INTIMATE RELATIONS
Part 2
Jack Davis
In part one (August issue) we covered how we are related (joined or united) to Jesus Christ. He has made us His Brethren, and members of His body, the Church.
HIS BRIDE
“Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” – II Cor. 11:1-3.
The Apostle Paul, by the message of grace which he preached, offered this espousal to the whole church, “Christ’s body;” but who will accept and submit to the Holy Spirit for the necessary preparation and purification in order to qualify to be part of this glorious company of redeemed humanity. Of Jesus’ brethren, His body, only a remnant will fully overcome and sit with our dear Lord on His throne.
Please bear with us a little in our folly when we speak of a “rib company.” A rib speaks of that closest to the heart. Those who truly draw near to the Lord are being tested, tried, purified and developed for His glory. We are not using our imagination or just picking this thought out of the air, when we speak of Adam and Eve being typical representatives of a later union. This is indeed a great mystery. The apostle spoke of many things hard to be understood, but that are given to us by revelation.
“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come” – Rom. 5:14.
“Wherefore, my brethern, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God” – Rom. 7:4.
Adam, who prefigured Him that was to come, was the head of the first creation. Some foolishly claim that the apostle Paul didn’t speak of a bride in all his epistles. What he says here is plain enough for me.
What a glorious prophecy Adam was inspired to give! “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” – Gen. 2:23-24. Adam gave names to all the creatures, but among them all no wife was found for Adam. “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man” – Gen. 2:21-22.
If the first Adam was a figure of him that was to come, (Jesus Christ; the last Adam) then it is scripturally evident that Eve was a figure of her that was to come, the bride of the Lamb. “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready” – Rev. 19:7.
When we read of the marvelous love, and the amazing provision Jesus Christ had made for His church, we wonder how any one could resist. “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body…Husband, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a Glorious church, not have spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish…For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” Eph. 5:23,25-27, then quotes Adam’s statement in verse thirty-one and adds, “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” – V. 32.
Full provision has been made for the closest eternal relations with Jesus Christ. A problem arises because comparatively few of His brethern of this Church Age, or His body will accept this espousal, or submit to the needed daily cleansing. Not all members in a real, practical sense become one with Christ. Many are honoring other headships above Jesus Christ, and are being robbed of the reward of reigning conjointly with Him. At that great marriage in the heavenlies, there will be guests, servants, but also a “rib company” of Christ’s body out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. This company will be united with Him as the Bride of the Lamb in that golden glorious wedding service! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! Amen.
