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Tag Archives: Mankind

Random Thoughts Concerning a Mystery…

28 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by Savannah in Reformation, Spiritual Warfare

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Christ, Church, Glorifying God, Kingdom of God, Mankind, Marriage, Scripture

A Mystery

“This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” ~Ephesians 5:32

Having recently begun reading in Genesis again, I have had reason to pause and consider the subject of marriage and its purpose as God ordained it. The following are merely some random notes drawn from my musings upon what the Scriptures expressly say about marriage.

A. There is no escaping from the fact that Adam named his wife. In fact, he named her twice! On two separate occasions (Genesis 2:23; 3:20), he named the woman that God brought to him. This seems to infer that there is a hierarchy in the very fabric of marriage, as instituted by God in the beginning, especially since the sin of the fall was set to his account.

B. Part of the curse was a setting up a conflict between the woman’s desire for her husband and his rule over her (Genesis 3:16). Sin always disrupted, corrupts, and destroys the things that God created good.

C. “Woman” was her name before it was “Eve”, which means something along the lines of “life-giver” in Hebrew. She is woman, the helper to her man, before she is the “life-giver” of his seed.

D. Together, Adam and Eve, male and female, were made after the image and likeness of God to have dominion over the earth, multiplying, filling, and subduing it, according to all that the Lord taught them (Genesis 1:26-28; cf. Matthew 28:18-20).

E. Adam was not alone given this task, nor could he have fulfilled it without the spouse God provided for him through no effort of his own.

F. Adam was delighted with Eve before she had done anything for him. He loved her and was with her (Genesis 2:23; 3:6).

G. Marriage was ordained by God for godly offspring and for the rule of mankind over the earth, for so it pleased God to create the universe (Malachi 2:15; Genesis 1:27-28).

H. Marriage is a covenant bond between a man and a woman. The two are to grow together, united as one person, in the Spirit of God (Malachi 2:15). This is a spiritual reality as set forth in Genesis 2:24 and the breaking, misuse, neglect, and abuse of this is grievous before the Lord who ordained it (ex. Malachi 2:16).

I. Very often throughout Scripture, God likens his covenant with the elect to be God to them to a marriage covenant and sin on the part of his people as adultery. For sin is a transgression or failure to keep his law-word of the covenant.

J. A man safely trusts the wife of his bosom — the Lord Christ has set his Spirit in the church that she might obey and be faithful to him only (Philippians 2:13; John 14:26).

K. The Father provided a wife for his eternal Son, the Word of God (ex. Ephesians 1:22-23). He, the Creator and Upholder of all things, became the One who redeemed his adulterous bride because he loved her, named her, knew her, and was with her, even though she had not yet done any good for or towards him (ex. Romans 3:8).

L. A wife is to be subject to her husband’s authority, even as the church is subject to the Lord, the great King (ex. Ephesians 5:24).

M. In this, there is not necessarily anything burdensome (cf. 1 John 5:3). Even as Adam could not alone fulfill the purpose of mankind, so it is, by the will of God, that Christ said that his church would do greater works on earth than he had done. The reason is because he was with and in them by his Spirit and all power and authority was given him by the Father (John 14:12-14). Likewise, in such a manner, a wife is invested to live in the name of her husband — her deeds are accounted as his, because she bears his name. Cf. 1 Corinthians 11:11-12.

N. A man must love his wife as himself, for, in a way, she is him. This is after the image of God, is it not? The church is the body of Christ — as a wife is to her husband (Ephesians 5:28-32; 1 Corinthians 12:27).

O. A woman is under authority in this most personal way to her husband — and to him only, for she bears his name and is one with him only. She is not subject to every man. Other authorities overlap, but, under God, her husband is her only head (1 Corinthians 11:3).

P. Christ gave himself for the redemption and preservation of his adulterous bride on account of his covenant word, which he would keep, even though she had broken it to the uttermost. He redeemed her, cleansed her, beautified her, taught her, kept her, provided for her, washed her, making her fit and capable of being faithful to him (ex. Ezekiel 16; Ephesians 5:25-27). There is not a total likeness here in human marriage, for no man actually has the power to do for his woman as Christ has done for the church. However, it is with such a love and dedication to the covenant word that a man ought to be towards his wife, be she ill-behaved or trustworthy (cf. Hosea 3:1; Proverbs 5:15-21).

