However the converse is actually the truth. He gave us principles and commandments to protect our freedom and our happiness. But, lest we forget, freedom and happiness aren’t the only values that are important to God. Our salvation is also included in this discussion. God created us to be in relationship with Him and ever since the beginning of time He has invited human beings to live in covenant with Him. The covenant includes a lot of things, but it ultimately involves our eternal salvation. And God has specific stipulations for anyone who hopes to be in a covenant relationship with Him. He created us, so He knows best how we are meant to function.

As I mentioned last week, once we abandon God’s design and plan for marriage, there is nothing stopping us from eventually condoning everything. Are we going to continue to honor marriage the way God designed it?

Let’s sing the closing song: Find Us Faithful

Biblical Principles for Marriage - Introduction

(To download an mp3 file of this sermon, click on the title above. To listen online, click on the play button of the audio player here.)

This is the first sermon in a series of messages regarding biblical principles for marriage. This sermon was given on January 10, 2016 at Wayside Community Church. It provides some introductory foundation for a series of messages that will include 5 more sermons.

Written Excerpts:

Genesis 2:18 (NKJV) And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."

Introduction:

I’ve had an announcement placed in the bulletin for a couple of weeks explaining how Focus on the Family is recommending that churches take advantage of the fact that Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year. Therefore, they recommended that pastors and churches find ways to emphasize the sanctity of marriage on that Sunday.

As I anticipated taking part in this effort, I decided to attempt a series of messages on the biblical view of marriage, because it is very evident that the definition of marriage, the sacredness of marriage, and the overall understanding of marriage as presented in the Bible has been under attack for quite a long time.

This first sermon is going to be an introductory message to lay some groundwork for the rest of the messages. Before we go any farther I want to say several things to “introduce my introduction!”

1.   Some may not consider a sermon series on marriage to be a topic of eternal significance like other topics that are more closely related to salvation.

ü   Focus on the Family is urging pastors to honor marriage because it is the foundation for society, and because it has been under assault in our culture for a long time.

ü   I agree with that assessment and believe that Christians ought to be the “salt of the earth” in keeping the culture from total decay.

ü   In addition to all that, “What if,” as one author says, “God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?”

2.   There may be people in the congregation from week to week who feel this topic doesn’t apply to you for various reasons: still single; single again (widow/widower, divorced); or some other reason.

ü   I am sensitive to the fact that this may not be a pleasant subject for some people for various reasons.

ü   By the help of God’s Spirit, I will try to make sure the messages include enough spiritual insights and applications that they will be beneficial to everyone.

ü   Also, if all of us can become more grounded in the biblical principles regarding marriage, we can help provide the salt and light that is needed in society to stop the prevailing trends in our culture.

3.   The purpose of this series is not to condemn or judge anyone.

ü   No matter how committed we are to our marriage relationships, none of us is perfect. We all have areas we wish were better and we certainly have room to improve.

ü   I only want to explore together the principles we find in God’s Word that guide us in living more like a disciple of Jesus at home as well as in the world.

ü   The principles in the Bible show us God’s ideals for marriage, even if we do not always measure up. We do not define marriage, God does.

4.   It seems to me at this point that my approach to the topic will be to provide several brief principles today that we will use to compile a definition of marriage, then in the coming weeks, I will be digging a little deeper into Scripture to explore more fully each of the principles that we introduce today.

5.   Finally, as we go through this series, there may be questions that come up in your minds that you wish I would address. Please let me know. If I can’t address them publicly, I’ll answer you privately.

So, there are two main points that I want to cover as we introduce the series today, before we launch any further into this study.

I.    The Bible is our source of truth.

Those of you who have been attending here for as long as I’ve been here have perhaps already heard me touch on this point before, but it certainly is worth repeating. We are living in day when fewer and fewer people believe that there is any such thing as absolute truth, and if there is, then it certainly can’t be found in the Bible. For that very reason, the views about marriage in our society have been constantly changing and will continue to do so as long as we cannot agree (or refuse to consider) that there is a standard of truth on which we must rely in order to keep from ending in total chaos and confusion in our society.

