March 22, 2005.
26. NOT YET MARRIED, NEVERTHELESS, SHARING. Paul speaks of the church as being espoused or engaged to Christ. 2 Cor. 11:2 To him it was an absolute and total commitment unto Christ. Under Jewish law in that day, the espousal was as binding as marriage. Note that Mary was not only espoused to Joseph but he is also called her husband. However, the marriage had not been physically consummated. Mary was still a virgin. Mt. 1:18-19 The church is considered dead to the Law, through the body of Christ, or through His death. In His death He satisfied all the demands of the Law and introduced Himself as the New Way, the way of life eternal by His resurrection. Therefore we are spiritually to be married to Him. Our thoughts, our motives, our actions are all to be built around the most intimate of associations, married to Christ. Rom. 7:4 The change that is brought about when one is born of the Spirit is astonishing. The Lord no longer sees us as being what we once were but so completely renewed that the church is considered to be a pure clean virgin.
THE RICHES OF HIS MERCY AND GREAT LOVE. Poet and preacher have tried to convey the extent, the length, the breadth, the high and the depth of the Lord who is MERCY and LOVE, only to fall far short. It is amazing that He would care for fallen, corrupt humanity but He does and has centered His mercy and love upon them. While we were yet unborn, even untaught of and unknown by our ancestors, Christ had already made provision for a new life for us. For He has quickened, brought to life, those who believe in Him. We are together with Him, the benefactors of the power of His salvation and grace. Purchased and redeemed by His death, burial and resurrection that we may be ˜together with Him. By association we are to be in full unity and fellowship with Jesus. Eph. 2:5 So complete is the union that He seeks with His church that we have the privilege of having been raised together with Him. That means eternal life. The very life that is now His is also ours, when we are together with Him. Mind you, Paul is not speaking of a future time, in the sweet bye and bye. He is making this togetherness a fact for the now. Not only are we raised together with Him but He has honored His people to sit together with Him in heavenly places. Eph. 2:6 We should be taking advantage of such grand and glorious promises as these. In the midst of the trials and difficulties of this life we can be made aware of the glory of His presence. Consider that He has already blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. It is not necessary to die and go to heaven in order to have heaven in our hearts. Eph. 1:3 There is no limit to the ability of the Lord in manifesting His power and authority in the lives of His people. There is nothing impossible with Him. Our impossibilities are as nothing to Him. Jesus even said, that nothing shall be impossible unto you. Mt. 17:20 The challenge of the scripture is, if thou canst believe, all things are possible. Mark 9:23.