Welcome to the Paul Tripp podcast, where pastor and bestselling author Dr. Paul David Tripp connects the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.

In this episode of Ask Paul Tripp, Paul answers five questions about marriage, family, and singleness.

If you have a question you want to ask Paul, visit paultrip.com

slash ask. Here's Paul, answering the question, what does it mean to be one flesh?

The Bible talks about one flesh. It really means one flesh.

It's that in the intimacy of the marriage relationship,

there is meant to be the most miraculous,

tender intimacy that you could ever experience in human life.

That it's this moment where all protections are gone.

I am now literally naked, exposed in the arms of another human being.

And our bodies literally become as one.

Now, it's not enough to say that that's what it's about because that depth of intimacy with all of its

tenderness and with all of its needed protection and all of its mutual serving love is only possible

because there is a deep abiding relational unity that that couple has.

You see, here's how it works in marriage. You always drag the character and quality

of your marriage relationship into the marriage bed.

If you have been harsh and judgmental with me,

if you have been selfish and demanding with me,

why would I not expect that you would be that same person

in the intimacy of our sexuality?

Why would I relax? Why would I rest?

The wholeness of marital sexuality is only possible because of the wholeness of the spiritual, relational, intimacy of those couples.

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