Chapter 1: Is the Bride Ready? (Copyright) by Warren Zehrung (Little Rock, Arkansas) |
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Introduction From the very beginning, Jesus Christ has made known to us His intention to marry a most exquisite Bride. The marriage of the Lamb to His spouse will commence the eternal covenant longed for by Jesus Christ from time immemorial. From the days of Israel’s espousal in the wilderness (Jeremiah 2:2) up until the marriage of the Lamb, Jesus Christ has loved His Bride-to-be with a perfect love that surpasses anything we can remotely imagine (Ephesians 3:19). Their wedding will be the most superb ceremony the heavens and earth have ever witnessed. Though this may sound like a dream or a fable, it is, in fact, a magnificent reality. Brethren, we have only a short time to prepare. Many of those who consider themselves to be a part of the Church of God are not prepared to be the Bride of Jesus Christ. The seventh doctrine of Jesus Christ is, “Go on to perfection;” this is what the Bride must be doing (Hebrews 6:1-2). It should go without saying that Jesus is going to be extremely selective when taking His wife for ever more. Though the world prefers to believe that Jesus accepts us in our current condition –“just as you are”– it is obvious from the Scriptures that His Bride will be arrayed in the purest white wedding gown – symbolizing her perfect love for Him, her spotless spiritual condition, and her eternal faithfulness in marriage. Are we absolutely certain that we meet that criteria – in other words, are we as ready and prepared as we can possibly be? Anyone who assumes that they have attained to the perfect measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, underestimates the supreme perfection of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:13). To what degree of excellence must the Church brethren attain in order to be ready? When comparing the unity of mind and heart within the marriage relationship to the bond of unity that exists between Christ and the Church brethren, the apostle Paul called it a great mystery. What is the significance of the wedding of Jesus Christ to the Church? Who is the Bride? Remarkably, it is revealed that not everyone will participate in the marriage supper. Blessed are they who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb! What can we do to ensure that we will be invited to take part in Christ’s wedding? Prophetic Scriptures bring to light the splendor of the ultimate nuptial ceremony. We do not wish to miss out on the most splendid wedding of all time. What an incredible truth that our Lord and Master has chosen to make us His Wife by entering into an eternal pledge with us. Mere words fail to portray the most glorious ceremony ever, which Christ has reserved for His Bride alone. Divine music will reverberate across the heavens, and gleaming, brilliance will illuminate the throne room, as the Bride is presented to her Lord. She will be accepted by Him, adorned in her radiant white silk wedding gown – and upon her head she will wear a beautiful sparkling crown (Ezekiel 16:12). We are Betrothed to Christ Even now, we are engaged. This is the only time of preparation for us to become a pure virgin betrothed to Jesus Christ our Bridegroom. “I have espoused you to one husband, so that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:2) He is going to enter into an eternal new covenant marriage relationship with spiritual Israel – the Church of God – which will never be broken. “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” (Hebrews 8:8, Jeremiah 31:31-32) “Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they who are invited unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, these are the true sayings of God.” (Revelation 19:7-9) The Church of God is not ready for the wedding. The lack of concern and respect of brothers and sisters in Christ for one another shows that we have a ways to go. The split and scattered state of the Church attests to the fact that the Bride of Christ is not yet prepared. After years of Christian living sermons explaining how we must let our light shine – the fruit of our lives is hardly distinguishable from those in the world. We are not living according to the rules of the Kingdom – now – as we should be. If we did, we would be, “A light to the world – and our light would so shine before men… that they would be glorifying our Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16) There are reasons that this is not happening. This booklet describes what remains to be done by those who have been called and have begun to follow through on God’s plan of salvation. The True Sayings of God When we read, “These are the true sayings of God,” we are to understand this prophecy of the marriage of the Lamb to be real and factual – not merely allegorical. It is our purpose to demonstrate the validity and reality of Christ’s words, and to alert the brethren to the critical need to make themselves ready – His wife has made herself ready. Christ has fulfilled His part, but the question remains – what part of the Church is ready now? The readiness of the Bride is the very thing we must be most concerned about because our eternal salvation is at stake and depends on it. What will the Bride of Christ be like? How can she be spiritually pure? The Bride will be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white – meaning that she will be an innocent, virgin Bride. Jesus has done His part in washing His Bride to make her righteous. She will be perfect and spotless – her attributes matching Christ’s own perfection and glory – because He has made her spiritually pure. “Christ loves the [Bride], and gave Himself for her; that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27) What an exceedingly beautiful ceremony it will be for the select Bride who looks for Christ’s coming. “The glorious Bridegroom will come; and [only] those who were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” (Matthew 25:10) The reality of God’s promise will far exceed the most sublime expectation of the Bride. We do not want to miss out! Let us make ready and ensure that we are among those whom Jesus Christ will choose to be His Bride. Chapter 1: Is the Bride Ready? A Bride Prepared Is the Bride Ready? We are at the end of the age – all the signs that Jesus told us to watch for are near, even at the door (Matthew 24:33). Are we Church brethren ready to meet Jesus Christ at His return? You might respond by saying, “Yes, I’m ready – I am tired of waiting – let’s get on with it.” But are we spiritually prepared to be the Bride of Christ? That is the intent of Christ’s words, “The Bride has made herself ready,” in describing those brethren who constitute the Bride that He will marry at His coming. Do we have the eyes to see that over the last few decades, the Church of God has slipped terribly away from being the ideal Bride? It has lost its enthusiasm and passion to see Christ establish the Kingdom of God. There no longer exists a burning desire to share the meaning of our faith with the rest of the world. There are those who feel that their media department produces a good program for television, but Jesus said that is not the same thing as each of us proclaiming the gospel by dynamically living our faith – that the world may know (John 17:23). The Christian love of the great majority of the brethren has waxed cold. The Church is not prepared – note the words of Jesus: “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.” (Matthew 25:5) Here is the problem: These words, “The Bride has made herself ready,” do not describe the greater Church of