Q. This is the root and ground of that jealousy of love in marriage — a reflection of the flame of the Lord, a product of real love, which hates everything contrary to it (Song of Solomon 8:6; Psalms 97:10).

R. Even though Christ came to redeem to himself a faithless bride, a Christian man should be looking for a prudent, wise, and faithful Christian woman fit to be a helper to him in particular. This is because the purpose of marriage as God ordained it in the beginning was for their union in seeking first the kingdom of God.

Perfection and Pain

25 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by Savannah in Life, Spiritual Warfare

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Envy, Freedom, Hope, Life, Mankind, Pain, Perfect, Perfection

image via wikipaintings.org

image via wikipaintings.org

How many of us have ever wanted to be perfect? How many of us have looked at “perfect people” or “perfect families” or “perfect situations” and desired things like these for our own? How many of us have mused that if we were in such situations, life would be easier or less painful?

Surely, some of us have had these thoughts…I know I have, at times. But these are lying thoughts, usually born primarily of envy–or, as Scripture describes it more bluntly, covetousness, our not being content with the things that God has been pleased to give us.

Another important question to ask ourselves is this: why do we want to be perfect? Why do we want to be in perfect circumstances? If it is from of a heart desirous of being good in order to honor our God and Father, that is one thing; but if this is not the case, or even if this longing is accompanied with the idea that if we were perfect or in perfect circumstances that life would be easier and there would be less pain in our lives, maybe we should think again.

Something that we sometimes forget is that even if we were perfect, we would still experience pain; for even Christ, the perfect Son of God, suffered pain. Indeed, his agonies were beyond what we, as creatures and sinners, can know. Even if we were already perfected while we walk this earth today, even then we would still experience heartache–the pain of the wise is just as deep as that of the foolish, if not more so.

For how many among those who are not submitted to Christ mourn with the Psalmist for the continual breaking of our Father’s law? “My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.” ~Psalms 119:136

How many among the people of the world weep with the prophet for the just judgments of God on his disobedient people? “Therefore I said: ‘Look away from me; let me weep bitter tears; do not labor to comfort me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people.’ ” ~Isaiah 22:4

How many among the wise of the world are afflicted with the apostle for the sake of his brothers and sisters in the Lord? “For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.” ~II Corinthians 2:4

How many in the kingdom of darkness are filled with sorrow for the unregenerate’s rejection of the Savior? “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.” ~Philippians 3:18

Another good thing to remind ourselves of is that even if we were in “perfect circumstances,” we would still find ourselves encountering suffering, for we are in a fallen world. Because of sin–and not always even our own sin–pain, suffering, and death are unavoidable this side of glory. “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.” ~Romans 8:20-24

The search for perfection on this side of glorification is a futile hope and a vain search for believer and unbeliever alike. It has been attempted over and over and over throughout the history of mankind–only to repeatedly end in the mockery of mirage. In this sinful world there is and will be pain. Let us then rejoice in the hope that frees us–the hope of Christ Jesus our Lord, who is making all things new. (Revelation 21:5)

“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” ~Romans 8:2

Hallelujah! Amen.

The Humble Life of Christ

10 Wednesday Oct 2012

Posted by Savannah in Westminster Larger Catechism

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Christ, Covenant theology, God, Humility, Jesus, Life, Mankind, Obedience, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number forty-eight:

Q. 48. How did Christ humble Himself in His life?

A. Christ humbled Himself in His life by subjecting Himself to the law (which He perfectly fulfilled) and by battling with the indignities of the world, temptations of Satan, and bodily weaknesses and discomforts that were either common to the nature of people or particularly accompanying His low condition. 

The Mediator is the God-Man

23 Thursday Aug 2012

Posted by Savannah in Westminster Larger Catechism

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Christ, Covenant theology, God, Jesus, Mankind, Mediator, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number forty:

Q. 40. Why was it necessary that the Mediator should be God and a human in one person?

 A. It was necessary that the Mediator, who was to reconcile God and mankind, should Himself be both God and a human—and this in one person—so that the proper works of each nature might be accepted by God for us and relied on by us as the works of the whole person. 

