Enjoy the mystery of Oneness

I. Enjoy oneness in Christian marriage

* The mystery of Oneness in marriage is God's design and desire!

1. The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man 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." For this reason, a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed (Genesis 2:22-25).

2. Leave = establish new authority from your parents.

3. Cleave = establish new commitment to one another.

4. One flesh = establish intimacy with one another.

5. Naked and not ashamed = establish transparency with each other.

II. Enjoy oneness in the Christian Church

* The mystery of Oneness in the Church is God's glorious masterpiece!

  1. This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32; Isaiah 54:5, 6).
  2. Establish new authority as a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17).
  3. Establish new commitment with fresh devotion (2 Corinthians 11:3).
  4. Establish spiritual intimacy (Jeremiah 29:13, 14).
  5. Establish transparency with the Lord (Psalm 139:23, 24).

III. Enjoy oneness in the Christian conduct

* The mystery of Oneness in our conduct is God's empowering Spirit!

  1. The Spirit-filled Christian husband is to sacrificially love his own wife (Ephesians 5:33a; Colossians 3:19)!
  2. The Spirit-filled Christian wife is to show respectful behavior to her own husband (Ephesians 5:33b; 1 Peter 3:1, 2).

Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins, January 18th, 2026.

Life Group Flow and Discussion Questions

Enjoy the mystery of Oneness

An important Guideline of Life Groups: Spiritual Oneness is a beautiful reality as God's children and in Christian marriages, when we are yielded to the Holy Spirit's control. Challenge your Life Group to a deeper spiritual intimacy with our Lord through active obedience and Spirit-filled living

Getting Started:

  1. How is God's divine design of marriage, of the covenantal union between a man and a woman for life (Matthew 19:3-9), being challenged in our society?
  2. What is your understanding of the marriage covenant (Malachi 3:14-16) and the reason that God hates divorce?

Discussing Truths:

  1. How is the new authority established in a marriage by leaving father and mother?? What changes in thinking and relating need to take place?
  2. Why is it important to recognize that "Oneness" is not a one-and-done event, but it's a life-long process? How is this true in our "Spiritual Oneness" with Christ, too?
  3. Are you giving grace to the other person, even when there is disagreement? Don't allow our culture to impact your thinking that you must agree on everything or there's no love.
  4. How does Oneness create greater intimacy by actually enhancing each one's uniqueness?
  5. Husbands: What are you doing to actively show sacrificial love to your wife? Are there any actions or words that you do that make your wife feel unloved? If so, repent and ask forgiveness.
  6. Wives: How are you showing respectful behavior to your husband? Are there any actions or words that you do that make your husband feel dishonored? If so, repent and ask forgiveness.
  7. Unmarried: How can you support married friends toward Oneness?

Now What? Application:

  1. If your marriage or friendship is in trouble, ask yourself, "What do I need to do differently to enjoy Oneness in this relationship"?
  2. Are you a faithful bride to Christ through righteous acts (study Revelation 19:7-9)?