God today. Let us face it – if we understand anything about the practice of our Christian faith, we will readily admit that the spiritual condition of the Church is in dire straits. The Church of God is not ready for the wedding supper of the Lord. Our Salvation is Near That is indeed a bold statement, but the evidence is abundantly clear that this last era of the Church has dozed off. There is not a lot of difference in the lives of good Protestants and us, except that our socializing is on Saturday, and we take our “vacation” in the fall. The slumbering brethren are disregarding the admonition of Paul, “Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we [first] believed.” (Romans 13:11) Jesus foretold our depleted end-time spiritual state as a warning to us. “At the end of the day you say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red, and in the morning you say, it will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and overcast.” (Matthew 16:3) That is not a weather report! Jesus is alerting us to discern the signs of the times. He is saying, “Look at the poor spiritual condition of the brethren – and take action!” If we do not wake up and get busy, we will be rejected. “Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16) None of us deliberately want to be lukewarm, blind, or lackadaisical. But how do we change? What must we do to be prepared? There have always been those who did not walk worthy of their Christian calling, and there always will be. But now, Jesus says the end-time elect children of God have become worldly. In Christ’s estimation, we’ve been going down and down. If we would see ourselves as God sees us, we would know that the great majority of ministers and church-goers are no longer willing to stand for the Truth. Each of us would probably say, “I’ve passed tests and trials – I came out of the world and organizations that do not represent the true Body of Christ.” Let us be careful not to make the mistake today of believing that we have passed the final test with flying colors. If we have the eyes to see, evidence reveals that many have been lulled into a false sense of complacency. We would be wise indeed, to heed Christ’s words, and examine ourselves more carefully. Perfecting Holiness And, if the Church brethren are asleep, some Church leaders must be in a coma. We have come to the point where almost anything goes – and God is not pleased. Paul asked the Corinthian Church brethren to put the sinful man who had taken his father’s wife away from among you (1Corinthians 5:13). Why put the sinful man away? Because he was defiling and polluting the chaste marriage relationship that God created to exemplify the pure covenant relationship between Christ and the Church brethren. But today, we find that when it comes to doctrine and practice, almost everything wrong is allowed in the churches of God – it ought not to be so. Does anyone have the wisdom and fortitude to demand of God’s people, including the ministry, that they cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2Corinthians 7:1)? Peter admonishes us to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance (2Peter 3:1). This is what we have to do. When false doctrine and apathetic conduct begin to enter the congregations of the Church of God, it is the responsibility, not only of the ministry, but also of everyone who loves God and His Truth to combat that aberrant behavior and refute it by sound doctrine. Brethren, maintaining God’s highest standard is not optional – our very salvation is at stake. The question for us is not simply a matter of waiting until Christ gets here – we must rise to the occasion. It is a matter of our preparing ourselves so that we will be spiritually groomed in accordance with Christ’s expectation of His Bride. Who among us is willing to break away from the status quo to be doing exactly what is necessary to be prepared (Luke 12:43)? Here is the answer: “Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He comes shall find so doing.” (Matthew 24:44, 46) Brethren, if you believe that it is time to be found so doing – let’s get started. ———————————————————————————————————- See Warren Zehrung’s other articles at: Zehrung, Warren – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) Reprinted with permission from: Sabbath Church of God http://childrenofgod.net/ ———————————————————————————————————- |
Chapter 2: Be So Doing (Copyright) by Warren Zehrung (Little Rock, Arkansas) |
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Chapter 2: Be So Doing A Bride Prepared What must the Bride be “so doing” in order to make herself ready for the marriage of the Lamb? Please do not assume that, overall, the Church is on track. Christ’s instruction to the end-time Church obviously indicates that the brethren are not ready to be presented in marriage to Christ – just the opposite. The Church is not living up to Christ’s high calling, and they are blind to that fact – why else would He have such harsh criticism of our spiritual condition? “You do not even know that you are wretched, and miserable, poor, blind, and naked,” – and that is God’s appraisal of our spiritual condition (Revelation 3:17). Church people are becoming less and less like Jesus Christ in their actions and thoughts – and because they are blind, most are not even aware of it. If the people of God were to be brought up before Christ today, many would be at risk of hearing the dreaded words, “I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:23) The sad fact is that the spiritual condition of God’s Church is deteriorating rapidly. God the Father and Jesus Christ are working together to bring us to salvation, but we have to respond to their overtures, and be fashioned in their image. “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God has ordained beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) How do we do that? What does Christ mean by those words – be found so doing? Doing what? What did He really have in mind for us to be “doing?” Aren’t Church brethren doing things? Some are making tapes and DVDs for distribution; others are investigating issues such as the calendar, new moons, or prophecy; a number are reproducing Herbert W. Armstrong’s materials; some brethren are busy publishing materials, or doing website maintenance; we find brethren involved in choir, hall setup or serving at potlucks. But these are not the actions that Christ meant when He said to be “so doing.” Yes, those things are important – but much more is required of the Bride. Seek the Spiritual The spiritual is more important than the physical. Jesus taught Martha the difference in Luke 10 – and we are privy to His vital lesson. “Jesus entered a village: and Martha welcomed Him into her home.” Martha was a lot like those brethren who are very involved in all kinds of very necessary physical projects. “Martha had a sister, Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet, and listened to His teachings.” “But Martha was inundated by her projects, and said to Jesus, “Lord, don’t you even care that my sister has left me to do all the serving – alone? Tell her to come and help me.” And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and upset about too many things. But one thing is more important than anything else: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Jesus made it clear that spiritual endeavors superseded the physical ones. It’s not that the serving and setting up are unimportant; it is that the spiritual things of God are most important. When we apply Christ’s lesson that the spiritual nature of God, to which we must attain, surpasses the physical aspects of our