Marriage, as established by God, is a divine institution where a man and a woman become one flesh, a union that encompasses the whole person—mind and body. This concept of one flesh, as seen in Genesis 2:24, signifies a profound unity where two individuals are no longer separate but form a single organism, akin to the relationship of hand to head or heart to mind within a body. It begins with a physical union, emphasizing the importance of a valid sexual relationship as a core aspect of marriage, where neither partner should deprive the other, as noted in I Corinthians 7:4-5. Beyond the physical, becoming one flesh also implies a deeper connection of soul and spirit. A true marriage involves a union of intellectual and emotional aspects, where shared interests and a meeting of minds strengthen the bond. However, the highest form of this union, spirit with spirit, is unique to Christian marriages, reflecting the relationship between Christ and the church, as described in Ephesians 5:22-33. Here, the husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church, and the wife is to submit to her husband as to the Lord, illustrating a sacred bond that mirrors divine love and commitment. This organic union, established by God, serves as the most significant illustration of how He joins believers to Jesus Christ forever. It is not merely a social arrangement but a holy matrimony governed by His rules, designed to bring happiness and joy when adhered to. The principle of one flesh underlines that marriage is a lifelong commitment, where what God has joined together, no man should separate, as reinforced by Jesus in Matthew 19:4-10. Thus, understanding and embracing this divine unity is essential for a blessed and fulfilling marriage.

God declares that a man and his wife are joined together as one flesh. A man and his wife leave father and mother to cling to each other and become their own family unit. Marriage is dignified and defined by God as the joining of one man and one woman. God created the male and the female so that they would become one flesh. A man and a woman are joined as one flesh. Christ and His church are joined as one flesh.

The concept of husband and wife becoming one flesh originates in Genesis 2:24 and is far more profound than a mere illustration of marital union. When Jesus quotes this verse in Matthew 19:6 and Mark 10:8, He restates it negatively—"they are no longer two but one flesh"—reinforcing it as an established principle rather than a simple metaphor. The phrase "one flesh" appears only seven times in Scripture, and its usage in 1 Corinthians 6:16 elevates the principle to reveal a spiritual correspondence: just as sexual union binds a man and woman together, so believers are joined to Christ, the Bridegroom, making unfaithful behavior a spiritual parallel to adultery. The Greek word for "joined" (kolláo) mirrors the Hebrew dabaq in Genesis 2:24, both meaning to glue together or cleave, showing that intercourse—whether within or outside marriage—creates a binding union. The Old Testament's use of "to know" as a euphemism for sexual relations further suggests that this act reflects a deeper personal and emotional intimacy, one so significant that even illicit unions create a bond between participants. Contrary to modern attitudes shaped by the sexual revolution, God does not consider the marital union cheap; Hebrews 13:4 affirms that marriage is honorable and the marriage bed undefiled. Every act of intimacy more deeply binds spouses together, increasing the value and sanctity of marriage. Though the one-flesh principle carries a sexual dimension, its true focus is on unity and closeness. Paul expands on this without repeating the phrase, teaching in 1 Corinthians 6 and 7 that spouses no longer own themselves but belong to one another. Once joined, husband and wife are subsumed into a single unit, much like teammates who prioritize the whole over the individual. This principle calls couples toward complete unity—living, thinking, and working as one—though this ideal may never be fully realized in practice, and no one should feel like a failure if it is not. Ultimately, marriage serves as a type of something greater: becoming one spirit with God, as stated in 1 Corinthians 6:17. The marital relationship functions as a training ground for learning how to achieve spiritual oneness with Him, preparing believers to become the Bride of Christ. Like a yoke of oxen pulling together, spouses must learn to move in the same direction toward the same purpose, rejecting the notion of a "50/50 marriage" in favor of complete surrender to one another. This mutual surrender, though costly, yields great reward. The Shulamite's declaration in Song of Songs 6:3—"I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine"—captures this ideal: a marriage in which each partner is wholly devoted to the other, striving to reflect God's will through true, outgoing love and to develop His character in both themselves and their spouse.

Any given doctrine must be built layer by layer, combining and comparing scriptures rather than allowing a single scripture to determine the doctrine. When we understand that porneia includes all the hideous perverted sexual sins that go beyond ordinary adultery- including bestiality, pedophilia, homosexuality, incest, and every other imaginable sexual perversion, we understand that Jesus gave a greater latitude and flexibility in these divorce decisions than we had earlier assumed (based exclusively upon adulterous 'fraud'). Any violence against the marriage contract (stemming from unconversion) would constitute grounds for divorce, and would permit the converted partner to remarry. Mutual access to the tree of life (God's Holy Spirit) gives marriage the best (actually the only) chance to succeed.