Assignment task:
At least 400 words
- At least two scholarly citations in APA format.
- Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years.
- Acceptable sources include the Bible, course texts, relevant books, and peer-reviewed articles.
Reply to Chiquita
I selected option 3, based on my thoughts about how creation, the fall, and redemption have influenced the relational functioning of a married couple.
When I think about how creation, the fall, and redemption shape a marriage, it feels like looking at a three-part story that mirrors what couples experience every day. Each part, beginning, brokenness, and renewal, teaches something about how people connect, hurt, and heal in relationships. This is not just ancient theology. It is a pattern that continues to appear in the ways couples love, argue, forgive, and grow together.
To begin, the story of creation gives us a picture of God's original plan for marriage. In the creation story, God designed marriage with unity and purpose in mind. Genesis 2:24 says, therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. That one sentence holds significant meaning. It shows that from the very beginning, marriage was intended to be about togetherness, about two people loving and supporting one another and sharing in a larger purpose. There is no competition or domination in that verse. There is companionship, mutual respect, and balance.
In that original design, communication came naturally. There was trust, vulnerability, and openness. It is easy to imagine Adam and Eve walking in the garden with no fear, no shame, and no barriers. The creation story paints marriage as something beautiful and whole, where love flows freely and each person reflects God's image through how they treat the other. This is what a healthy marriage still strives to be today, a relationship built on safety, closeness, and shared direction (Dafei et al., 2021).
Then the story changes. When the fall occurs and sin enters the world, relationships are among the first things to break. Suddenly, there is shame, blame, and fear. Instead of honesty, there is hiding. Instead of teamwork, there is mistrust. The fall did not just separate humanity from God; it created distance between people as well. The tension becomes clear when Adam blames Eve and Eve blames the serpent. That moment is the first example of relational dysfunction. Today, couples continue to live out that same pattern. Instead of walking side by side, they sometimes pull away from one another when challenges arise. Pride, resentment, and defensiveness begin to take root. This is part of the human condition. (Dafei et al., 2021) describes this as the rupture of communion, explaining that the fall damaged the ability for man and woman to fully relate in the way God originally intended. This same pattern shows up in modern marriages through conflict, lack of empathy, or emotional withdrawal.
The fall reminds us that brokenness does not come from one person being the problem. It is part of the broader human story. However, redemption does not leave us in that broken state. Through redemption, God enters into the pain and makes healing possible again. Redemption brings the story full circle. Through Jesus Christ, we see love that sacrifices, forgives, and restores. When Ephesians 5:25 says, Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, it gives a picture of what redemption looks like in marriage. Redemption is not about control or perfection. It is about selfless love. Couples who learn to forgive and show grace are practicing redemption in everyday life.
Forgiveness plays a critical role in repairing relationships (Devlin et al., 2019). When couples choose compassion over bitterness, they mirror God's redemptive love. Forgiveness does not erase the pain, but it allows healing to begin. It shifts the focus from blame to restoration. (Howard et al., 2023) also found that shared spiritual practices, such as prayer or faith-based activities, improve relationship satisfaction by creating a sense of purpose that goes beyond the conflict. In redeemed relationships, communication becomes healthier. Couples begin to see each other not as opponents but as teammates working toward the same goal. They start resolving conflicts through empathy rather than defensiveness. Redemption also restores a sense of mutuality. Each partner learns to serve and support the other rather than trying to control or win. (Stillwell, 2016) found that couples who share a faith-based worldview often demonstrate higher resilience and emotional intimacy, which aligns with this redemptive model of marriage.
When these three parts are viewed together, creation, fall, and redemption tell a powerful story about marriage. Creation shows what God intended for harmony and connection. The fall explains what went wrong, for example, pride, distance, and pain. Redemption shows what is possible when love is renewed through grace. Every couple, in one way or another, lives through these three movements.
A couple that begins with joy and hope will eventually face disappointment and conflict. If they choose to lean into forgiveness, grace, and growth, they can experience a renewal that is deeper than the initial harmony. Redemption does not just restore what was lost; it transforms it. It teaches humility, compassion, and patience. For example, when one spouse betrays trust, the easy response is anger and withdrawal. Redemption, however, calls for forgiveness and rebuilding. When one person feels unseen or unheard, instead of lashing out, they can learn to communicate with honesty and care. These choices may seem small, but they reflect God's redemptive work in daily life.
In the end, marriage reflects the greater story of humanity. It begins with beauty, it struggles with brokenness, and it finds hope in restoration. A redeemed marriage does not mean a perfect marriage. It means a growing one. It is a relationship that continually turns back toward love, grace, and unity even after seasons of difficulty. That is what it means to live out creation, fall, and redemption within marriage. It is not just theology; it is a real experience of grace between two imperfect people who are learning to love each other the way God loves them. Need Assignment Help?
References:
Dafei, M., Jahanbazi, F., Nazari, F., Dehcheshmeh, F. S., & Dehghani, A. (2021). The effect of group cognitive-behavioral counseling on optimism and self-esteem of women during the first month of marriage that referring to marriage counseling center. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 10(1), 209-219.
Devlin, J. M., Toof, J., West, L., Andrews, N., Devlin, J. M., & Cole, J. (2019). Integrative Family Counseling. The Family Journal., 27(3), 319-324.
Howard, A. H., Roberts, M., Mitchell, T., & Wilke, N. G. (2023). The Relationship Between Spirituality and Resilience and Well-being: A Study of 529 Care Leavers from 11 Nations. Adversity and Resilience Science, 4(2), 177.
Stillwell, D. (2016). Helping Couples Fulfill the Highest of Life's Goals: Mate Selection, Marriage counseling, and Genetic Counseling in the United States. Journal of Genetic counseling, 25(1), 157-165.
The Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011). Zondervan.