lives, we begin to realize that a disproportionate emphasis on the physical comes short of Christ’s expectation for us. The exceedingly more important development of our relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ, and our love and harmony with our brothers and sisters in Christ is what must come first. Our Spirit-motivated relationship with God is the basis for being like-minded with the brethren. That is what we must be so doing. Why is the development of our spiritual lives of paramount importance? It is because Jesus Christ is going to take to Himself a spiritual Bride – not a physical organization. None of us is yet spiritual. We are still a very carnal people in that we refuse to be at peace with one another (1 Corinthians 3:4). We have been given the obligation of reconciliation with all brethren – and that we must be so doing (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). The Bride of Christ in Revelation 19:7 will not be a loose federation of divided brethren. The Spirit that is held in common by those comprising the “Wife of Christ” is the strongest bond that exists. Jesus is not going to return to an estranged people who will not have anything to do with each other. Our salvation depends on our love for God’s entire spiritual community. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.” (1 John 3:14) Let us not miss the importance of Jesus’ lesson for us at this time. Some might wonder, “What more can I do – I have only so much strength, time and resources?” Precisely! But Jesus is not speaking of physical activities. He expects us to be doing the spiritual! It is high time we give priority to the spiritual aspects of our faith. Yes, church activities and projects are necessary, but they do not rise to the level of the spiritual relationship with God and brethren that Jesus was speaking about when He said, “be found so doing?” Who do You Love? Are we living up to our spiritual responsibility? Another way to ask that same question is this: What must the future wife of Christ be doing to make herself ready for the marriage of the Lamb? When Jesus returns: First, the Bride will have made herself ready to meet the Bridegroom, and secondly, the foolish virgins will not be prepared (Matthew 25:12). Let us be honest with ourselves – looking at the disheveled, disunified state of the Church today, we are certainly not ready. We must each personally be healing the breach that exists – the responsibility is ours. Just before He died, Jesus Christ told the apostles to love one another. Most people would say that they love those in their group, and thus have fulfilled that Scripture. But can we agree that all those who have God’s Holy Spirit are elect children of God, and that there are individuals in various groups who have God’s Spirit? All the corporate groups would say that they uphold that principle. But they do not – not with a Godly love! Various Church leaders have chosen a mistakenly narrow viewpoint when determining who to include in the “love one another” category. Those leaders subtly imply to the members of their congregations that they are better than other fellowships. As a result, some brethren tend to shun and look down on those brethren not in their organization. That is an arrogant attitude of self-exaltation that Jesus Christ condemns (James 2:1). Everyone with the proper reverence for God’s love and way of life will be discerning which brethren to include in their personal fellowship. It does not matter whether or not they are in a particular church organization. “They that feared the Lord spoke often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name.” (Malachi 3:16) How much time do we have left to get our act together? Jesus Christ is going to look each of us in the eye and ask, “When did you – not your hierarchy – reach out to your brother and sister in love and reconciliation?” (2 Corinthians 5:18) “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.” (Philippians 2:3) ———————————————————————————————————- See Warren Zehrung’s other articles at: Zehrung, Warren – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) Reprinted with permission from: Sabbath Church of God http://childrenofgod.net/ ———————————————————————————————————- |
Chapter 3: Are You Not Yet Carnal? (Copyright) by Warren Zehrung (Little Rock, Arkansas) |
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Chapter 3: Are You Not Yet Carnal? A Bride Prepared Are You Not Yet Carnal? It is a shame that we are not of one mind, and able to get together with converted family members and friends for the Feast of Tabernacles. Too many of our brethren have been taught not to associate with others who are not within their own fellowship. They turn their heads when they pass their former brethren on the street – no longer considering them, brethren. Paul says that those who participate in that kind of behavior are not spiritually mature, but still carnal babes. “Brethren, I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:1) The Bride is not prepared to meet Christ while this practice persists in His one Church. Soon, the brethren who are led by God’s Holy Spirit will be together in mind, attitude, and spiritual unity as the Bride of Christ. The Bride will not come from any one earthly organization or group. That is because Christianity is not something you belong to – like an organization – but a way of life that leads to holiness and Godliness. It is only when we truly put on Godliness that unity with other brethren, who are also pursuing being at one with God, can transpire (John 17:21-23). It will be a miracle when it happens. The man-made lines that separate brethren must be crossed – the barriers must come down. Jesus will have only one Wife. The Bride of Christ will be spiritually mature. Are we willing to do what it takes to be a part of the Bride? Make no mistake about it – Jesus Christ is not going to return to a scattered bunch of churches. Jesus Christ has only one Church, and it is made up of all the brethren who are being led by His Holy Spirit. That is who Christ is returning to. Christ is not divided – how can we remain separated for so many wrong reasons? There is the question of some members hobnobbing with the wealthy or the ministry, and with the “beautiful people” to the exclusion of the “little people,” or the ne’er-do-wells – it is not a new problem (James 2:3). Human nature wants to be a part of a fashionable group, and Satan uses every weakness that he can find to instigate division among God’s people. Perfectly Joined Together Paul writes about the divisiveness in the Church at Corinth, saying that quarrels and contentions clearly demonstrate the carnal nature of those who will not seek peace. “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one says, I am of [Fill in the name of a minister]; and another says, I am of [Fill in the name of an organization]; are ye not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 3:3-4) The Church in Corinth exhibited the same problem that we have today. Paul begged, “I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10) These verses are unmistakable warnings to us today to get our lives in order. Paul said, “I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.” (1 Corinthians 4:14) There are many today, who – like the five foolish virgins of Matthew 25 – thoughtlessly believe that their group is uniquely qualified to be the Bride, to the exclusion of all the others. As a warning to us, let us remember that down through history, there have always been “foolish virgins,” who thought they were the sole favorite of God’s affections. Organizations per se are necessary – their function is to manage the business concerns of the group such as planning Feast sites, administering funds (including third tithe), publishing, writing contracts, interfacing with the Government, providing halls for Sabbath services, etc. An organization is a physical entity. A serious problem arises when members begin to look to their headquarters rather than to God. “I would never do that!” people exclaim. But how often do we hear the phrase, “Let me check with Headquarters?” The Church that Jesus founded is a spiritual entity and cannot be sued – but organizations are legal entities that have to take into account insurance and liability considerations. God’s Word says that it is good and right to serve the elderly and the fatherless. In one example, headquarters prohibited an elderly function from taking place because, “The church could be sued if someone hurt themselves.” That is a case of headquarters being out of touch with its purpose. But a much more serious predicament arises when members look to a headquarters to make decisions on spiritual aspects in their lives. God warns the Bride-to-be that all ministers are not His ministers. A false minister can cost a person their salvation. Some are Satan’s ministers – masquerading as good ministers – transformed as the ministers of righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 11:15) Role of the Ministry The Bible is the living Word of God – containing timeless spiritual lessons for mankind. A minister should be able to teach and preach sound doctrine – rightly dividing the word of truth – guiding [showing the way] through the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:2, 15, Acts 8:31). His duties are baptizing, marrying, performing funerals, praying, anointing the sick and counseling. The minister is to expound on Godly concepts. “Holding fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” (Titus 1:9) The function of the ministry is to teach how to walk in God’s way and how to apply God’s principles in our lives. All too often, we find the minister in the role of decision maker for someone else’s family. That is wrong! Yes, the ministry should be available for Godly counseling – however, the ministry is not to usurp the decision-making function of the head of the family. That is not the role of a minister or any group’s headquarters. “[The ministry] does not have dominion over your faith but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” (2 Corinthians 1:24) When a minister presumes that his judgment is so far superior to others that he believes he has the right to supersede a member’s personal decision – he has violated a basic Christian tenet. The ministry’s responsibility is to help the brethren focus on God and His ways. When a minister makes himself or his organization the center of attention rather than God, he is making an extremely serious mistake in judgment. And sometimes a member quickly becomes persona non grata – an unwelcomed person if he does not do exactly what the minister dictates. That is wrong! Look to God and His Word for direction in your life. Those brethren who have been disfellowshipped for unjust reasons by political ministers have not been removed from God’s true Church – only from an organization gone astray. Only God’s Spirit is everlasting. Organizations come and go. Past organizational failures and closures teach us that we must always be extremely careful not to confuse “organization” with God’s Truth and Work. Foolish Virgins How many organizations boast that they are God’s favorite group – pleasing God the most? Or, that they are doing the primary work at the forefront of preaching the gospel; or they are the biggest work; or have more TV stations; or they have the most senior man; or they have a brand that isolates and distinguishes them above others; or they have produced the most literature; or that they alone received the baton of Church authority that was passed down; or some such claim of dominance? Brethren, are we blind to the divisiveness of that rationale? It is God who does the “Work” – we are merely his tools. “This is the Work of God that you believe on Him [Jesus Christ] whom He [the Father] has sent.” (John 6:29) It is God, not us, who will cause Israel to be warned and restored (Ezekiel 3, 36). It is God who will cause the gospel to be preached to all nations as a witness. And it is God who makes it possible for the Bride to prepare herself. Give God all the credit for His works (John 14:10). “Everyone who exalts himself will be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14) Without the words actually being spoken, some members are being taught by the attitude and behavior of their leadership that there are other brethren who just don’t measure up. Where in the Bible do you find any true leader of God’s people telling the brethren not to fellowship together? You do not find it because it is clearly against Christ’s teachings. There will be perfect peace within Christ’s marriage – because He is King of Peace (Hebrews 7:2). Their condescending message is loud and clear – avoid mixing with brethren from other groups, because we are better than they are. Those groups that are betting that God will choose only the members of their unique organization for the place of safety, or to be the Bride of Christ, underestimate the mind of Christ. When we consider the meaning of 1 Corinthians 12:24, we learn that the mind of Christ is exactly the opposite of what is commonly found in practice in various Churches of God today! “… God hath tempered the Body [of Christ] together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked,” because “God hath set the members, every one of them, in the Body [of Christ], as it hath pleased Him.” (1 Corinthians 12:24, 18) God is the Source of Unity Since it is God who has placed the individual members where it pleases Him, we would do well to receive all the brethren. If we were working on our relationship with God as we should, the result would be a better unity with other like-minded brethren. The reason for the disunity in the Church, even after so many years, attests to the fact that there are those who have not yet become rooted in Christ as they should be. It is simply unfathomable to have Church of God organizations existing side by side, while ignoring each other’s very existence as brethren of Christ. Would Jesus have been a part of such divisiveness without taking positive action? Clearly, the Bride will not possess a spirit of alienation. The will of God is perfectly clear: “There should be no schism in the Body [of Christ]; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” (1 Corinthians 12:25) In this verse, the “body” is the Body of Christ, and the “one for another” refers to all those members who have God’s Holy Spirit in their minds – leading them in God’s way (Romans 8:14). As much as God desires unity – it must be based on God’s truth. God desires unity – but it must be according to His Word: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly [he will not repent of sin].” (2 Thessalonians 3:6) Here is where Christian maturity must prevail – do we withdraw from the sinner or do we go to our brother and try to help him? We must do one or the other. Here is our priority: If there is any possibility that our brother is able to repent from the error of his way – we must help him. Is it not obvious what we should do? Can we be so unwise as to come to the conclusion that we have been released from the commandment to love one another? Do we make void the commandment of God by loving only the people who have “no problems?” We will not be prepared for the wedding supper with