It is alarming to me to see the number of people that look at the traditional values of marriage as just the opinion of old people who haven’t learned how to change with the times. For me and hosts of others, it has nothing to do with being in sync with the times, but it has everything to do with taking God seriously when He speaks to us about any of the day-to-day aspects of our lives and how we live to obey Him and thus glorify Him.

A. Truth is infinite.

B. Infinite truth is unknowable…. unless revealed.

C. The Word of God is the revelation of truth.

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth.” John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life…”

When the word of God speaks about any subject, it speaks the truth. It may require much more than a casual reading to understand the truth in some subjects, but I maintain that any serious disciple of Jesus must eventually come to the conviction that the Bible tells us the truth about every subject it addresses.

II.  The definition of marriage

The actual word marry or marriage is a word that is not used all that often in the Bible.

"marry" / "marriage(s)" = 41 times in KJV (not all the same Hebrew words)

"husband" = 120

"wife" = 396

There are a couple of different ways we approach the definition:

a) We could provide a comprehensive definition and then explain each part of it, phrase by phrase, or

b) We can talk about principle components of marriage and then combine them into a comprehensive definition.

For our purposes today, I have chosen to use the second option.

Marriage is between one male and one female.

Genesis 1: 27-28 (NKJV) So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Genesis 2:24 (KJV) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

(Norman Geisler) The use of the terms man and wife in the same context of father and mother make it clear that the reference is to a biological male and female.

We’re going to come back to this issue at a later time, but from a purely philosophical standpoint, once this component of the definition is abandoned, then we’re on a “slippery slope” that allows “marriage” to mean anything and everything society is willing to tolerate, which, we’ve already learned in American culture, is constantly changing.

Marriage is a complementary relationship.

(Phillips' Treasury of Humorous Quotations) Before marriage a man declares he will be master in his own house or know the reason why; after marriage he knows the reason why.

Genesis 2:18, 21-23 (NKJV) ¹⁸ And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable (KJV, help meet) to him." d the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. ²² Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. ²³ And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."

“help meet” / “helper comparable” – The word indicates a helper to complement; not a slave or a supervisor.

(TWOT) While this word designates assistance, it is more frequently used in a concrete sense to designate the assistant. (Cf. Genesis 2:18, 20 where Eve is created to be Adam's help[er].) As to the source of the help this word is generally used to designate divine aid, particularly in Psalms (Cf. Psalm 121:1, 2 [“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.”]) where it includes both material and spiritual assistance.

Marriage is a union of spirit, soul and body.

This simply means that the man and the woman are joined together in a complete union of their entire person. Without the union of all three areas the marriage relationship will be incomplete or less than God designed it to be.

Malachi 2:13-14 (NKJV) And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. ¹⁴ Yet you say, "For what reason?" Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

“companion” – also translated “partner”

(Tyndale Commentaries) The word partner (NJPS, NIV, NJB; cf. NAB, NRSV) is found only here in the OT. The verbal root is used in architectural contexts to signify a ‘seam’ or ‘joint’ in building and construction (e.g. Exod. 26:6, 9, 11). The word thus connotes a ‘permanent bonding’. The expression suggests that the wife is not property to be discarded at will, but an ‘equal ... as a covenant partner’.

This threefold description of the wife (as wife of your youth, partner and wife of your marriage covenant) ‘serves to emphasize the closeness, the intimateness of the relationship between the marriage partners….

There are many other references in the Bible that we could use to support this union of spirit, soul and body, but the point is that it is not just a cohabitation, but a true union of two complete personalities.

This principle is also where it is appropriate to speak about the importance of love in the relationship, which we’ll talk more about in a later sermon.

Marriage is a commitment/covenant for Life.

(Illustrations Unlimited) Marriage used to be a [permanent] contract. Now many regard it as a ninety-day option.

Malachi 2:13-14 (NKJV) And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, With weeping and crying; So He does not regard the offering anymore, Nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. ¹⁴ Yet you say, "For what reason?" Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

Matthew 19:6 (NKJV) “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.”

