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Grounded-In-Biblical-Truth |
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The marriage of the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, (Genesis 2:18,21-24) is typical of the marriage of Christ and "the church which is His body" (Ephesians 1:22-2:6; 5:22-32).
I. Adam was given a wife in an act of mercy and grace (Genesis 2:18): "And the LORD God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.'" God in mercy and grace provided the perfect companion for lonely man.
Likewise, Christ was given a wife in an act of mercy and grace. But whereas the creation of Eve was an act of mercy and grace to Adam, the creation of the church was an act of mercy and grace to herself. Adam needed a wife. Christ does not. But His church needs a husband. God in mercy and grace meets her need.
II. Adam was put to sleep in order that his wife might be created (Genesis 2:21a): "And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept." Adam was completely passive in the creation of his wife.
Likewise, Christ was put to sleep in order that His wife might be created. Her creation (see Matthew 16:18) had as a prerequisite the redemption of those persons who would comprise her. Their redemption required that Christ be put to the sleep of death as their penal substitute (see Isaiah 53). His death was a part of His passive obedience to God (as in Isaiah 53:6; Romans 4:25). (His passive obedience is distinguished but not separated from His active obedience,which is mentioned in texts like John 10:18).
III. Adam underwent an opening of his side and the removal of that with which God made his wife (Genesis 2:21b-22a): "and [God] took one of [Adam's] ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman."
Likewise, Christ underwent an opening of His side and the removal of that with which God redeemed His wife (John 19:34): "But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out." The church of God was redeemed with this blood (Acts 20:28).
IV. Adam was married to his wife (Genesis 2:22b-24): "and [God] brought her to the man. And Adam said, 'This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman [Hebrew Ish-shah], because she was taken out of Man [Hebrew Ish].' Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."
Likewise, Christ is married to His wife. Note three truths.
1. As Eve was "brought" to Adam by God, so is the church brought to Christ -- having been "given" to Him by His Father (John 17:2).
2. As Eve willingly came to Adam, so does the church willingly come to Christ. Eve's willingness to come to Adam is denoted in the fact that she was created apart from sin. She therefore willingly followed, apart from any coercion, the leading of God to Adam. Likewise, the church willingly comes to Christ. Having been redeemed from her sins, she volunteers to come to Christ, apart from any coercion (Psalm 110:3).
3. As Eve was united to Adam in the most intimate of physical relationships, so is the church been united to Christ in the most intimate of spiritual relationships. Adam and Eve were united into "one flesh." Christ and His church are into "one body" (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 10:17; 12:12f; Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 3:15). She is therefore called "the church which is His body" (Ephesians 1:22f). And as God designed the union of husband and wife is to be indissoluble (Matthew 19:1-6), so is the union of Christ and His church (Romans 8:34-39). Neither will ever divorce the other. (This truth is denied by those who espouse the heresy that a believer may lose his salvation.)
Let every one married to the spouse God intended thank Him for His mercy and grace in this provision. Let every saint married to Christ thank God for His mercy and grace in providing such a Husband.
Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205
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