Christ until we truly seek to remove the obstacles that persist between ourselves and other children of God. God demands that we must be an active part of building close relationships with brethren – including those who are across imaginary organizational lines. It is every Christian’s duty before God to seek out others. Perhaps the apostasy separated us against our will – but that is not a justification for continuing in our divided condition. Those brethren who finally make up the Bride of Christ will be of one mind. Christ is not divided – we all know that (1 Corinthians 1:13). But do we know this? The Body of Christ, those in the true Church, His true Bride – by definition – cannot be divided. That raises a serious question if we refuse to acknowledge others who are led by God’s Spirit. When a member cuts off fellowship from other brethren – that is division – plain and simple. One person or the other is going to miss out on that precious occasion of the wedding supper! We cannot expect to be saved ourselves while saying in effect, “I don’t care if others make it into God’s Kingdom or not.” ———————————————————————————————————- See Warren Zehrung’s other articles at: Zehrung, Warren – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) Reprinted with permission from: Sabbath Church of God http://childrenofgod.net/ ———————————————————————————————————- |
Chapter 4: The Door is Closing (Copyright) by Warren Zehrung (Little Rock, Arkansas) |
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Chapter 4: The Door is Closing A Bride Prepared The Door is Closing… Let us take very careful notice of Christ’s words spoken to the foolish virgins because His words are for now – and they are for us! “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes.” (Mat 25:13) The ironic thing is that these words are meant as an urgent warning to us – so that we will not be foolish virgins, as others who have already missed out on the wedding supper! It is too late for some – but it is not too late for us! Could it be that much of the Church of God is not heeding the obvious warnings that God is directing to His end-time Church? Please realize that we face the same spiritual threats that endangered the first century Church. “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” (Jude :3) Do not take it for granted that we already have the full measure of faith spoken of here. It is clear that Jude is admonishing the brethren who should have been striving mightily to hold on to the original pure truth that was given to them. They were the true Church, and they had lost the knowledge and the practice of the true faith they once held and cherished. How could they have lost faith? Can it happen to us? Are we so arrogant as to presume that we are doing everything right – thinking we are spiritually rich and increased with goods, and in need of nothing? (Revelation 3:17) Paul warned against this kind of arrogancy. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3) The context of Paul’s warning is that we are all members of the one Body of Christ. Like so many in the Church today, those early brethren had ceased living up to the moral excellence that true faith demands of us. And so it is happening again today with too many brethren only warming a seat at services and going through the motions. They are the five sleeping virgins of Matthew 25 who lacked oil for their lamps. They are not exercising God’s Holy Spirit in their day-to-day activities. That is the very reason that God exhorts us today to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Faith demands action! Time is Short “While the [foolish] virgins went to buy [oil], the Bridegroom came; and the [wise] virgins that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut. [The door is permanently closed.] Afterward came also the [foolish] virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But He answered and said; truly I say unto you, I do not know you.” (Matthew 25:10-12) When Christ returns, the opportunity to be firstfruits will have elapsed. It will then be too late to prepare to meet the Bridegroom. Make no mistake about it, now is the only time to prepare. When the end comes upon us, will we be firmly founded and rooted in Christ and able to withstand the final trials? Could it be that the door is about to close on us? We know that an acceptable faith among the brethren will be rare indeed. “When the Son of man comes, shall He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) Could it be that Jesus finds little faith when He returns – due partly to the lack of spiritual meat the brethren are receiving? “Faith comes by hearing, [good sermons from the Bible] and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17) God describes the final spiritual famine as one in which the brethren do not even know what they are missing. “You say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17) We live in the very last days. The time of the marriage supper is very close. Jesus Christ will soon knock. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20) But the Scriptures are clear – many of the Church brethren will be spiritually unprepared to meet the Bridegroom at the time of His return. Jesus says that His return will catch some of the saints – possibly half of the brethren – unprepared. Verse 13 is a warning given in love, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes.” Why does God call them foolish virgins? It is because they foolishly believe that they have it made. In their spiritual slumber, they do not remain vigilant until the return of Christ. They are not doing what it takes to have a Christian relationship with their Creator God and their fellow brethren. They assume that they are prepared, or they think that they can get ready at the last possible moment. A Spiritual Relationship How could Jesus possibly say to the five foolish virgins, “I know you not?” The answer is that they take for granted that they are just as entitled and prepared to marry the Bridegroom as the five wise virgins, who have a truly spiritual relationship with God. It is not only the members who fall into this deceptive trap. Ministers are just as likely to consider themselves to be the elite – perhaps more so. Some think, “Because of my rank and years of service, I am uniquely qualified and closer to God.” Many came into the Church when there was an over-emphasis on church government and hierarchical authority over the members. With all due respect, much of the ministry thought of themselves very much like European royalty – not subject to the same rules as the rank and file. Yes, those in the first resurrection will be royalty in the Kingdom of God, but now is not the time to practice or exhibit a holier-than-thou elitism. Those “privileged” ministers would not be seen in public until they were well coiffed, manicured, and in their three-piece suits. This is not being critical – that is just the way it was, and still is for some. You might say, “What is wrong with that picture?” What is wrong is that Jesus taught and exhibited just the exact opposite! The Bride is a Servant Contrast that depiction of the well-groomed ministry with the factual picture of Jesus Christ; without His coat, on His hands and knees, washing the disciple’s feet as an example of how ministers should be servants. “[Jesus] rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself… and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded… For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:4, 15) “For who is greater, he that sits at meat, or He that serveth? Is it not he that sits at meat? But I am among you as He that serves.” (Luke 