February 4, 2024

Presented as a Pure Virgin

Preacher:
Series: ,
Passage: 2 Corinthians 11:1-4, Ephesians 5:22-33
Service Type:

Introduction

  • Focusing on v2b
  • Explanation of the 1st Century Jewish tradition of marriage
    • A contract was drawn up at engagement
    • A firm pledge to be married
    • Breaking of betrothal was considered as bad as adultery
    • Usually a year long
    • The father was to care for and look out for her
    • That she would be a pure virgin for her husband
  • Paul seems to have a similar idea
    • God is the husband of His people
    • We are in an engagement stage
    • One day we will sit down before Jesus Christ at the marriage supper
    • Paul's task is to teach, warn and keep us from other loves
    • Paul feels he is a father to them (1 Cor 4:15)
    • Paul felt responsible for these people
    • As an apostle of Jesus Christ - the care of the Churches was upon his heart
  • A communion service is a foretaste of the marriage supper of the Lamb
    • Explanation
  • We are to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ
    • We are to be holy
    • We are to walk as He walked
    • We are to imitate God
  • Communion helps us in this
    • We are reminded we are children of the living God
    • We are reminded of the need to consecrate ourselves afresh
  • Overview:
    • Promised to our Husband
    • Prepared for our Husband
    • Presented to our Husband

Promised to our Husband

  • A reminder of the uniqueness of Christian marriage
    • Betrothed to one husband
      • Human beings fail - Christ never fails
      • He is the perfect husband
    • Titles of Jesus - our elder brother, captain of salvation, greater apostle, etc
      • Also the bridegroom
      • He told parables about the bridegroom
      • A wedding banquet - Luke 14
  • This is covenant language
    • Eph 5:22-33
      • Becoming one flesh - a union
    • Paul is speaking about the mystical union of Christ and His people
      • We become partakers of the Divine mystery
      • In the heavenly places in Christ
      • Christ in us the hope of glory
  • Communion reminds us of our privileged station
    • Thanksgiving / In communion with God
    • Consider your identity
      • A sinner
      • Not what we should be?
      • Are there struggles?
    • What defines us
      • Our sin, struggle and failure
      • Is your identity in Christ?
      • Rom 6:11 - dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus
      • Children of the King
      • Quote
  • Promised to one Husband
    • Forever
    • Personal example

Prepared for our Husband

  • In one sense Paul sees himself as a midwife to the Corinthian Church
    • He helped it come to birth
  • He sees himself as a father to the Corinthians
    • Paul loved, prayed for and taught the church
  • His concern was that the Church would not be seduced (v3)
    • Corrupted from the simplicity of the gospel message in Christ (v4)
    • He had a godly jealousy for the Corinthian Church (v2a)
  • What does Christ want from us?
    • To believe the teachings of the Bible
      • Not to believe false gospels and false practices - examples
    • Reading and comment – 1 Cor 10:6-11
      • Heed the warnings - for some had been judged
    • A key virtue of a Christian - faithfulness
      • May we have no rivals between us and Christ
    • Jesus is sanctifying His bride
      • Col 1:28

Presented to our Husband

  • The goal of all Christian ministry - to be with our Saviour
  • It is also the goal of Jesus Christ
    • Eph 5:25-27
      • Jesus has died in the Church's place
      • Jesus washes the Church in His word
      • Jesus presents the Church perfect
      • Jesus nourishes the Church (v29)
  • Benedictions
    • 1 Thess 3:12-13
    • 1 Thess 5:23
    • 2 Pet 3:14
  • One day we will be presented perfect to our Husband
  • Let us renew our pledge to Jesus
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