Why The Bible Is So Controversial

 

Have you ever watched children assemble a jigsaw puzzle they have never seen before? 

 

Those same social dynamics are present when we talk about the Bible with each other. When discussing the Bible, I think God gave His children this puzzle with a specific purpose in mind.

We as God's children are goal oriented and focused on an end point just like our natural children. We are focused on the completion of this jigsaw puzzle we call the Bible. 

Somehow we think that if we are right, if we see things the way God does, if we do what we think He wants us to do, then we will be rewarded for what WE did and what WE saw. 

Ephesians 2:8-9

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

All of us want be the ones that have the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle. The piece that will push God's button and make Him say, "It is finished". In God's sight, putting the last piece in will not give you favor and credit for the work of others like it does with man. Neither will being first. Remember the parable of the workers in Matthew 20:1-16?

But how important is a goal to an eternal God that can take eternity to do something and doesn't have to worry about being late?

I think to God, the completion is not as important as the relationship and the journey of how we learn to get along with each other. Maybe relationship development is what God is after?

 

The Purpose Of The Bible
 

We are His children and I imagine He has some of the same emotions that we as parents do watching our own children interact with each other as they assemble a jigsaw puzzle. He loves each of us and has given us this jigsaw puzzle for a reason. Perhaps it is a picture of Him, but that's not important, it is not the real Him, He knows it's just a picture and doesn't get offended if you at first put His nose on upside down or mix up His left and right hand. Finishing the puzzle is not the important part, nor the only part. The interaction, fellowship and harmony between the family members is. This is because He has something in mind.

John 17:22-23

²² ...that they may be one, even as we are one:
²³ I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one...

He wants us to live inside, hidden in Him; part of each other. This will take love,  harmony and mutual respect.

 

 

Family Dynamics

The focus and intent of each child can be very different, but each one contributes a valuable dynamic as long as they are searching and contributing. To some people, focus on a particular aspect, color or shape on the inside of the puzzle is important. To others, it is important to discover the boundaries. There are even a few who relish bringing them all together. I think I'm one of those guys. Because of this, my perspective is a little odd, that's why I am thinking about this fascinating component I call "family dynamics".

 

I realized that parents don't always participate in a jigsaw puzzle, or judge who is right and who is wrong, but they can experience a different enjoyment and a full gamut of emotions by watching how their children interact with each other. Parents share in the experiences of their children and monitor their relationships. Understanding and working with my children enhances their ability to work together, increases productivity and creates peace. 

 

Tensions can run high when areas of focus overlap. As children, we each want to take the control of a section away from our sibling when we think we know the answer to his problem. We get excited when we see things start to take shape into something we seem to recognize. We also get obnoxious when we think someone is 'doing it wrong'. 

 

We all seem to look at the Bible comments made by others and jump to conclusions to fill in the whole picture from the stereotypes we ourselves have experienced. Many times I have taken a piece right out of my brother's hand to show him how wrong he was, but then I find out he wasn't trying to fit that piece in that place and I have created a rift between us. After the confrontation, I realize that I did not really see what he was considering when I "hijacked" his piece and called him 'stupid', I just thought I did. Embarrassing as it seems, many times I have found after I let go and gave up my point of view, knowing my way wouldn't work, that he was right! Sometimes we just need a "time out" to refresh our attitude and perspectives; then we can get back to the puzzle. God doesn't kick us out of the family because we made a mistake or misbehaved, should we follow God's lead on this?

 

What can we learn from this?

 Is it possible for me or my brother to to have a partially correct perspective without understanding the whole picture? I think so. Can I have a conviction that a little piece of the puzzle is in the right place, but acknowledge I don't have the next piece? I think so. Doesn't the Holy Ghost lead you and guide you into all the truth, or does it just let you know when you have arrived? Leading and guiding sounds suspiciously like a relationship and a journey.

 

To look at it in a different way, I'll  throw a couple of seemingly opposing 'puzzle perspectives' together and see what I can learn.

