Have you ever tried to build something, but found yourself struggling because you didn’t have the right tools?
That’s what it’s like when you try to build a marriage without making God part of it.
If you don’t know that you’ve got it made, you’ll spend your life struggling. The best way to become a better spouse is through the gift of salvation and letting God transform your very nature through His Word.
THE SIN PROBLEM
Everything started out good in the garden. (See Genesis 2:18). Then man and woman sinned. (See Genesis 3:1, James 1:15). Sin brought death. (See Romans 5:12, Romans 6:23).
The bottom line – sin has death attached to it.
_________________________________________
That’s a pretty ugly list of traits. If we try to live in our old nature and have a good marriage, we aren’t going to succeed. We need the cure that comes in the form of becoming a new creature in Christ.
Note: the cure doesn’t mean you don’t have to work at it and everything is perfect all the time.
[Learn how to become one with your spouse with the laugh-and-learn resource Becoming One.]
THE CURE
The bad news is that sin brought death with it. The good news is that there is a cure. We weren’t just left in our sin. We have been redeemed. Sin brought death. The cure is salvation.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NKJV
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 NKJV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
THE GIFT OF SALVATION
We couldn’t be good enough to earn salvation; it is a gift. It’s through Christ that we are saved. Salvation is the simplest thing you can receive.
The who, what, where, when and why of our salvation: That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth
Through the gift of salvation, we become children of God. As children of God we have been redeemed from the curse. It’s a whole new world for us.
FROM DARK TO LIGHT
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:13-14 NLT
If you haven’t accepted this gift of salvation. Let Joe share more and pray the prayer with you.
Here’s what that means for your marriage:
LEARN HOW TO GROW TOGETHER [NOT APART]
RELATED RESOURCE:
Make 2017 the year you start building something great! Get the Marriage Building small group (individual kit or class kit) and share the laugh-and-learn experience with others as you grow in your marriage relationship.
________________________________________
Stop fighting with your family and start fighting for them.
