Jesus is the Christ
Most people consider marriage as the ultimate human relationship.
In marriage two persons of opposite sex join together to make a
whole union. To their marriage they bring their total selves with
hope and love for a family of children to be loved by both partners
and the extended family, including the church family.
Basic to the marriage is God/Christ; for God (Jehovah/Elohim) had
created the perfect pattern/mold for human marriage. In Genesis
2:18 we read:"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the
man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
KJV. Verse 24 reads: "Therefore shall a man leave his father
and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be
one flesh." God had meant for this union to be for the duration
of the earthly life of the married couple. We can see that God planned
for the union to be perfected thoughout the life of the couple.
The life union was to be of oneness in love and completeness. Yet,
when we look at the earthly history of marriages, we find many have
not been perfected by the married couples but have been dissolved
in divorces. A few have remarried each other after being divorced.
They experienced a change of heart, maybe because of an awakening,
love of their spouse and their children.
Humanly speaking, what is a perfect marriage? Is a perfect marriage
possible between a married couple? If we understand perfect to mean
total and complete, why not? A husband can love his wife as himself
if he willfully commits himself to thinking of her as he thinks
of himself, including his desires, goals, and everyday activities.
He will consider her needs and her mental/spiritual condition. He
will pray for her and with her. He will apply his days to their
joint needs and desires. He will make Christ the head of their home.
His wife will submit herself toward the desires of her husband and
provide for his comforts. She will bring their children to him and
join in their nurture and training under the guidance of Christ
Jesus their Lord. This is the basic Christian marriage arrangement
as given in the Bible (I Cor. 7, Ephesians 5,6).
There is a greater marriage which is for eternity and that is the
marriage of Christ the Lord with His bride the Church. In Ephesians
5: 23-33, the Apostle Paul details how Christ and the Church are
related in oneness and union. Christ is the Saviour("soter"
from "sozo", to save, to rescue, to heal, restore) of
the body, which is the Church of God/Christ.
Christ loves ("egapesev" from "agapao" to love
sacrificially) His body the Church and this is the example for the
husband's love for his wife. It is clear that the wife is to be
the love object of her husband.
Because of the Christian's trust in the love of Christ for his/her
salvation, he/she is confidently living and waiting for His return
when He shall gather all the believers unto Himself as His purified
bride, for eternal union in His glorious kingdom. We shall live
and reign with Him in heavenly bliss, eternally (I Cor. 15, I Thess.
4; Rev. 21).
Our earthly marriage is one planned by God as beautifully ordered
and good. Even though some may never marry in this life they can
have wonderful fulfillment in Christ Jesus now and forever.
JESUS IS THE CHRIST
That Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ is the key message of the New
Testament. Every Book, Epistle, and writing from each and every
writer presents Jesus of Nazareth as the promised Messiah/Christ
and therefore Lord. There is no doubt, in reading the New Testament,
from Matthew through Revelation, that Jesus is the Christ the promised
Messiah as given in the Old Testament.
In these pages I will always point to Jesus Christ as the eternal
Son of God, to be honored and glorified as our Savior and eternal
Lord, who is now at the right hand of God the Father.
The Bible teaches that there are and will be false Messiahs/Christs.
History has many false Messiahs, although these individuals may
not call themselves, in an open manner, Messiah/Christ. They all
want honor, praise, even worship, as one sent/chosen to finish and
complete what they think Christ Jesus failed to complete or do.
These are worldly minded individuals who only think as Satan thinks.
They are deceivers and liars. Jesus did finish the work of the Lamb
of God slain by sinners for sinners; who is risen from the death
of the cross. Jesus Christ alone is Lord of life, who has conquered
death, hell and the grave. Other false Christs only have limited
effect upon the world of their followers as teachers/leaders about
earthly living.
They know nothing about eternally living an abundant life, with/from
the presence of God's Holy Spirit, who comes to live within the
believer's heart and spirit. With the Holy Spirit's powerful presence
the believer is made to be Christlike in thought and act.
So, as you read my pages you will see Christ Jesus as my Lord and
Savior, who will do the same for you as He has done for all other
true committed worshipper/followers. Come, let us worship our Lord,
Savior and King. |