Christian Churches of God marriage by joining Adam and Eve. Marriage derives its authority from the divine will and law No. D2 To All Assembled: of God.

When God created life on the earth, He made

(his FIRST name) human beings in His own image. He gave men

and (her FIRST name), and women creative minds with the ability to Marriage together with their families and friends, make choices, to develop plans and to build their Ceremony appreciate your attendance to share their joy and lives on those plans. (Edition 2.0 19951216-20090907) to witness their covenant together. Men and women are created with a need to

Marriage is a holy institution Having grown to love one another, relate to God, and with our Lord Jesus Christ. ordained by God to represent the relationship of mankind to Jesus (his FIRST name) As a loving Father, God gave us the institution Christ and the unification of the of marriage and the blessing of family that we nations under the Father. It is not a and (her FIRST name) sacrament of the Church. have chosen to commit their lives to each other might more fully comprehend the depth of His

in marriage, and so today they will be united as love for us.

husband and wife. To emphasise His purpose to Adam and Eve, the Christian Churches of God PO Box 369, WODEN ACT 2606, AUSTRALIA To the Couple: creator did not make the woman directly from Email: [email protected] Marriage is a natural union of a man and a the dust of the ground, but from the very flesh

(Copyright  1995, 2009 Christian Churches woman but it is a divine institution, ordained of and bone of the man. When the woman was of God) presented to him Adam said, “This is now bone Web page: http://www.logon.org and God. Humans did not establish marriage. In the http://www.ccg.org very beginning, God gave us the pattern for of my bones and flesh of my flesh”

1 (Genesis 2:23*). Church, marriage must be based on the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is

*New International Version unless otherwise foundation of revelation. Marriage is based on the head of the church, which is His body. Just stated. the authority and direction of God. Marriage as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives

The Creator then united this first man and means the union of a man and a woman to the ought to be, in everything, to their husbands. woman as husband and wife, saying, “Therefore exclusion of all others; voluntarily entered into “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved a man shall leave his father and mother and be for life. the church and gave himself up for her, in order joined to his wife, and they shall become one Jesus said, “At the beginning of creation God to make her holy by the washing of the water by flesh” (Genesis 2:24, New King James Version). ‘made them male and female. “For this reason a the word...... Husbands should love their

“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, man will leave his father and mother and be wives as they do their own bodies” (Ephesians

‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth” united to his wife, and the two will become one 5:21-28).

(Genesis 1:28, NKJV). flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one”. Marriage illustrates the relationship between

Thus we understand that marriage is honourable, (Mark 10:6-8). Christ and Christians. It is a holy union, a living instituted by God at creation and hallowed by Jesus directs us to understand the uniting symbol, and a precious relationship that needs the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. Marriage together of husband and wife as one flesh. This constant, tender, self-sacrificing care. Marriage is therefore not to be entered into lightly, but union is not only physical, but it is an emotional is for love and because of love. Love is the reverently, soberly and in the fear of God. and spiritual unity. reason, the cause and the foundation of

It is important that we consider that marriage Let us now notice the apostle Paul’s instructions marriage. should be honoured and respected. We should regarding marriage: “Be subject to one another Jesus Christ is the head of the Christian family, realise that civilisation may have its own out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to and the head of Christ is God. We should be customs and laws respecting marriage, but in the your husbands as you are to the Lord. For the careful to remember the importance of God’s

2 love for both husband and wife, because human should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” of the spiritual relationship between Jesus Christ love is not the goal of a Christian marriage, (Philippians 2:1-5). and the Church. It is in your submission to rather, the goal is that God, through the Holy The sacred marriage covenant that you will both God’s love that this marriage will be

Spirit under Jesus Christ will live within this make here calls on you to yield yourselves to strengthened and protected. marriage. Through his indwelling, he will bring Jesus Christ and to each other, to hold each other As a loving Father, God wants to pour out upon the ability for this marriage to be based in Godly in high esteem, giving honour and respect to one us His richest blessings. He wants us to be love. another. Always give preference to the welfare supremely happy. To that end He has given you,

Paul reminds us of the Christlike attitudes that of the other. Love and unselfish devotion are the (his FIRST name) ______can live within us: “If you have any foundation of Christian marriage. and (her FIRST name), encouragement from being united with Christ, if In one of the Bible’s most beautiful statements this wonderful gift of marriage. any comfort from his love, if any fellowship about love that is possible through Jesus Christ, John tells all Christians, “Now this is eternal with the Spirit, if any tenderness and Paul lifts and inspires us with these words: life: that they may know you, the only true God, compassion, then make my joy complete by “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John being likeminded, having the same love, being does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is 17:3). As you both come to know one another, one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of not self-seeking, it is not easily angered; it keeps let your relationship be built on the love of the selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in One True God, and His son our Lord, Jesus consider others better than yourselves. Each of evil but rejoices with the truth. It always Christ. `Keep this love ever before you, hold you should look not only to your own interests, protects, always trusts, always hopes and always close to each other, fulfil the vows you make but also to the interests of others. Your attitude perseveres (1Corinthians 13:4-7). here, and Jesus Christ will enable and empower

A loving relationship within marriage is a type

3 you to establish a home that will weather the both shall live, to love him, cherish him, honour sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till changes and challenges of life. him, comfort him, respect him and to obey him death do us part. Thereto I pledge you my faith.”

Because marriage is a divine institution, and we according to God’s Law? Because you recognise the supreme God and his are asking God to join you as husband and wife, (Bride’s answer) love for you, it is appropriate and fitting that we it is fitting that each of you should faithfully [Have the couple face each other and join their come before him - and before Jesus Christ to ask promise to accept the marriage covenant. Do you right hands]. Beginning with the bridegroom; his blessing and to ask him to unite you as then, (his FIRST name) would you please repeat after me: husband and wife. faithfully promise and covenant with God, in the I, (his FULL name), presence of these witnesses, to take take you (her FIRST name) Let us kneel.

(her FULL name) to be to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from (For all marriages: prayer of appropriate length, your lawful, wedded wife for as long as you both this day forward, in plenty and in want, in joy asking God to bless this marriage.) shall live, to love her, cherish her, honour her, and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, to love Let us rise. respect her and provide for her? and to cherish till death do us part. Thereto I By the authority of Jesus Christ, I now

(Groom’s answer) pledge you my faith.” pronounce you HUSBAND and WIFE!

And now the bride: You may now exchange rings. Wedding rings

And do you, (her FIRST I, (her FULL name), are an outward symbol of your love and name) faithfully promise and covenant with God take you ______(his FIRST name) to devotion to each other. You may now kiss the in the presence of these witnesses, to take be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, bride.

(his FULL name) to be from this day forward, in joy and in sorrow, in Legal Notice: Marriage is not a sacrament of the church. To establish a legal (civil) marriage your lawful, wedded husband for as long as you under the law of the land, it must be done under the legal authorization (licence) from the state or

4 country. In the USA, such licence may be issued to a minister or any suitable person according to their legal limitations. In that case, the minister acts under the authority of the country and not of the church. In other countries, the laws may differ and the church will not perform such ceremony for a civil marriage without the appropriate civil licence (see papers The Sacraments of the Church (No. 150) and Marriage (No. 289)).

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