Sunday Morning Podcast June 8. 2014. Bro. Dave Goble.
God wants all of us to be married to Him. He wants us to get to the condition where the whole motive of our hearts is cleansed, not just from our committed sins. A heart restoration, or resurrected after being justified! First there needs to be a repentant heart, for that which we have “stolen” from God. “Stolen” righteousness is a sin. Converting His righteousness as if it were our own. We must recognize it for what it is. Only then will the Bride (or the Church) have a real resurrection of the heart. This will come from a complete consecration, …a true marriage to Christ.
TEXT: GENESIS 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Marriage is a solemn act of a union between a man and woman, leaving all else behind. For richer or poorer, sickness and in health, etc. In a “true” marriage. whether or not it seems good, we will “stick it out.” This is no different from when you become married (or consecrated) to Christ. If honorable, you will also endeavor to “stick it out.” A covenant in marriage to Christ, is forsaking all; the world, sinful nature, our personal goals, etc., for Him. When we first come to Christ, we accept His forgiveness for our sins, and His blood washes them away.
The true cleansing of our nature comes when we truly bring ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice, as Paul the apostle instructs us to: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1 The apostle calls them brethren. This of course means that they have already had their sins forgiven. The instruction here, now, is to present their bodies a sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. It parallels what a marriage contract illustrates. The pure bride promising herself completely to the bridegroom, without reservation, in a marriage ceremony. Married to Christ, consecrated for His use, to no longer walk after the world of sin. It won’t be about serving Christ one moment, and the next Satan, and your own selfish ambitions. It is only about our hearts desire to be married at Christ’s altar, …and therefore devoted completely to Him.
Are you married to Christ?