 

We know that God hates pride, so why would He want people to worship Him? We know that God is not proud, so I must be looking at these two random pieces in a perspective or way that God does not. What is the reason behind these two seemingly opposing facts?

 

It would stand to reason that God, not having pride, is also not self-centered. That being said, the worship itself would not seem important to Him. I think He is more interested in what His children experience. Let me explain.

 

As a parent, one of the most memorable and touching experiences in my life came from the relationship between myself and one of my sons when he was about 3 years old. Logan was just learning to talk, so he still had an immature way of communication; he did not have all the words, but what he said had an impact on me in a profound way. He walked up to me out of the blue one day, hugged my leg, looked me in the eye and, with his whole being, stated, "Daddy, you are a good Daddy!". Wow! The emotions that simple phase evoked were incredible!

 

He was not "worshiping me" in a "religious context", he was describing the value he saw in our relationship. 

John 4:23-24

²³ But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
²⁴ God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

In Logan's case, "spirit" was emotion and feeling, just like the team spirit they have at sporting events. To Logan there was no doubt in his mind, what he said was true. You could see in his eyes that he completely put his trust and faith in me and was ecstatic that I was his daddy.

 

The phrase, "They that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" is not a law, or a justification for who God's people are; thereby excluding others. It is an observation of 'how' worship happens. It defines and describes what worship is, listing its components. God is desirous of the same kind of relationship that I have with Logan. 

 

My attitude towards God just changed. Whoa! 

 

The pieces of the puzzle fit and I really didn't know what would happen when I just threw them out there and started working on them just a few minutes ago. We serve a living God, able to meet our needs! Isn't He great? Our Daddy is a GOOD Daddy! Thank you, Lord.

 

The puzzle itself then does not become the focus. The REASON for the puzzle or the REASON behind the puzzle becomes  paramount. The REASON gives purpose to the puzzle. The puzzle by itself may seem like just a mental exercise, a waste of time, but the family interactions are priceless!


Jesus boiled it down to two commandments:

 

 

Love God and Love Your Neighbor

 
 

Bringing Again Zion, Something The Lord Does...Not Us.

Seeing eye-to-eye is not a prerequisite for interacting with our brothers.  Why are we so stuck on seeing everything the same right now? Relax, that will come in time. The following scriptures should be taken as a matter of observation and fact. We don't have the whole picture yet.

 

1 Corinthians 13:12

¹² For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 

1 John 3:2

² Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Isaiah 52:8

⁸ Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.
 

 

While we are figuring out this puzzle, we need different perspectives. Face it... life would be boring without diversity. Creation shows us that God enjoys diversity. What IS important though is our flexibility, to try and see from another person's viewpoint. This develops respect, fellowship and unity. Seeing eye-to-eye then becomes a tool we use to love our brother, it is not the goal.

 

 

Bringing again Zion is the goal, but this will never happen if we do not have brotherly love.

 

If we are to become one with Him, we must have this respect for each other; for all involved in that oneness.

John 17:23

²³ I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

 

 Here comes some more of that 'out of the box' thinking...

Speaking simply but meaning no disrespect (this is just how my mind works), God is the only eternal being... we are not... yet. Not only does He want us to be like Him, He wants us to become one with him. If we become one with God, we will live for eternity. The only way for a mortal to have immortality is to become immortal... become like God. This seems to be God's plan from the beginning.

 

1 Corinthians 15:53

⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Why did God create man? He was lonely and wanted fellowship. Why fellowship? Different points of view make life more interesting. Spending time with those you love makes life more worthwhile. Why the tree in the garden? Free will. Who wants to live with someone who hates your guts? Give them a choice.

 

Was the tree a set-up? Absolutely! Was the serpent lying when he told Eve the fruit would make her as a god to know good and evil? No, not if that was God's intent from the beginning, so what's the problem? Subtlety. The serpent hid something, it held some information back. It deceived Eve, but Adam wasn't deceived. Why wasn't Adam deceived? Because Adam was educated about the beasts that he had dominion over by God, and God taught him enough in that time not to be deceived; the Bible doesn't say God spoke with Eve at all till Genesis 3:13. I think the job of teaching Eve became Adam's job, God's way of furthering Adam's education.

