Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Marriage: All About Jesus

It occurred to me one day that the Old Testament Scripture is all about Jesus. Where did I get that notion? From John Chapter 1. If the Word (Jesus) was there in the beginning, as John wrote, where was He? His Voice spoke throughout scripture, starting with his first Words:
Genesis 3:1 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
When God said, that was the Voice speaking His Word. Then God, as it was explained, divided the light from the darkness. Hence, darkness is  the absence of light. Much later John explained further:
 John 1:4 "In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."
Back in the beginning the Light who shined from darkness was He who would be Jesus. I don't use become because as God, Jesus always Is. God revealed Himself on the first day. To whom? To all those who came thereafter. God showed Himself the first thing, but darkness shadowed Him. However, He was first seen by man when the Word spoke aloud:
Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Ironically, the first Words Emmanuel (Jesus) spoke to mankind was "Be fruitful and multiply." That was their blessing. By grace mankind was commanded to replicate himself. We find out later:
John 8:31 "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, "If ye continue in my word (light), then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Truth and light are the same since the Word spoke truth. Deception is darkness, and is the absence of truth. Since making new disciples was so important that the Word first ordained that, then I believe the first sin was when our forebears usurped that decree. Since all have sinned, including Cain, then Cain was not conceived before the first sin. Scripture validates that as you shall see. As such, Adam and Eve did other things before they obeyed Emmanuel's first words: they had pleasure from eating of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge.

Since, in shame, they covered their instruments of sexuality, it would appear that their eating of the fruit may have been sexual pleasure. In essence, Jesus told them the first thing: to multiply, and instead, it was likely that they enjoyed each other. They used each other for pleasure without regard to pro-creating. Since, this quest for sexual gratification has been one big thorn in the loins of mankind. Indeed, putting oneself before God violates the First Commandment.

God picked a virgin (Mary) to manifest Himself. Before, He was Light, and afterward he became flesh. He was both Son of Man and Son of God. The virgin was picked so that Jesus would be born without sin, indicating the sinfulness of sexual pleasure. I pointed out earlier that David was conceived in iniquity (Psalm 51). That may mean either of two things or both: (1) He carried original sin - which he certainly did, or (2) that sexual pleasure, rather than purposeful replication, is sinful. I believe it was intended that sex be entirely for reproduction, and that pleasure was the way it was induced. Not that pleasurable sex is sinful, but is so when it comes before the will of God.

Emmanuel (pre-incarnate Jesus) said first: "multiply", yet even though people do multiply, the first reason most often is for pleasure. Now, the sexual pleasure principle is part our genetic make-up, and God understands. Just as he once overlooked polygamy, He surely overlooks mutual enjoyment in the bonds of Holy Matrimony.
Genesis 4:1 "Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.”
Right after their fall, Adam and Eve had sex for a purpose. Then enlightened, Eve said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” Their sexual pleasure was for God's purposes. She did what Emmanuel commanded - she multiplied, and did it for the Lord! She put God's will above her own desire.

They were doing what Emmanuel told them in the beginning. He even told them how:
Genesis 2:24 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."
Of course, Adam and Eve were children of God, the "dust" being their mother, but this passage was obviously for all who were to follow! Adam and Eve became one flesh as they consummated Cain. They were doing the multiplication which Emmanuel commanded.

One flesh, or sexual knowledge, is an ordinance of Jesus. Catholics say it is a sacrament, and I wouldn't even argue with that. Not that it is saving, but that it is obedience. That ordinance is Holy Matrimony. The biggest problem with adultery is that there is no longer one flesh, but three separate fleshes. Adultery is for gratification, and not for replication. Adultery is just like the original sin - having pleasure for wrong reasons! It is likely that adultery is not for bearing children, but providing pleasure.

I am divorced. Jesus didn't give any loopholes during his ministry for violating the marriage covenant. I did one time, and He has forgiven me, but I can never play games with what God wills, and Jesus commanded. Even his forgiveness of that first sin was hard to endure for me, because I knew it was so wrong. Because I proceeded with my own will - neglecting God's will, God forgot my sin but I never will! As David said, "My sin is always before me!" We should never forget our sins, but recall them in remembrance of Him. When I take the juice and wafer, it is serious business. I remember that Jesus forgot my sin, and I do that to remember why Jesus died for me!

To sin at will is not why Jesus came to die. It was to save us from sins past and keeping us from future sins. He didn't die that we can sin, but so that we need not!

I take marriage seriously. Every moment of it is by grace. Satan attempts to snatch it away but I must stand fast against his barbs. Jesus himself want's marriage to be forever. Who am I to supersede His will?

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