22:27) Jesus set aside His glory and power to come to earth for the purpose of serving mankind. Jesus lowered Himself from God the Father’s presence – and lower than the angels – even lower than mankind. He became the servant of mankind to save us. And, He said that we should do the same! Unfortunately, Satan’s mind-set of being totally unwilling to lower himself to serve, prevails all too often with self-serving mankind. When Satan realized that he would be subservient to men – he rebelled and fell from his first estate as one of the covering cherubs over God’s throne (Jude:6, Ezekiel 28:16). Are we able to lower ourselves beneath everyone – in order to serve as Jesus gave us example? Do we even understand what the foot-washing entails? There is a deeper meaning in the foot-washing than humbling ourselves for a few minutes down on the floor. The Bride Washes Feet The meaning behind the foot-washing ceremony is so important that Jesus made it a requirement for our salvation. The foot-washing symbolizes our renewed commitment to walk in the newness of life that we made at our baptism. And more than that, God also requires us to help other brethren to be clean before Him. When a brother or sister has strayed and allowed a serious sin to enter their life – we must serve them by going to their spiritual rescue – no matter what it takes – that is laying down our lives for the brethren. How do so many miss that clear lesson? Even those who speak of servant leadership continue to perform in the same old ways. In contrast to Jesus’ positive example for us, why does so much of the ministry continue to believe that it is necessary to put on an air of preeminence and sophistication? Is it more important to maintain that pretentious appearance than to follow Christ’s pattern of humble service? Jesus’ example was to lay aside His true preeminence and become the lowest servant – even laying down His life for us. “Jesus Christ, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant.” (Philippians 2:6-7) This is not a new revelation – almost every one of those ministers would say that they understood that concept of serving. It is just that they insisted on serving from a position of superiority. That is specifically what Jesus taught against! “[Jesus] sat down, and called the twelve, and said unto them, If any man desires to be first, the same shall be least of all, and servant of all… Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all… For even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 9:35, 10:44-45) Over and over, Jesus taught His disciples that they were not to be the ones catered to, but rather that they should dedicate their lives to the self-sacrificing service of the brethren. Sadly, even after so many years, some in the ministry still twist Jesus’ words, and conclude that they are better able to serve so many more from their high positions of dominance. Their lofty perch places them in a rather awkward position to teach the ordinary “lowly” brethren. Ministers can be foolish virgins, too. But, learn to serve and love one another, we must – ministers and brethren alike! Jesus did it. So must we. That is why God the Father has called us into His Church at this time. “For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21) Are we able to lower ourselves to be servants of all? ———————————————————————————————————- See Warren Zehrung’s other articles at: Zehrung, Warren – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) Reprinted with permission from: Sabbath Church of God http://childrenofgod.net/ ———————————————————————————————————- |
Chapter 5: Bone of my Bones and Flesh of my Flesh (Copyright) by Warren Zehrung (Little Rock, Arkansas) |
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Chapter 5: Bone of my Bones and Flesh of my Flesh A Bride Prepared Bone of my Bones and Flesh of my Flesh It may seem like strange language today, but the very first description of a marriage found in the Bible is this: “This is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh…” (Genesis 2:23) These, of course, were the prophetic words of Adam as he took Eve to be his wife. Significantly, those words mirror the perfect spiritual union of Christ and His Bride – the Church. (‘Bride’ is capitalized throughout, as an indication of her divine nature at the time of the wedding.) It is not only because Eve was taken out of Adam (v.23) that God declared them to be one flesh, it is because their inseparable cleaving to each other bound them as one flesh. “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24). Every groom has specific qualities that he seeks in a wife – Christ also has specific qualities that He requires in His wife. Who will qualify to be the Bride of Christ? How will Jesus recognize His Bride? Paul tells us of the love that Christ has for His Bride. “No man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord cherishes the Church: For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.” (Ephesians 5:29-32) In the same way that a husband and wife become one flesh, Christ and His Bride will be one Spirit. “He who is joined to the Lord is [not one flesh, but] one Spirit with Him.” (1 Corinthians 6:17) Now, this is getting way ahead of the story – but it is obvious that the true Church, collectively, constitutes the Bride. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us that we be a part of the Church. Everyone that attends Sabbath services is not converted, nor is everyone who thinks himself to be a Christian, led by God’s Spirit. We understand that tares do not recognize that they are tares, so it is vital that we make our calling and selection sure. (Matthew 13:40, 2 Peter 1:10) How will Christ recognize His Bride – the Church? Those who comprise the Bride will be true Christians following the lead of God’s Holy Spirit – with the spiritual fruit to prove it (Romans 8:14). They will be loving God and loving one another. And, as we saw a moment ago, they will be laying down their lives in service to each other. Jesus laid down His life for His friends – and He tells us that we must do exactly the same thing. (John 15:13) Jesus intends His example of sacrifice and service to all to be an everyday way of life for His wife to be – not simply a symbolic act performed once a year at Passover. In the early Church, a deacon was a servant, like a janitor, maid, nurse, or even a slave. Unlike some men, God does not look down on those who serve. The original deacons waited tables and served the widows, and God greatly honored and approved of it (Acts 6:6, John 12:26). Though most men in society would not cast a second glance at a lowly cleaning lady – let alone marry one – that is an exact picture of just what Jesus Christ is going to do. Let us remember that Jesus, who is King and Master, took the lowliest status of all, and served as a deacon [‘diakonos’]. “For even the Son of man [Jesus] came not to be served unto, but to serve [diakoneo], and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) Everyone in the congregation must be emulating Christ’s example as a servant to all. A New Countenance In a world of social class distinction, elitism, and caste systems, it is difficult to imagine that the most powerful and glorious Jesus Christ has chosen to marry a bride without high-class standing, power, status or prestige. Indeed, Paul says that we are now slaves of Christ [‘doulos,’ a bond slave without any rights or standing] because we have been purchased with His blood (1 Corinthians 7:22-23). When she is called out of this world, the Bride has no preferable status – but she begins to distinguish herself by putting on a new