During his education, I think God was teaching Adam not only of the natural world, but also how to become one with Him; relationship development. He created Eve, a helpmeet for Adam to learn to become one with another, other than Himself (thinking of John 17:23). God stepped out of the way so Adam could share of himself and what he had learned from God. Adam had that chance to fully share of himself and become one with his wife, but he didn't. He held something back.

Adam knew the things of God, but didn't pass on that information to Eve after she came on the scene.  He didn't share everything with her and she didn't know; she was deceived. Adam was not one with his wife.

God caused Adam step up to the plate and take responsibility for that relationship because of that wonderful curse. Because of the curse there are many good things a man can learn that will enhance his relationship with God, his wife and others. But a man must actively choose to become one, choose to partake of the tree of life and share with others. How can a man eat of that spiritual tree of life; to really become one with God if he refuses to become one with someone else besides God and Jesus? The requirement for immortality is clear. It is the reason Jesus was sent. Perfection is living in harmony with those whose lives are in Christ and in God; this is love.

 Many of us mistakenly try to put our own worldly definition of love on the Bible, trying to change the Bible, instead of letting the Bible change us. The definition of worldly love changes from day to day. One day we love this person, tomorrow we love a different person. One day we love this group, the next day we love a different group. Whichever group we are in, we seem to love that group. This is not really God's love, it is a reflection of self-love... self-centeredness... the love that a beast has towards itself and its own... those that think like him.

Matthew 5:46-48

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. 

...and God is Love, perfect love. We are supposed to become "perfect love" which casts out all fear. 

John 13:35

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The clarification and definition of "another" in John 13:35 must become "someone different than yourself". This is love.

John 17:22-23

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.  ... perfect in love, perfect in God. God is perfect because His love is perfect. 

If we have perfect love, that is perfection in God's eyes.

Living By Faith

If we truly believe that God is good, then we have faith He can do no evil. Everything He does to us is either good to us or for our good and for those around us; even curses.  If we learn to embrace these good things God does to us or for us, we quicken the time it takes to have God's perspective; we quicken the time it takes to become good... we quicken the time it takes to become one with God. This is obedience to God. But how do we get there? Sometimes we need help.


Helpers

A scripture came to mind... Doesn't the Lord rule over men?

Daniel 4:17

¹⁷ ...that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
 
 

Doesn't God place others to be helpers of your joy?

2 Corinthians 1:24

²⁴ Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Hebrews 13:17

¹⁷ Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
 
Jeremiah 29:11

¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

 

Obedience then becomes a voluntary thing to become one with God.

If  we want to become one with Him, this is important.

 

 

 It therefore behooves us to work with others and not despise them. Despising is not love.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:8-10

⁸ He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy spirit.

⁹ But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

¹⁰ And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

 

 

God IS love and He teaches us to love one another. Remember that our perspective of the Bible is not as important as our brother. The Bible is a tool to teach us how to love each other and give us practice doing it... like a jigsaw puzzle, we cannot throw one of those pieces out, we need both. If we love God, we will love our brother. If we do not love our brother, we cannot love God.

 

 

1 John 4:20

²⁰ If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

 

John 15:10

¹⁰ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

 

Surprise! Guess Who Gets To Be In The "Bride of Christ"?

Reasons for not writing

I have not written for some time now. I should probably use the blogger term "publish" because I have not posted any new blogs for the past several months, but I have written. I believe that the writing part has slowed down because I have not been sharing from the abundance of what the Lord is teaching me and my family. This is something I plan to correct.