These Scriptures and others give the clear indication that this is a “comprehensive covenant.” By that term I mean that it is not only a covenant between two people, but the Bible clearly indicates that it is a covenant with God. There are other indications in the overall picture that it is also a covenant with society; the community; and the “state."

Conclusion:

If we try to combine all of these aspects of marriage into one comprehensive definition I suppose it could sound something like this: Marriage is the lifetime covenant of one man and one woman complementing each other through a loving union of spirit, soul, and body.

When God had finished His creation, He pronounced that it was all “good.” Yet, there was one aspect of the creation which He declares was “not good.” “It is not good for man to be alone.” God, in His eternal knowledge and wisdom, designed marriage because of His grace and tender love for all humanity to give us the very best.

There are other passages in the Bible that stress the point that marriage is not for every person. Some are “blessed” or “gifted” with singleness in order to better fulfill God’s purposes for them. But, the point I want to make is that God loves us more than we can imagine and He designed marriage and all other facets of life for our blessing and benefit, if we will follow His design and purpose. When we resist God’s design and purpose for any facet of life, we do it to our own hurt and detriment, because God made us and He alone knows what’s best for us.

Let’s respond to this truth by standing together and singing the prayer that is found on page 457 in the blue hymnal.

God, Give Us Christian Homes

Time for an Evaluation

(To download an mp3 file of this sermon, click on the title above. To listen online, click on the play button of the audio player here.)

This is a sermon that was given on January 3, 2016 at Wayside Community Church. It is a New Year's sermon based on passages from Psalm 80:18-19.

Written Excerpts:

Psalm 80:18-19 (NKJV) Then we will not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name. ¹⁹ Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!

Introduction:

Well, here we are on the first Sunday of a new year. I suppose that most people are inclined to think soberly about the start of a new year as we anticipate what all the year may have in store for us.

I wanted to start off with some interesting quotes about life that have been made by various people in the past and present.

(Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World)

·     God has given to man a short time here upon earth, and yet upon this short time eternity depends. (Jeremy Taylor, 1613-1667)

·     Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. (Søren Kierkegaard, 1813-1855)

·     Life was a funny thing that happened to me on the way to the grave. (Quentin Crisp, 1908- )

·     Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen. (Mark Twain, 1835-1910)

·     Why wish for the privilege of living your past life again? You begin a new one every morning. (Robert Quillen, 1887-1948)

·     You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth. (Evan Esar)

As we prepare to embark on another calendar year, I felt impressed to bring a message that hopefully will motivate each of us to evaluate our lives and make any adjustments that we believe God may be leading us to make.

Some of you here today may have had some experience working in retail stores at some time in your life. I had a brief stint while I was in high school, working in grocery store. One of the experiences that I remember is the time for taking inventory after the end of the year. I’m sure I have very little understanding of all that goes into the process of performing an inventory for a large store. I know Bill Giesler could shed some light on that subject. When it is time to take inventory, the current stock is counted, sales are evaluated and the bottom line of net profit is assessed as the owners and managers of the business try to make sure they are keeping their operation afloat.

As we embark on a new calendar year, I believe is it a good opportunity for each one of us to “take inventory” and do our own evaluation of our lives, especially from a spiritual or biblical perspective.

When a business fails to take inventory or engage in serious evaluation of goals, assets and operations, it may find itself faltering and possibly even dying because no one was alert to the prevailing trends and made the necessary adjustments to stay alive. The same can be said about our spiritual lives. If we just coast along in a “status quo” mode and fail to take seriously the need to evaluate our current condition, we may find that we have strayed far away from the practice of genuine biblical faith.

There are a number of subjects or areas in which a person should evaluate his / her life, but I want to focus on just a few of them today.

I.    The Brevity of Life

Psalm 39:4-6 (NKJV) ⁴ “LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. ⁵ Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly very man at his best state is but vapor. Selah ⁶ Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.

Psalm 103:15-16 (NKJV) As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. ¹⁶ For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.

James 4:13-15 (NKJV) Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; ¹⁴ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."