The Mediator is Man

20 Monday Aug 2012

Posted by Savannah in Westminster Larger Catechism

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Tags

Adoption, Christ, Covenant theology, God, Grace, Mankind, Mediator, Obedience, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number thirty-nine:

Q. 39. Why was it necessary that the Mediator should be a man?

A. It was necessary that the Mediator should be a man so that He might glorify our nature, obey the law, suffer and make intercession for us in our nature, and have a fellow-feeling of our weaknesses, in order that we might receive adoption as children and have comfort in Him and access to the throne of grace with boldness.

Living Beings

25 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by Savannah in Life, Stories

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Tags

Covenant of Grace, God, Jesus Christ, Mankind, Sin, Story, The Fall, Tree of Life

image via wikimedia commons

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.” ~Psalm 143:5

The great story of redemption–the great story of history–is a life and death adventure crossing all boundaries of nations, people groups, languages, and even the physical “laws” of nature. It is the story of how mankind lost their essence–our first parents lost life–and how mankind has been restored to life. It is a long story filled with injustice, terror, and the beauty of holiness. It is a story that has not yet ended, though we know, in broad terms, how the ending shall come in–in life! And, because life is the object, the ending shall really be a new beginning….

******

In the beginning of history, the first man and woman were created by God and given free access to the Tree of Life. Through the sublety of a tempter and the man’s free action of disobedience, they were driven out from before the presence of their Creator–and also from the Tree of Life. Their bodies began to die as they faced the consequences of their sin. And ever since then, all their children have died one by one in consequence of their sins against God.

******

But God was not done with his creatures whom he had made as living beings. He had already arranged a plan by which a great number of the children of that first man and woman would live forever. Every one of them would die, but at the end of history, everyone would be resurrected. Then God would separate them out–the ones who had hated him he would condemn to everlasting death, but the ones who had loved him, he would give to them eternal life.

But how could this be? God cannot just ignore the sin of the first man and woman against him–he cannot just ignore the sins of all their children against him! God is just and holy!

God ordained a substitution. Jesus Christ was appointed to come to earth, take on humanity, and bear the punishment of death that is required in order for God’s justice to be satisfied. Christ having done this, life is restored everlastingly to those he choses. They are made into living beings, in all the fullness that that meant when God created the first man and woman.

Mercy!

21 Thursday Jun 2012

Posted by Savannah in Unity and Diversity, Westminster Larger Catechism

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Covenant theology, God, Love, Mankind, Mercy, Salvation, Sin, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number thirty:

Q. 30. Does God leave all mankind to perish in the state of sin and misery?

A. God does not leave all people to perish in the state of sin and misery into which they fell by the breach of the first covenant (which is commonly called the Covenant of Works), but from His love and mercy alone He delivers his elect out of the state of sin and misery, bringing them into a state of salvation by the second covenant (which is commonly called the Covenant of Grace).

Punishments

12 Tuesday Jun 2012

Posted by Savannah in Westminster Larger Catechism

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Conscience, Creation, Curse of God, Death, Mankind, Punishment, Sin, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number twenty-eight:

Q. 28. What are the punishments upon sin in this world?

A. The punishments upon sin in this world are inward–like blindness of mind, reprobate perceptions, strong delusions, hardness of heart, horror of conscience, and vile inclinations; or they are outward–like the curse of God upon the creatures for our sakes and all the other evils that happen to us in our bodies, names, states, relationships, and employments–all in addition to death itself.

Consequences

11 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by Savannah in Westminster Larger Catechism

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Tags

Mankind, Misery, Satan, Sin, The Fall, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number twenty-seven:

Q. 27. What was the misery brought on mankind by the Fall?

A. The Fall brought upon mankind both the loss of communion with God and His displeasure and curse. Therefore, we are naturally children of wrath, slaves to Satan, and justly liable to all punishments in this world and in the one to come.

The Sinful State of Mankind

06 Wednesday Jun 2012

Posted by Savannah in Westminster Larger Catechism

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Tags

God, Mankind, Original Sin, Sin, The Fall, Westminster Larger Catechism

Westminster Larger Catechism in modern English question number twenty-five:

Q. 25. In what does the sinfulness of the state into which mankind fell consist?

A. The sinfulness of the state into which mankind fell consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the lack of the original righteousness in which he was created, and the corruption of his whole nature. Because of this, all mankind is utterly indisposed, made opposite to, and unable to do anything that is spiritually good. Also, all mankind is wholly and continually inclined to all evil. This is commonly called Original Sin; and from this comes all actual transgressions.

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