At the start of this slow period, my thoughts were somewhat complicated and what I had written seemed confusing. Frankly, I did not know how to proceed or which order to place things in either. Perhaps I had to have some personal growth take place before I could arrange my thoughts and attitudes so my writing would not reflect bitterness at my past experiences. I also do not want to be too careful and picky-choosy in what I say or how I say it. I have dropped the ball UNlike the 3 Hebrew men in

Daniel 3:13-18

¹³ Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
¹⁵ Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
¹⁷ If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
¹⁸ But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

If the Lord wants me to say something, then I better say it or else things will dry up and not move. All living water comes from God. I desire to have rivers of living water flowing out of my belly that can give life to others rather than try to stop what God is trying to say through me, or divert the flow to avoid blasting someone away. I would rather be gentle, but sometimes there is no gentle way and you gotta tell it like you see it.

In these next couple of blogs, I will be writing mainly to those who have the same common background and experience that I have, from the same group of people. I realize my blog readers from different backgrounds and different countries may have difficulty in understanding  these "types and shadows", thoughts and emotions, but the basic principles are still there, no matter what group you come from.

I share my "Bible Thoughts" from the abundance the Lord is teaching me and my family in the hopes that you can find some value in them. If you have questions, please post them in the comments section at the end and I will do my best to answer them. Click on some of the highlighted words and it will take you to more information.



Preface

I have been reading in Revelation 12 about “The Woman in the Wilderness”. I finally realized that it will be necessary to divide my thoughts into many bite-sized pieces, because, like the Energizer Bunny, the blog just keeps going and going…


I hope I can explain what I see in a way you can understand; things are so intertwined it may be difficult. Who knows, I may even learn to edit HTML and how to link to a paragraph or sentence within blogs. I can see how that would be helpful.

Here’s my attempt at getting it out. Remember, these are just my thoughts and they may be difficult to grasp. I am still trying to wrap my brain around these concepts. It is hard to change, but I want to please God. Please don't choke.


Before you go on, please read:
"A Warning - Straight From My Heart" if you haven't already.


Revelation 12

From a young age, I learned that the woman in the wilderness was a type and shadow of the church down through the ages, God’s chosen people, just one church.


"The Body of Christ" (my group) was not to be confused with every other church in the world calling themselves “The Body of Christ”. The difference is that other churches call themselves the "Body of Christ" without understanding the Bible the way my group did. Because of this, my group was exclusive; special; the “apple of God’s eye”. I was taught that those from my Exclusive Body of Christ, the "EBC" that reach perfection will be called the “Bride of Christ”.


The “Bride” is supposed to be caught up to God and to His throne where they will rule and reign with Him 1,000 years (or even perhaps for all eternity). In fact, some "Bride" members were “martyred out” and are already under the “golden altar” waiting for their remaining numbers to be martyred out to fill 144,000 individuals (or perhaps 144,000 churches).

Revelation 6:9-11

⁹ And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

¹⁰ And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
¹¹ And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

"According to scripture", the remaining number of that 144,000 was supposed to be more special than the first.


Haggai 2:9

⁹ The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.


Revelation 12 gives us a history of the body of Christ, from the early church in the New Testament through the end days.

 

Questions

I have a lot of questions about Revelation 12, but the answers I am coming up with don’t fit what I learned. These are just my thoughts, but if I put them in modern day language, perhaps you can see my points.


The Bible speaks primarily of two women, a good one (an only daughter), and a bad one with many daughters.


I would venture to say that the woman in Revelation 12 is the good one because God took an interest in her and cared for her.


The bad one is called “the harlot”… “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” Revelation 17:4-6.


Here are some hard questions: (You might want to pull out your Bible)


1. Who was this woman in Revelation 12? Evidently she is someone God cares enough about to protect. We know a "woman" in the Bible can represent a church. In this case, it could be the early church with a crown of 12 stars (12 apostles).


2. If this woman that God cared and provided for is NOT the harlot, she is pregnant. This was no accident. Who is her husband? My guess would be Jesus.


3. Congratulations, its a BOY! We have an entirely new entity separate from the church. Hmmmm???


4. It was the man child that was caught up to God and to His throne; not the woman. Kingship passes to a son.


5. How can a boy be a bride? How does this make sense naturally or physically, especially considering that God hates homosexuality? God will not mix genders, each has a very specific purpose.


6. Who is this boy? Why do we hear so little about him? This child has a specific purpose. The child was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.


