December 7, 2008
Morning Service

II Cor. 11:1-3

 

Review:

1. In the last couple of chapters Paul has shown us the importance of laying aside for the poor, and God’s will on the matter.  Jesus told His disciples one time, “you will always have the poor with you,”  It is an on-going situation that will always be with us. 
2. However, it is one thing to be poor, or in need, because of certain circumstances that has happened in ones life, but laziness, and slothfulness, is not a circumstance.  Paul said, “If a man doesn’t work, he doesn’t eat.”  The meaning is very clear.  If a person is too lazy to work, then he doesn’t deserve to be kept, or fed.
3. Paul also gave us a principle toward giving, and since we are not Jews, and live by the O.T. laws, we are not obligated to the law, or the teaching of tithing.  However, tithing is a good, systematic, way to give to God’s work.
4. The principle of giving however, is this, 2Co 9:6-7  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.  (7)  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
5. Paul closed chapter 10 by reminding the Corinthians, that it was he who brought the Gospel message to them.  Not building on other men’s teachings, but with what God had commissioned him to take forth.  Not measuring himself with other teachers, or comparing himself with other Apostles.  Then he said, it’s not who man commends, but who God commends, that counts.

 

With that said, let’s see what God has for us this morning.

 

2Co 11:1-15  Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.  (2)  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 

• It is because of Scriptures like this that we call our fellowship, The Bride of Christ.  There are other Scriptures that would have us to believe that our relationship with the Lord, is that of a husband, and wife.
• O.T. Isa 54:5  For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
• Isa 62:5  For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
• Hos 2:19-20  And I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.  (20)  I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.  Hos 2:23  And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
• There are many more Scriptures in the O.T. that refers to God’s people as his Bride, or Spouse, AND GOD AS THE HUSBAND.  
• In the N.T.  such as;  In Matt. 22:1-14;  the parable of the King preparing a wedding for His Son.  The analogy here is very clear, God Almighty is calling people to be espoused to His Son Jesus.
• JOHN BAPTIST TELLS THE PEOPLE;  Joh 3:29  He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
• WHO IS THE BRIDE, BUT THE BRIDEGROOM’S FOLLOWERS, OR DISCIPLES.  WHO IS THE BRIDEGROOM THAT JOHN IS REFERRING TOO, JESUS OF NAZARETH.
• Rom 7:4  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
• Then of course Eph. 5:22-32.  The beautiful analogy of Christ (Husband) , and His church (Bride).

 

THEN IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION:  THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.

• Rev 19:7-9  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  (8)  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.  (9)  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

I think we can see very clearly why we call this fellowship the Bride of Christ Fellowship.  We are trying to be that faithful spouse that the Lord is coming back after, to take t0 the marriage supper of the Lamb.

 

ALL CHRISTIANS SHOULD CONSIDER THEMSELVES AS MEMBERS OF THE BRIDE OF CHRIST, THE LORD’S CHURCH.   THE WORD CHURCH, MEANS CALLED OUT ONES, OR BELONGING TO THE LORD.  CHRISTIAN, YOU ARE THE CHURCH.  WHEN PAUL SAYS THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST SALUTE YOU, HE IS REFERRING TO THE CHRISTIANS, THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, AS THOSE CHURCHES, PLURAL.  

Rom 16:16  Salute one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

 

So let’s look at verse two again;  for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

• Look at your walk with the Lord!  Paul said “you were called by our gospel.”  Called to a life of dedication, and purity, to walk, or follow the teachings of the Lord.   We chose to be His disciples.  As faithful, and dedicated, as a Bride is to be to her Husband. 
• Jesus said, “why call me Lord, Lord, when you don’t do the things I ask you to do?”
• “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
• We were called out of a world of selfishness, greed, killings, covetousness, adultery, etc. to a life of purity, and dedication to the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the very Son of God.
• SO WE ARE TO BE A CHASTE VIRGIN IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD, AND GOD.

 

THEN IN VERSE THREE,

Vs 3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

·         You can see the spirit of deception is at work in the church at Corinth.  This is why we have our Bibles, to guide us into all truths.

·         The gospel plan is simple, and not hard to understand.  Jesus said, “he that believeth, and is baptized shall be saved.”  That is the meat of the Gospel, all the rest of the learning is icing on the cake.

·         Peter warned “don’t wrestle the Scriptures to your own destruction.”

For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

• Another Jesus;  someone who does not have the background of being born of a virgin, had an earthly Father named Joseph, His Mother’s name was Mary, He came from Nazareth, He suffered under Pontius Pilate, condemned to die on Calvary, was buried, and resurrected the third day, and lives for ever more to intercede for His people.
• Another spirit;  the Eternal Spirit of Almighty God.  Who alone has immortality.  The Eternal Spirit of Love.  The Comforter, the Holy Ghost, all one and the same Spirit.
• Another Gospel;  THE GOSPEL DELIVERED TO US IN THE BIBLE.  Paul warns of this in the Galatian letter also.  “Gal 1:6-9  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  (7)  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  (8)  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  (9)  As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

 

A CHASTE VIRGIN TO CHRIST!

 

ARE WE DOING ARE BEST TO BE THAT CHASTE VIRGIN?