These are just a few of the passages in the Bible that stress the fact that life at its longest is very brief and short. In comparison to eternity… well, there is no comparison. Whenever we pass from one year to the next it is a good time to remember that time is passing by and our life is one year closer to its end. It is a good time to evaluate how we are doing. Is our life making any difference in our world? Are we prepared to meet God and give an account of the life He has given us?

None of us knows how long we have to live. Each year I usually take a look back over the funeral records of the previous year and think about the fact that none of those who passed away were told at the beginning of the year, “This will be you last year on earth.”

What changes would you make if you knew this year was your last?

·     I will not just live my life. I will not just spend my life. I will invest my life. (Helen Keller)

II.  The Important Things in Life

For most people here today this probably will not be our last year. Does that mean there is no need for evaluation or inventory? No. Taking inventory also includes taking a hard look at the things that we place the most value on and give the highest priority to in our day-to-day lives.

There are several different areas in our lives that probably need to be reorganized into higher priorities, but the most important area is our spiritual priorities.

I want to read a passage that we studied a while ago in our series of messages on Romans.

Romans 13:11-14 (NKJV) And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

The Apostle Paul, who is the author of this passage, reminds his readers that any person who desires to follow Christ must always view time as quickly passing and to remember that there is a constant conflict between the desires of the flesh and our commitment to the Lord. He urges them and us to keep evaluating our priorities and make sure that we are putting spiritual pursuits ahead of material and fleshly desires.

A man by the name of C.T. Studd said, “Only one life ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

There are so many legitimate earthly pursuits that can rob us of time and energy, but we must evaluate the spiritual priorities of our lives and place the right focus on the things that will matter for eternity. When we come to the end of our lives, it won’t matter how big our bank account is, or any of the normal things we often use to measure success. All of that will be left behind and, as CT Studd said, “…only what’s done for Christ” is going to retain its value beyond this life.

Speaking of spiritual priorities, listen to this passage from Isaiah.

Isaiah 57:15 (NKJV) For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

The Lord is reminding us in this passage that He is higher and more transcendent than we can comprehend, but in His position of sovereignty and majesty, He specializes in renewing and reviving the spirits and hearts of His people.

Every believer, every follower of Christ, every person who professes to know God needs to be revived in our spirit every once in a while. It is the natural tendency for us to get weary in our spiritual life. If we don’t purposely take steps to keep fresh and vital in our relationship with God, we will become dull, lifeless and careless. Many people have said this over the years, “The only thing you need to do to become lifeless and spiritually dead is nothing!” It requires effort and purpose to stay connected to the Lord.

Someone once said, “Anytime the going seems easy, you better check to see if you're going downhill.”

God’s Word informs us that it is not only important for us to periodically be revived, but it is God’s will and desire to perform that reviving in our hearts. At the beginning of a new year, when we are taking inventory and evaluating our needs and condition, it is a good time to seek the Lord for a spiritual revival. There is not a single person here today who doesn’t need a fresh filling of God’s Spirit in reviving our hearts. What can be said about each one of us individually, can also be said about this church collectively.

There are different factors that we could list to indicate our need of spiritual revival, but I want to mention just one that has been on my heart for several weeks now.

I think there is a clear indication we need revival when we can easily get over 100 people to come out for a Christmas dinner and musical entertainment like we had a month ago, but we can only get about 25-30 people to come to a dinner back in October where a some missionaries are talking about reaching the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ. This has been weighing on my heart, and I realize that as the spiritual leader and pastor of this church it is my responsibility to point us in the right direction.

This is just one example. The same can be said about prayer meetings, personal devotional time with the Lord, sharing the love of Jesus with the lost around us. I know I need the Holy Spirit to revive me and energize me to be a better follower of Christ this year. I trust that you feel the same way.

I hope that all of us will not just think about it and wish for better days, but that we will purposely take the steps necessary for God to work in our lives. The very first step we need to take in order for that to happen is to humble ourselves and acknowledge our need.

Looking back at the verse in Isaiah again we read that God not only dwells in the “high and holy place” but He also dwells with “him who has a contrite and humble spirit.”

Let’s close the service by singing the song that is listed in our bulletin:

In Times Like These, # 577

Let us use this as a reminder that we need more of God than ever before in order to be what He wants us to be in 2016.

