The Importance of Recapturing Biblical Marriage

Marriage and the Gospel

Reclaiming the biblical meaning of marriage in our culture today matters because the darkness of our generation is deep and profound. And if we lose the biblical meaning of marriage the darkness will become complete.

Marriage bespeaks the gospel itself. So to be clear about marriage, and to live out in our marriages (imperfectly but visibly) something of the dying love of Christ for his bride and her joyful surrender to him—this is vital. People who will never go to church and may never hear the gospel will see the gospel in our marriages and the light will shine, even in this generation.

Raymond C. Ortlund Jr. is the president of Renewal Ministries and pastor to pastors at Immanuel Church, Nashville. He is also the author of several books, including the Preaching the Word commentaries on Isaiah and Proverbs and Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel. He is also a contributor to the ESV Study Bible. Ray and his wife, Jani, have been married for fifty years.