countenance, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24). Jesus Christ will not, in fact, marry across class lines – His Bride will be like Him (1 John 3:2, 1 Corinthians 15:49)! The phrase, “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh,” should conjure up the appreciation of a closeness and unity that is only attainable within the most intimate of relationships – even a perfect union that is oneness in heart, mind, purpose, and Spirit. Jesus Christ cherishes His Bride (Ephesians 5:29). We have been given this preview of the heavenly wedding that depicts the affection and unique intimacy that the Bride will share with her Creator God. One Body – One Spirit At creation, God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and He opened his side and created Eve to be his wife. That was done as a prototype of Christ and His Bride. Paul understood the prophetic significance of that act – referring to Jesus as the final Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45, Romans 5:14). Jesus’ death correlates to the deep sleep of Adam. Jesus’ side was opened – His life’s blood flowed out – making it possible for the Church [His Bride] to be formed (John 19:34). Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Eve was the ideal helpmate for Adam, or as Genesis has it – an help meet for him… Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:20-24) In the same way, Jesus Christ foretold that He and His Bride would be one Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:44). Jesus Christ revealed to Paul that the Church brethren are in effect, His body – as husband and wife are one flesh – one body in marriage. The Church of God is the Body of Christ. “You are the Body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Corinthians 12:27) “…The Church, which is His Body.” (Ephesians 1:22-23) “So we, being many, are one Body in Christ…” (Romans 12:5) “For [Christ’s] Body’s sake, which is the Church.” (Colossians 1:24) “For the perfecting of the saints…for the edifying of the Body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12) Many more verses firmly establish that the “body” of Christ is a direct reference to the Church of God brethren. ———————————————————————————————————- See Warren Zehrung’s other articles at: Zehrung, Warren – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) Reprinted with permission from: Sabbath Church of God http://childrenofgod.net/ ———————————————————————————————————- |
Chapter 6: Only one Bride (Copyright) by Warren Zehrung (Little Rock, Arkansas) |
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Chapter 6: Only one Bride A Bride Prepared Only one Bride When God created Eve from Adam’s side, she was physically perfect in every way. Eve became Adam’s wife. She was beautiful, healthy, intelligent, and fertile – she was the mother of all living. (Genesis 3:20) God used Eve to make of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth. (Acts 17:26) These attributes of Eve are prefigures or types given to us so that we might comprehend the purpose of the Bride of Christ. This clearly shows us the incredible objective Christ has in taking a wife. The purpose of the Church is nothing less than to ultimately bring all mankind to be of one Spirit – bringing the entire world to salvation. “He that is joined unto the Lord is one Spirit [with the Lord].” (1 Corinthians 6:17) The Bride is the Church Jesus Christ has only one spiritual Body with many members. Right now, they possess a token [earnest guarantee] of the Spirit of God and are scattered all over the face of the earth. “As the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one Body: so also is Christ. Jesus Christ has only one body of believers – that is the one true Church – the Church of God. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. That is God’s Holy Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many [brethren]… But now hath God set the members every one of them in the Body [the spiritual Body of Christ ], as it has pleased Him… But now are they many members, yet but one Body [the one spiritual Body of Christ] … Now you are the Body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 18, 20, 27) If we expect to be the Bride, we are obligated to extend our realm of brotherhood, fellowship, and service to include all who have the earnest of God’s Holy Spirit. We cannot hate, despise, neglect, or reject any of the saints, as that behavior will disqualify us from the Kingdom of God. Those who are only interested in preparing themselves, while neglecting the spiritual welfare of their brethren, have fallen for the deception of Cain, who asked in Genesis 4:9, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Discern the Body Are we able to discern who our brothers and sisters in Christ are? Can we distinguish between the world and the Church? Taking Passover – while refusing to be reconciled to others – renders the Passover service contemptible in God’s sight. We must recognize all true Christians, without exception, counting them as brethren – our very salvation is at stake. “He that eats and drinks [the Lord’s Passover] unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s Body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” (1 Corinthians 11:29-30) Let us analyze the meaning of this verse. The heart of the matter is that they were: “not discerning the Lord’s Body.” The Lord’s Body is the Church – the saints – the elect children of God – the Bride – the brethren – members of the Lord’s Body (1 Corinthians 12:12). Keep in mind that Paul is discussing the lack of discernment – the division taking place (1 Corinthians 11:18). Those participants did not regard everyone there equally – as all members of Christ’s Body. This division was going on at the Passover service in question. “Discernment,” means understanding and perceiving that all the brethren, regardless of organization, comprise the one Body of Christ. “Discernment,” means realizing that God places the members in the Body as He chooses – and none are to be excluded from our fellowship. When we do not understand that all the brethren constitute the Church – look at the terrible consequences that follow – “For this cause [lack of discernment] many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” Spiritually, we will be weak, sick or dead [damnation is loss of salvation] because Christ’s sacrifice, the Passover, is taken unworthily. This same division going on today is why the Church is so weak and sick spiritually. Jesus is the head of His Church; and converted Christians are individuals in His spiritual body. Paul wrote: “[God the Father] has put all things under [Jesus’] feet and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body“ [the one spiritual body of Christ]. (Ephesians 1:22-23) Jesus Christ has only one body – thus, He has only one Church – one Bride. Every part of the body (each one of the brethren) is indispensable to the whole body. “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling… For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ… From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:4, 12, 16) Again, the Bible reveals that the one spiritual body of Christ is composed of Church brethren. “[Christ] is the head of the body, the Church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence… Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his Body’s sake, which is the Church.” (Colossians 1:18, 24) Jesus prayed for the unity of the Church just before He died (John 17). He inspired Paul to send us these words of 1 Corinthians 1:10: “Now I beg of you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” When we read that we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones, let us understand the obvious reference to the new covenant marriage of Christ and the Church. Marriages fail because of unrealistic expectations. But the new covenant marriage of Christ will never fail because Jesus has made it clear what He expects of His Bride. Are we up to the task – are we equal to the challenge? God the Father would not have called us to become the Wife of His Son if we did not possess the potential to acquire the essential attributes that are required. We have a lot to accomplish – and time is short – even at the door. ———————————————————————————————————- See Warren Zehrung’s other articles at: Zehrung, Warren – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) Reprinted with permission from: Sabbath Church of God http://childrenofgod.net/ ———————————————————————————————————- |
