The Bible tells us that when God created mankind, His divine distinction is that He created MALE & FEMALE. \u00a0He made them in His image. \u00a0 Now this implies that men and women reflect different aspects of His image. Genesis presents mankind at the apex of the creative process like a diamond in its setting. \u00a0And the sparkle coming from the diamond is the reflection of His image. \u00a0Man and woman are distinguished from the rest of creation in that we reflect the image of God. To say it another way: We are from TWO WORLDS, but made to reflect ONE Creator. \u00a0This ONENESS is the purpose of marriage. This Oneness is the goal of our relationship.<\/p>\n
Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. The goal of marriage is to Pursue ONENESS. To be \u201cjoined to his wife\u201d and to become \u201cONE FLESH.\u201d \u00a0 And they were both naked… which means much more than \u201cthey have no clothes…”\u00a0 It meant that they were \u201copen, uncovered, unashamed, and not hidden\u201d from one another. They didn\u2019t have to hide their differences, be ashamed of their uniqueness, didn\u2019t have the frustration or feeling that the other was trying to change them causing them to hide their distinctiveness. \u00a0They were Open on Three Levels:\u00a0 BODY, SOUL, and SPIRIT. \u00a0This is important, because we need to understand THE IDEAL for Oneness is God Himself…<\/p>\n THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU THINK ABOUT, \u00a0WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ONENESS… IS THE ONENESS OF GOD.<\/em><\/p>\n The Bible describes God\u2019s character as both Plural and Singular. \u00a0This is oneness. It is the unity of diversity. It is the harmony of variety. It the the unique vision the Bible tells of the god who is three in one. He is multi-faced, multi-dimensional, and yet completely together, unified, and complete. Notice the plural in Genesis 1:26.<\/p>\n Then God said, \u201cLet Us<\/strong> make man in Our<\/strong> image, according to Our<\/strong> likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.\u201d In fact, the first \u00a0verse of the Bible struggles with the limitation of our language and understanding to express to us what this 3 in 1, singular meets plural looks like when it says.<\/p>\n Genesis 1:1 In the Beginning GOD (Elohiym), which is a plural noun Created (singular).<\/p>\n As many of you know who took Latin, French, Spanish…\u00a0 the verb and the noun need to agree in a sentence. A plural noun like \u201cTHEY\u201d needs a plural verb like \u201cARE\u201d \u00a0You would say, THEY ARE… You wouldn\u2019t put a plural noun with a singular verb… \u201cTHEY IS\u201d \u00a0But that is exactly what the Hebrew writers have done here. \u00a0THEY (Elohiynm) IS (Singular). The multi-dimensional God Is.\u00a0 He created and fashioned intentionally and, specifically, men and women in His character. Like He is 3 in 1, they will be 3 in 1, but Act as One.<\/p>\n That may seem a bit heady, let me get practical for a moment. What does it mean to be made in His image? \u00a0We also are 3 in 1. \u00a0 We are made in His image with 3 parts:\u00a0 a spirit, a soul, and a body.<\/p>\n 1 Thess 5:23\u00a0 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/em><\/p>\n Why is this important? Well…because a husband and wife can\u2019t get on the same page… or Move Toward Oneness…and see the unique way their two worlds unite unless they have a picture of who they are and who God is. \u00a0 I want to give you the goal of oneness. Look at this photo.<\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.beliefnet.com\/sites\/201\/2011\/06\/bss.jpg\")
<\/a>If you and I are made in three parts, and our spouse is in three parts, then the ONENESS of a marriage will be created as we learn to come together in three areas: \u00a0Oneness of Body, Oneness of our Soul (friendship\/companionship), and Oneness of Spirit. \u00a0 All three of these aspects are critical and all three must be pursued.\u00a0 One of the real practical struggles of marriage is that often we aren\u2019t both pursuing the same Blueprint for ONENESS. \u00a0 We will feel more \u201cin love\u201d and \u201cat one\u201d as we prioritize all three aspects of our marriage. \u00a0 \u00a0The Bible calls this Oneness or \u201cknowing\u201d another person at all levels.<\/p>\n