7. It is NOT the church that is supposed to rule all nations with a rod of iron. The woman (the church) has the purpose of bearing, not becoming the "Man Child".


Lets take a look at how God sees marriage and pro-creation.



According to God, sex is marriage.

Genesis 4:1

4 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.

Genesis 24:67

⁶⁷ And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Genesis 2:24

²⁴ Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
 

In the Bible, a man and a woman became married by having sex. God interprets sex as marriage... in the intervening time since the Bible was written, do you think Jesus and His Father might have changed their mind about this? If so... why?

Hebrews 13:8

⁸ Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

 

The government and other people may ignore your sexual relations… God does not.

So how does this fit with Revelation 12?

Ephesians 5:30-32

³⁰ For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
³¹ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
³² This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Perhaps the mystery that Paul refers to is that Jesus got married and had a son.

 

The reason for marriage

The Bible tells us the reason for marriage is because the Lord wants a “godly seed”. With free-will, we may choose not to have children and not contribute to God’s plan for mankind, but do you think Jesus would? Wouldn't Jesus be interested in a godly seed? He always did the will of His Father.


Malachi 2:15

¹⁵ And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.


Sadly, the majority of our society has embraced a harlot’s perspective on families. Birth control, abortion and child care come from a harlot’s lifestyle, a lifestyle where a child is only in the way and hinders the woman from making money. This ruins the purpose a for which a woman was created. I feel sad for people when, based on the size of a family they ask, "Is this going to be your last child?" They do not realize where this perspective comes from.

How can a woman be a mother if you do not give her children to fulfill the purpose for which God made her? This is the treachery Malachi spoke about. This lifestyle thumbs its nose at God and exhibits blatant disregard for the Creator of the Universe. For those that are barren, adoption is a pleasing thing in God's sight.

Every living thing since the beginning of creation begets after its own kind. I tell my kids that when cats have babies, they produce cats; when dogs have babies, they produce dogs; when cows have babies, they produce cows, when people have babies, they produce people; when God has a baby... (you fill in the blank).


If Jesus had a child, wouldn't that child qualify as being a “godly seed”? In light of this information, Revelation 12:5 makes complete sense.

Revelation 12:5

⁵ And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.


I never considered... Do you think that Jesus himself would disobey God’s command to be fruitful and multiply? Would He not participate in God’s plan to have a godly seed?

Revelation 12:17

¹⁷ And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.


This seed is the reason for everything, the reason God created the universe, the reason for the Bible, the reason He sent Jesus to die on the cross.

8. If the man child is comprised of overcomers produced by the church, Jesus’ marriage consummation to the church must needs to have already happened. Why?

I'll answer that with a question: Do you think Jesus would want to produce an illegitimate child, or a bastard himself? This is not the kind of example Christian men are taught to follow according to the Bible. We are supposed to become like Jesus. Why would you think he had relations with a harlot?

If you think the Song of Solomon is a love story between Jesus and his church, then His beloved is but one. Jesus is not a pagan king that will lie with the harlot.

Song of Solomon 6:9

⁹ My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother...

Could this mean that God's group is much bigger than mine and I don't get to choose or insult another group by calling them the harlot? God knows who are His.

9. I’ve always heard that Jesus will claim his bride at the end of time. Doesn’t the existence of the man child tell us this has already happened?


Body vs Bride

A woman becomes bone of her husband’s bone, and flesh of his flesh; in essence they are one in God's eyes. Because of this, a woman’s body has become her husband's body in marriage; in the case of Christ, Jesus' church became the "body of Christ". The term shows ownership; her body became His body. This happened when they got married, when they became one flesh. At the same time, she also became the “bride of Christ”.

1 John 4:1-3

¹ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

² Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
³ And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

This means my terminology has to change, and in essence, my definition. I see no difference between the “body of Christ” and the “bride of Christ” anymore. The terms are interchangeable. This may seem an earth shattering revelation, but "it is not the spoon that bends... that is impossible”, but only my perspective... and that changes a lot of things.