Veiled in Flesh

(To download an mp3 file of this sermon, click on the title above. To listen online, click on the play button of the audio player here.)

This is a sermon that was given on Dec. 27, 2015 at Wayside Community Church. It is based on John 1:1, 14.

Written Exerpts:

1 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Introduction:

For the message today I wanted to share a message on the theme of Christmas. Even though we have been emphasizing the Christmas message for a few weeks, I felt it was too soon to move on to another subject.

Perhaps you would enjoy some Christmas humor before we go on…

·     If biblical headlines were written by today’s biased and politically correct media…  On the birth of Christ: HOTELS FULL, ANIMALS LEFT HOMELESS Animal Rights Activists Enraged by Insensitive Couple

·     For Christmas this year, in lieu of gifts, I decided to give everyone my opinion.

·     You do know what would have happened if there had been three wise WOMEN instead of men, don't you? They would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought disposable diapers as gifts!

There is a phrase in one of the Christmas carols that caught my attention, and I want to use it to introduce my subject today. The phrase comes from the carol, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” and it goes like this: “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see…”

For a little while this morning, I want to explore the biblical truth that God was manifested in the flesh.

I.    Reminder of Progressive Revelation

To begin this message, I want to remind us of a concept called “progressive revelation.” This is a term used to express the view that truths found in the Bible are progressively revealed in greater detail over an extensive period of time as more and more biblical authors speak on the subject.

For example, if someone only read part, or even all of the OT, they might not gain much of an understanding about eternal life or life after death. Much more is revealed in the NT and it all needs to be considered as a whole in order to end up with a truly biblical understanding.

The same can be said about the coming of the Messiah. There are many texts that we look at today, especially in the OT, and we recognize that they “clearly” teach that God has come in the flesh. However, probably most Bible scholars would agree that when the individual biblical authors penned the words they wrote, they didn’t have a full or complete understanding of the meaning.

OT prophets gave us the initial predictions of the incarnation, but NT authors gave further interpretations and explanations of those OT texts. Even after the NT was written, there were intense discussions for centuries over the exact meaning of the incarnation.

I just want us to understand that some of the texts of the Bible that we may think are so straight-forward and relatively easy to interpret, seem that way because we have the whole Bible, as well as the valuable insights of knowledgeable and godly people who’ve come before us.

Having said that, I do want to look at a few texts of Scripture today to support the important truth that God was revealed in the flesh so we could be redeemed.

II.  He was God.

First of all we’re going to look at some of the Scripture references that show the Messiah, Jesus the Christ, was actually divine (God nature). To use the words of the ancient church fathers who developed the creeds, He was “very God of very God.”

As I mentioned earlier, I’m not completely convinced that the prophets or authors of these passages fully understood the implications of what they were saying/writing, but God inspired their words so people could study them and find out the truth even up till now these many years later.

Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV) For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

These prophecies emphasize that a human child will be “God with us” and “Mighty God, Eternal Father.”

John 1:1, 14 (NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Colossians 1:15-17 (NKJV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Both of these texts (John 1 and Col. 1) emphasize the deity of Christ (Jesus, Word) by virtue of the fact that He is credited with the work of creation, and Gen. 1 clearly tells us that God is the creator.

Philippians 2:5-6 (NKJV) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

What does it mean “in the form of God?”

(The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.) “Form" is a term which expresses the sum of those characterizing qualities which make a thing the precise thing that it is.  Thus, the "form" of a sword (in this case mostly matters of external configuration) is all that makes a given piece of metal specifically a sword, rather than, say, a spade.  And "the form of God" is the sum of the characteristics which make the being we call "God," specifically God, rather than some other being—an angel, say, or a man.

(Miley's Systematic Theology, Vol. 2) Only the possession of divine perfection could be the ground of a rightful claim to such an equality with God. Thus these two facts come into harmony, and each interprets the other.

