In Ephesians 5:32, Paul calls marriage a “profound mystery.” We may have heard it said before: earthly marriage is a picture of the Gospel; Christ being wedded to His Bride, the Church. That is what this book is about. The temporary being a shadow, pointing to the reality that is permanent. John Piper writes that “there has never been a generation whose general view of marriage is high enough” and with the constant pressure places on marriage in the U.S.–as we’ve seen over the years, as well as with all the debate over same-sex marriage–having a right understanding of marriage is more critical than ever.
Marriage is constantly under pressure in our society:
- Who says that marriage should only be between one man and one woman?
- Why should any two consenting adults be denied marriage if they’re in love?
- Isn’t being in love essentially what marriage is all about?
- Who says marriage ought to be “till death do us part”? If love is gone why stay married?
Even within the church:
- What does the Bible mean that the husband is the head of the wife?
- What does submission look like? Are there times we should not submit?
- Do single people just miss out on the mystery of marriage?
- What is God’s design in sex? What role does it play in the “mystery”?
- What does the Bible really teach about divorce and remarriage?
This is what This Momentary Marriage is about. It seeks to display how marriage on this earth is separated only by death, but that it is meant as a profound symbol of the everlasting covenant between Christ and the Church. That marriage points to the Gospel, and points to profound, ultimate joy.
I cannot wait to experience this joy, in both respects, and I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone wanting to know what the Bible says about marriage, how it points to Jesus, and the joy available to us in the Gospel.
Winters Perspective 