10. If Jesus has already married His church, when were they married?

The answer to this would be, “when He started planting seed”, when He began His ministry. It takes time for a baby to grow.

Who is in the “bride of Christ”?

What I have called “The body of Christ” fits more biblically as "The Church, Jesus’ bride", but which groups are in His church? Is it limited to my "EBC"?

Who are Jesus’ special ones, chosen to be His bride?

Are we the ones who decide?

Fortunately, God made the decision long ago. Left to our own perspective, we would probably leave someone out.


Jesus' bride is made up of those people that He paid the "bride price" for. God tells us who they are in John 3:16; they are those that believe in Him.

John 3:16

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The Bride Price

It was common for a man to pay a "bride price" for his woman to show what she was worth. Jesus paid the ultimate bride price at the cross. The church belongs to Him and Him only.


You may argue that, “Jesus did not pay for her before he planted His seed”; neither did Jacob with Rachel. It was not uncommon to pay the bride price after the marriage. You can see this when Jacob worked 7 years more for Laban AFTER he married his beloved, Rachel.

Genesis 29:30

³⁰ And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.


Jesus gave us a great example of being a husband in that He gave His life for His woman. We should also give our lives for our wives every day by providing for them and keeping them safe.

11. So if I am already part of the bride, and the woman is not the one caught up to God and to His throne, should I strive to become part of the man child? The apostle Paul thought it was important that he not rest, but keep striving.

Philippians 3:14

¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus

12. A birth of the spirit took place on the day of Pentecost, they were already water baptized. Is this when the man child actually entered the kingdom of God?

John 3:5

⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

From this, I see something I never saw before. Here are 3 points:

 

• A man cannot look around and see God's kingdom. Until he is born again, everything is dark.

• Water and spirit are necessary for that birth. Water baptism and baptism of the holy ghost are necessary. Tongues are just evidence of what has already happened, not something to be used by man for division as a "Golden Wedge".

• God and His throne are in heaven. Since the woman is not caught up to God and to His throne, it is not necessary that the bride have the holy ghost; however, it is critical to the man child.

The apostle Paul tells us what will happen to tongues in

1 Corinthians 13:8

⁸ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

God is a creator and loves His creation

God's first commandment to every living thing on earth was to be fruitful and multiply. This command was also given to man before and after the flood just in case he forgot. It’s funny how man is the only creature that has a problem obeying it and treats it like a personal choice.


This command has never been rescinded; God never told us to stop. There must be a reason and a purpose...the godly seed. 


Celebrating Marriage

If you think about it, "legal" weddings, where the government gives you a “license” to do what God already commanded, are a recent construct. Man takes advantage of God’s command, requires you to seek his approval and charges you a tax for it. A basic "Justice of the Peace wedding" denies your friends a time of celebrating and rejoicing over your union. It recognizes a union that God commanded, but it does not celebrate the union.


In contrast to a “JP” wedding, it seems God is so happy about Jesus’ marriage, He's going to throw a party. I remember talk of a celebration, a "marriage supper of the Lamb". Nowadays, we call this “the reception”. It takes place after the wedding sometime. My wife and I had three separate receptions across the US and Canada because everybody wanted to be included in our celebration.

Revelation 19:9

⁹ And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

 

Let Nothing Separate Us From The Love of God

 

John 3:16

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

John 3:16 tells us that God gave Jesus to the whole world because of love. It tells us that God gave His son, Jesus to those that believe in Him so we would not perish. We are to become one with an eternal being so that we may gain immortality; this is the only way to keep from perishing.

 

John 17:23

²³ I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

 

 

When men attempt to choose between believers and label who are the "true people of God", the "true church", they are in flagrant disobedience of Matthew 19:6. They are committing a sin with a "Golden Wedge".  

 

 

God gave Jesus in marriage and we are to become one just as a husband and wife are to become one. We should not try and separate others from the love of God.

 

 

Matthew 19:6

⁶ Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Romans 8:35-39

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
³⁸ For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Discovering that the body of Christ is also the bride of Christ makes me think twice about insulting Jesus by calling His bride a harlot.