III.   He was in the flesh (human).

Philippians 2:7 (NKJV) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

(The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.) The term "form" here, of course, bears the same full meaning as in the preceding instance of its occurrence in the phrase "the form of God." It imparts the specific quality, the whole body of characteristics, by which a servant is made what we know as a servant, our Lord … became an actual "servant" in the world.…  What is meant is that our Lord took up into His personality a human nature; and therefore it is immediately explained that He took the form of a servant by "being made in the likeness of men."  

He didn’t come into our world in the likeness of some animal. He didn’t come in the likeness of an angel. He came in the likeness of a man; a human being; assuming all the qualities and attributes of humanity.

1 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

IV. He Came on a Mission

Why did the Son of God become a man? Well, the answer can be quite lengthy and detailed, but the short answer is: “to provide redemption for the human race.” He came to reinstate the relationship between God and humanity that had been broken due to disobedience and sin.

God’s Son became a man because He was on a mission in the sense that He knew why He was coming before He took upon Himself human flesh.

I want to read a quote to you that I shared several years ago, but it’s worth sharing again. The quote comes from one of the Early Church Fathers, Athanasius.

God has made man and willed that he abide in incorruption; but man despised, rejected the contemplation of God and received the condemnation of death which had been threatened. Transgression of the commandment had turned them back to abide in death and corruption. Since death gained upon man the race was perishing and God’s handiwork was in a process of dissolution, because death had gained a legal hold over us. It was now impossible to evade the law since it was laid down by God and the result was both monstrous and unseemly.

It was monstrous that God should prove false and man should not die after God said he would. It was unseemly that the creatures once made in the image and likeness of God should waste away and be left to neglect and ruin.

Here’s another insight given by Athanasius regarding the need for the God-man to die for humanity and reverse the sentence of death and the process of corruption.

The Word, perceiving that not otherwise could the corruption of men be undone but by death as a necessary condition, while it was impossible for the Word to suffer death, being immortal, and Son of the Father; to this end he takes to himself a body capable of death, that it, by partaking of the Word who is above all, might be worthy to die in the stead of all, might, because the Word which was come to dwell in it, remain incorruptible, and that thenceforth corruption might be stayed from all by the grace of the resurrection.

In other words, Athanasius is saying that the Son couldn’t die because he is eternally divine and therefore immortal. Neither could a mortal human be worthy to die because of being under the curse of the corruption that was eating away at humanity.

Therefore, the fusion of human and divine was necessary in order to make the redemption plan effective.

Oh the love that drew salvation’s plan

Oh the grace that brought it down to man
Oh the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary!

Conclusion:

Coming back to our title, some may ask, “Why does the Christmas carol, ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,’ include the words, ‘Veiled in flesh the Godhead see?’”

Well, I can’t speak for the author with certainty, but it seems to me that he is merely emphasizing the point that the eternal Word of God willingly restrained certain privileges or prerogatives of deity in order to fully identify with our humanity. Now, notice that I didn’t say He surrendered aspects of His deity. I specifically said He restrained certain privileges that He could have employed as God. For example, Jesus laid aside the prerogatives that accompany omnipotence (unlimited power) in order to experience human weariness. He is still God in His divine nature and He can exercise omnipotence any time He chooses, but as a man He willingly chooses to experience weariness and weakness. In that sense the full realization of His deity is hidden or veiled from our view as we see Him experience human weaknesses just like us.

In the OT account of the people of Israel at Sinai, God warns them to stay back from the mountain lest they die from getting “too close” / “too familiar” to the divine majesty. He tells Moses that He will only reveal His “back” because Moses would not be able to live through the experience of seeing God’s “face” or His full glory / majesty.

In the NT gospel record, we read about a mountain experience that Peter, James and John had with Jesus when He was “transfigured” in their sight and they caught a glimpse of His glory. It apparently was quite a glorious experience for them. It was something quite different than the normal view of Jesus. Somehow I think that this partially explains what it means to say, “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate deity.”

Through the revelation of Scripture we have been given a vivid description and picture of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ the Messiah.

We haven’t had a full revelation of His glory, but one day we will see Him face-to-face, and we will behold His majesty and glory as we worship Him and praise Him for the redemption He provided for fallen humanity!