Chapter 7: A Good Marriage (Copyright) by Warren Zehrung (Little Rock, Arkansas) |
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Chapter 7: A Good Marriage A Bride Prepared A Good Marriage A good marriage is abeautiful thing – a Godly thing with deep and transcendent meaning for the entire Church of God. That is why it is so important to continuously build on our marriages all of our lives. A good marriage is a close, unified relationship between a man and a woman. It was God who instituted the marriage covenant between a man and a woman. God brought about the marriage covenant for a vitally important reason. From Genesis to Revelation, God uses the intimacy and love between a man and his wife to reflect the deeply spiritual relationship between Jesus Christ and His Bride. “Just you and me Lord,” is not the kind of relationship that we are to have with our God. God designed man to be interactive with others in a spiritual way – it is not good that man should be alone. (Genesis 2:18) The apostle Peter explains that our eternal life depends, not only on our relationship with God, but also on how we relate to our spouse, and with our Church brethren. In His infinite wisdom, God gave the married couple the creative ability to bring children into the world as an exact type of His eternal plan of bringing many sons and daughters to glory – imbued with eternal life. God is reproducing Himself, and there is no more appropriate picture of His grand design than the family relationship. As Jesus presided at the very first wedding, He said, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) God intends and expects that marriage be the epitome of perfect unity. God intends that a married couple enter into the Kingdom of God together. That is what Peter means by, “being heirs together of the grace of life.” Discord or conflict within a marriage impairs, not only the relationship between husband and wife, but also obstructs and frustrates a right spiritual relationship with God. Peter expounds on this concept: “Likewise, you husbands, dwell with [your wife] according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7) What does it mean, “that your prayers be not hindered” – how are prayers hindered? Peter continues, “Finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.” (1 Peter 3:8) A serious marital problem arises when a husband and wife can no longer share their deepest feelings and heartfelt concerns with one another in an honest way. They are no longer of one mind, and their prayers to God are not in harmony. An untenable situation comes about when the individual partners assert their reconciliation with God, but not with each other. The oneness of the marital union is strained to the breaking point, and God cannot, and will not, bless that kind of discord because the primary unity of the marriage is missing. Instead of being heirs together of the Kingdom of God,the situation has become reversed. Peter’s point is that when the intended unity and oneness of a marriage relationship breaks down, the parties become separated from one another and then lack the oneness to be heirs together of the grace of life. A person’s prayers are, therefore, hindered, frustrated, and cut-off from God – there is a spiritual disconnection from God – because the individual parties are, in effect, asking God to bless only a part of a marriage that should be unified. It is the same situation with the Body of Christ – the Church. Our prayers to God cannot be right when our rapport with other brethren is not right. Can we pray and ask God to disregard a part of the Body of Christ? No, we cannot. It is confusion. If a man say, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1 John 4:20) One Church In the same way that a husband and wife are meant to be heirs together of the grace of life, all members of the Body of Christ are meant to be heirs together of the grace of life. “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8:16-17) “Being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:7) The husband is the head of the wife – who is the weaker vessel. That is an exact picture of Jesus Christ and His Bride – the Church of God. Jesus is the head of the Church – we know that. But do we realize that we – the Church brethren – are the weaker vessel? And yet, Jesus made it possible for us to be joint heirs with Him in the Kingdom of God when He laid down His life for us. The scriptures are clear about our relationships with each other. God hates divorce because it tears at the very fabric and basis of family and community. In precisely the same way, God abhors division among those in His Church. Reconciliation is our duty. More than that, our responsibility to reconcile with each other even supersedes our religious worship. Notice the words of Jesus Christ, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there you remember that your brother has anything against you; Leave there your gift before the altar and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24) In the same way that quarrels between marriage partners are spiritually harmful because they impede their prayers; offenses between Church brethren also frustrate and encumber a right relationship with God. Most members underestimate the seriousness of severed relationships between brethren. Until such a time that the camaraderie among brethren is restored – prayers are hindered. Let us keep the big picture here. The Bride that Christ is going to marry will be made up of all the reconciled brethren in the Church – those who are ardently working to restore and maintain right relations among all the brethren. The Bride that Christ marries will have learned to make peace and reconciliation a way of life. Keep in mind that both husbands and wives will make up the Bride of Christ. The worst pain is that of betrayal. Jesus Christ has experienced betrayal. His marriage to the Bride will be exemplified by the faithfulness and loyalty of those who have learned to make peace. In the millennium, Christ’s marriage to the Church will not be a troubled marriage because His Bride will have made herself ready by practicing the skills of reconciliation. That is why it is so necessary at this time for husbands and wives to learn how to live together in love, respect, and harmony. God’s Spirit dictates that Church brethren possess this same unity of the Spirit – making them one. They, too, must be unified because Jesus and His Bride will have a good marriage. ———————————————————————————————————- See Warren Zehrung’s other articles at: Zehrung, Warren – Church of God, Bismarck (church-of-god-bismarck.org) Reprinted with permission from: Sabbath Church of God http://childrenofgod.net/ ———————————————————————————————————- |
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