|
notmycity -> RE: Church as the so-called bride of Christ? (2/10/2008 11:30:36 AM)
|
“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 ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:3-4 Now for an example: Below is a quote from what I used to believe was a trustworthy commentary: Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition) Book Introduction - Song of Solomon “Nowhere in Scripture does the unspiritual mind tread upon ground so mysterious and incomprehensible as in this book, while the saintliest men and women of the ages have found it a source of pure and exquisite delight. That the love of the divine Bridegroom should follow all the analogies of the marriage relation seems evil only to minds so ascetic that martial desire itself seems to them unholy. The interpretation is twofold: Primarily, the book is the expression of pure marital love as ordained of God in creation, and the vindication of that love as against both asceticism and lust--the two profanations of the holiness of marriage. The secondary and larger interpretation is of Christ, the Son and His heavenly bride, the Church...” Now for some quotes from SOS: Song 1:13 13 A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. (KJV) Song 3:1 1 By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. (KJV) Song 7:8-12 8 I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples; 9 And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak. 10 I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. 11 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. 12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. (KJV) Song 4:16 16 Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. (KJV) Please compare with: Prov 5:15-19 15 Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. 16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets? 17 Let them be only your own, and not for strangers with you. 18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. 19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and always be enraptured with her love. (NKJ) Eccl 9:9 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. (KJV) Heb 13:4 4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. (KJV) “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled”, and all Scripture above applies wonderfully, beautifully and joyfully to a lawful marriage between one husband and his one wife. To try to say that the conjugal love mentioned in Scripture is comparable to Christ and the church is nothing short of “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness”. How did Christ demonstrate His love for His church? Matt 20:28 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (KJV) Luke 22:19-20 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (KJV) John 15:13-15 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (KJV) What....greater than marital love? Absolutely, if we BELIEVE what Jesus said above. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends...” Oh how I thank and praise my Savior for THAT love! And...... Oh what an unthinkable ADDED privilege to be a beloved “friend of the Bridegroom” ! Come quickly Lord Jesus my King of kings!
|
|
|
|