In the context of marriage and roles, God has designed both male and female to reflect His image, as seen in Genesis 1:26, where both are created together in His likeness. Genesis 2:24 establishes the marriage covenant, designating man and woman as one flesh, a unified unit. God is creating a Family modeled after His own characteristics, with neither sex nor race deemed superior or inferior. No individual is completely male or female in essence, as human anatomy and hormones reflect traits of both sexes, showing that together, men and women form a composite image of the living God. Marriage, as a God-plane relationship, serves to teach individuals how the other half of God's image behaves, allowing each to learn from the traits and characteristics of the opposite sex to become complete God-beings. God the Father aims to create balanced members of His Family, not stereotypes of extreme masculinity or femininity. This process involves males incorporating Godlike feminine characteristics such as tenderness, mercy, and patience, while females adopt masculine traits like strength, assertiveness, and decisiveness. Both men and women need to embody a range of godly characteristics—masculine traits like strength, power, and leadership, and feminine traits like beauty, grace, and caring—to qualify as members of God's Family. Through marriage, individuals grow beyond their natural selves, striving for God-actualization, where they can see the very image of God Almighty in their spouse's eyes. This mutual incorporation of traits enhances essential manhood and womanhood, adding a dimension of Godhood, as both partners reflect a balanced representation of His nature.

Marriage has been under assault in the United States for many years, facing challenges from societal shifts and moral erosion. Despite these difficulties, it remains a vital part of most lives, second only to baptism as the most important decision one can make. Marriage is not merely a physical union but a spiritual institution created by God, who made mankind male and female in His own image, endowing both with equal potential before Him. This equality does not erase differences, as men and women possess distinct inclinations and skills, yet both are on the same track to reflect His likeness. God established marriage on a high, God-plane level, intending it as a lifelong commitment to produce the finest versions of His children in His image. It serves multiple purposes: firstly, as a vehicle for developing divine character; secondly, as a blessed union endued with power for success, sanctioned by God to provide unique advantages; thirdly, to produce children within a sanctioned relationship, offering the best environment for raising godly seed; and fourthly, to teach proper governance, preparing individuals for future roles through family dynamics and authority structures. Husbands are placed in a position of authority as first among equals, reflecting a balance of authority and loving care, while submission and mutual glory are emphasized in the relationship. Marriage requires a definite break from parental households to form a new unit, ensuring clear roles and responsibilities. A couple should establish their own home to grow and develop character independently, with the man as king of his castle and the wife as his queen, free from interference. The concept of being joined or cleaved together signifies a bond stronger than any external force, intended by God to be a lifelong union of one man and one woman. This one flesh principle binds husband and wife as a single unit, where individual identities are subsumed into a shared commitment, functioning as one in work, life, and purpose. This ideal of absolute togetherness mirrors the spiritual goal of being one spirit with God, making marriage a training ground for that ultimate union. The perfect marriage is one where each partner is fully committed, giving 100% to the relationship and to each other, striving to live according to God's will with true love and outgoing concern. Each mate, as the perfect Christian, dedicates themselves to developing character in both themselves and their spouse, reflecting the profound spiritual significance of this blessed arrangement.

Marriage, as presented in Ephesians 5:25-33, carries a profound spiritual purpose, reflecting the relationship between Christ and the Church. Husbands are called to love their wives just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for Her, sanctifying and cleansing Her to present Her as glorious, without spot or wrinkle. Similarly, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies, nourishing and cherishing them, for no one ever hated his own flesh but cares for it, as the Lord does for the Church. This love forms the foundation of marriage, emphasizing unity, as a man leaves his father and mother to be joined to his wife, becoming one flesh. The Christian perspective on marriage must be positive, viewing it as a unique relationship elevated to mirror the bond between Jesus Christ and the Church. This view encourages a continuous growth in spiritual orientation, striving to conform to this heavenly pattern. A key principle in achieving success in marriage is to think and understand, not relying on mere feelings or assumptions but reasoning through challenges with a right perspective. The world often fails in marriage due to a lack of such thought, acting on impulse rather than understanding. Selfishness stands as the primary cause of failure in marriage, disrupting unity with its focus on personal gratification over the needs of the spouse. Submitting to one another in the fear of God is essential, reinforcing the unity of husband and wife as one flesh, where asserting self contradicts the fundamental nature of marriage. For husbands, practical application begins with recognizing the wife as part of himself, not merely a partner but as his own body, echoing the unity of Christ with the Church. A husband must not think individually but include his wife in all aspects of life, avoiding abuse, neglect, or taking her for granted. He should nourish and cherish her, considering her needs and pleasures, engaging in conversation, and protecting her from weaknesses and trials, just as one cares for one's own body. Love in marriage must be sacrificial and caring, patterned after Christ's love for the Church, where a husband gives himself for his wife, not to extract service but to support and enrich her. This love should be marked by gentleness and self-control, ensuring mutual reward rather than selfish gain. Both husband and wife are called to overcome selfishness through submission to Christ and each other, allowing the Holy Spirit to foster a love that mirrors Christ's unbreakable bond with the Church.

Marriage, as a divine institution established by God, is intended to reflect the profound union between Jesus Christ and the church. God created humanity as male and female, commanding them to be fruitful and to form a union where two become one flesh, signifying a deep bond of body, soul, and spirit. This union is not merely physical but encompasses intellectual and emotional compatibility, requiring effort to maintain a meeting of minds and hearts. In the roles within marriage, wives are called to submit to their husbands as they would to the Lord, supporting and aligning their interests with his, not as a form of slavery or blind obedience, but as a partnership akin to a queen backing a king. This submission mirrors the church's relationship to Christ. Husbands, in turn, are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, sacrificing for them, protecting them, and fostering their spiritual growth. They must dwell with their wives in understanding, honoring them as equal heirs of grace, and treating them with nobility and consideration. A husband's love should be so profound that he would be willing to lay down his life for his wife, just as Christ did for the church. Children are instructed to obey and honor their parents, recognizing the wisdom and experience that guide parental authority. Parents, for their part, must raise their children with balance, avoiding excessive control or neglect, and providing encouragement alongside discipline. They are to nurture their children in the ways of the Lord, ensuring that their guidance reflects divine principles. The sacredness of marriage demands that it be approached with reverence, not subject to jest or disdain, as it is governed by God's rules. Marriages must strive to embody a union of spirit with spirit, achievable only within a shared faith, ensuring that both partners can fully share in what is most precious and real to them. This divine model of marriage serves as the ultimate illustration of Christ's eternal bond with believers, pointing to Him as the supreme love and provider.

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.