THE BRIDE OF CHRIST 02
The story of Creation in Genesis is significant. Very Important
to the New Testament Church. It tells us, in type and anti type,
in shadow form and in figurative language, who and what we are.
Adam was created for one purpose. For fellowship with God. Eve
was created for fellowship with Adam. In 2 Cor. 11:2, Paul speaks
to the Christians at Corinth, and says, I am jealous for
you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband,
that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. Whats
Paul saying? I am the matchmaker who brought you and Christ together.
It is my obligation to see that you honor your engagement and
marriage. You have to listen to the language.....the symbolism,
type and anti type, analogies are there.
Its there for a reason. To help us grasp and understand
the importance of our relationship to God and to each other. You
are cleansed and made pure by the blood of Jesus. Betrothed as
a pure, chaste virgin to Jesus Christ. As such you keep yourself
pure and honor your betrothal, commitment to God. 1 Cor. 11:3,
7-9, 11-12, But I want you to know that the head of every
man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ
is God.......For a man is the image and glory of God; but woman
is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from
man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man......
Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent
of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also
comes through woman; but all things are from God.
a. We were created for each other and for fellowship with God.
In the garden of Eden, we were
created in perfect fellowship. Sin destroyed that fellowship.
God was the jilted Suitor. But God
did not stop loving or pursuing us. Sought to restore us. That
restored fellowship occurs in the
Church. That relationship is so special, Intimate its Like
the sacred relationship between a
husband and wife.
(A) Genesis, the 1st book in the Bible, says God created man for
this Special fellowship. Rev. 21:9-10, the last book in the Bible
says, See there, He did it. And that relationship
has been completely restored.
Now lets see the fulfillment of this Relationship in a Comparison
between Adam and Eve and that of Christ and the Church. Adam and
Eve reflect the spiritual reality we have in Messiahs kingdom.
For Adams bride to come into existence God put Adam into
a death like state. For Christs bride to come into existence
Jesus actually died. Sacrificed Himself to give her life. But,
Adam did not die for Eves sins. She had no sin. Adam was
put into a death-like state to give her life and existence so
she might have fellowship with Adam and God. This whole analogy
is about giving life for the purpose of having fellowship.
On the cross Jesus shed His blood to take way our sins so we could
have fellowship with God the way Adam and Eve did. Adam died figuratively
so Eve could have life. Jesus died literally and shed His blood
so we could have true life that is eternal.
Deut. 12:23, God says, Life is in the blood. Thats
a statement of fact both physically and spiritually. Jno. 19:34,
says that on the cross, One of the soldiers pierced His
side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
1 Jno. 5:5-8, talks about Jesus bringing Salvation and He
is the one who came by water and blood........not only by water,
but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness,
because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness
in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these
three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth:
the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as
one.
Jesus died and shed His blood to give us spiritual life and spiritual
fellowship with God. In His death on the Cross, and in His life
giving resurrection, the bride of Christ, the church came into
Existence.
(3) The Church is that Company of People who are Alive with the
Life of Christ. Gal. 2:20. 1 Cor. 15:22, explains it this way,
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made
alive. Jesus gives Spiritual Life to His Spiritual Bride.
(1) As a husband, thats what Jesus did. Thats what
a husband is obligated to do. Thats the statement of Eph.
5:25-32.
The Church are those who are alive with the implanted Life of
Jesus given by the indwelling Holy Spirit that was given when
you were baptized and Christ washed away your sins, and Vs. 26-27,
tell why, to make you holy, cleansing you with the washing
of water by the word, that He might present you to Himself a glorious
church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that
you should be holy and without blemish.
(b) Thats what 1 Cor. 15:44-49, is talking about, There
is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is
written, "The first man Adam became a living being."
The last Adam (Thats Jesus) became a life?giving spirit.
However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward
the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; (Thats
Adam) the second Man is the Lord from heaven (Thats Jesus).
As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust;
and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly.
And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also
bear the image of the heavenly Man.
Our recreation, new birth is when we are born again, recreated
in His image. Thats what Jesus was talking about in Jno.
3:3, 6. Spiritual birth from above so God can fellowship us.
(1) Man can only have fellowship with one like Himself. Thats
why God created Eve. Man cannot fellowship a monkey. Theyre
not alike. No common ancestry. God can only have fellowship with
man. Man is created in Gods image. Thats why we must
worship God in His prescribed spiritual way, Jno. 4:23-24, "But
the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will
worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking
such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him
must worship in spirit and truth."
Have you been born again? Come believing, repent, confess, immersed
= Born of the water and the Spirit? Without that spiritual birth
you will never become that Spiritual being with whom God can have
fellowship through His Son Jesus. Thats why He calls, and
we plead.
(4) And thats why we always leave you with Acts 20:32.
Spur - 05/25/03 am
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