The Unloveliest Bride Made Lovely by the Love of the Greatest Lover

A dear friend wanted something to include in a congratulatory greeting to a loved one who is getting married. The loved one is in bondage to a legalistic cult, so I suggested that I might write an explanation of the last half of Ephesians 5 that would not only be helpful for the marriage, but might present Christ's love, life, death, and life again--all for the ungodly. Thinking that it might be of help to more than just this one couple, I include the note below.

If we want to be wise (v15) in evil days (v16), not foolish (v17) or out of control (v18a) but rather controlled by the Spirit (v18b), then that which most moves us should be God’s words (v19-20), to which we all submit when addressed by one another with them (v21).

This submission takes on a special form toward husbands (v21-33), parents (6:1-4), and bosses (6:5-9). This note is primarily concerned with what it looks like in marriage.

5:22 tells us the style of the submission and the object of the submission. Wives’ submission to their husbands is to be like their submission to Christ, because it is to be part of their submission to Christ.

This is why when a husband doesn’t turn out to be all you had hoped (1Pet 3:1), you can still submit (1Pet 3:1-4a), because your audience is God Himself (1Pet 3:4b). God never fails to be all you had hoped and more.

Marriage imitates the relationship between Jesus and the church (v23), and the wife must submit to Him who has taken her for His body and saved her.

Just like we don’t submit to Christ only in some areas, and refuse to obey Him in others, so also a husband’s authority over his wife applies to every part of life (v24). Do not withhold yourself from him and so corrupt the image that marriage is intended to be.

But, those who know the Lord Jesus much prefer to think upon Him, and what He is like, which makes studying the husband’s part (v25-33) much more pleasant to us.

Just as the good wife submits in all areas to her husband, the good husband expends his entire self for his wife (v25). He does not do this grudgingly or out of mere duty, but out of love. The command is not “give yourselves up for your wives,” although that is surely a part of it. It is “love your wives, as Christ loved the church”—and for that reason and in that way, give yourself up for her.

What is glorious is when we begin to think about for what kind of wife Christ did this. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). While we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son (Rom 5:10).

In other words, although the husband of a good wife may expend himself for his wife as v25 commands, it is the husband of the treacherous and unworthy wife who has the best opportunity to fulfill the analogy. This banishes once and for all, all excuses of whether one’s wife “qualifies” for the kind of self-sacrifice that is commanded here.

But this is not a one-day, one-time self-giving merely to deliver His bride from peril. His aim is not merely at saving us from one peril; but rather, that He would make us completely perfect. He gives Himself up (v25) to claim the privilege of sanctifying us (v26a), using His Word constantly to bathe us until we are not just unspotted and wrinkle-free and unblemished (27b) but indeed splendid (27a).

Again, it is not merely the action (nourish) that is in view but the affection (cherish) that drives it (v29a). This is not only a to-do list for the husband, but a how-and-why-to-do list. Husbands shall love their wives (v28).

Why? What is at stake here? v32 lets us in on a startling mystery: Genesis 2:24 (Eph 5:31) is primarily about Christ and the church (cf. 29b-30). This is what is at stake in every husband’s conduct. This is what should be on display in every marriage.

Jesus gave Himself for an unlovely bride, not because she had potential, but because He intended to make Her lovely Himself. A godly husband is an illustration of the glorious gospel. And, having such an eternal husband as Christ enables every Christian wife to submit to her husband, whether he is worthy of it or not.

The Problem with Pietism

It commends a half-religion, which is another name for idolatry and paganism
The big problem with pietism is simply that it is only a half-faith. It tries to receive God's promises as from the Almighty, and yet it does not receive God's commands as from the Almighty.

So pietism is a half-faith in a half-God that leads to a half-Christian life. The problem with that is that the Bible tells us that half-faith is false religion, and that a half-God is actually and idolatrous caricature and not the true and living God, and half-obedience is disobedience.

It contradicts the most basic Scriptural teaching about the Christian life
When we learn that 1Cor 10:31 intentionally uses the most mundane things--eating and drinking--to instruct us in what the divinely blessed life is, then we are prepared to brush teeth, sweep floors, and yes proclaim the gospel and sing praise... all to the glory of God.

It contradicts the most basic elements of what we confess Scripture to teach
Our catechism's first question and answer encapsulate this well: the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This is not just our "primary purpose" as some contemporary wordings have tried to say it. It is the "controlling purpose"--the chief that commands the purpose--in absolutely everything that we do.

So, God has not given us a single thing to do, except that it must be done unto His glory. And, God has not given us a single thing to do, except that we must do it in enjoyment of Him.

It confuses poor theology students into downplaying the importance of exercises of piety
Now, please be cautious. Do not throw out biblical piety--and a strong devotion to the exercises of piety--as you reject an unbiblical pietism. There is hardly anything that God commands more than the exercises of piety. The first four commandments--and especially the first and the fourth--strongly stress this piety.

Communion with God continually and daily and weekly, in the assembly and family and privately, are everywhere commanded in the Bible. If these are not the life-breath of our existence, and the hinges upon which our days and weeks and lives turn, then we shall not be pious in any activity whatsoever.

Such Lessons

"Blessed is the man you chasten, O Lord--the man You teach from your law." Psalm 94:12

All the chastening in the world, without divine teaching--will never make a man blessed. That man who finds correction attended with instruction, and lashing with lessoning--is a happy man.

If God, by the affliction which is upon you, shall teach you:
  how to loathe sin more, and
  how to trample upon the world more, and
  how to walk with God more
--then your afflictions are blessed.

If God shall teach you by afflictions:
  how to die to sin more, and
  how to die to your relations more,
  and how to die to your self more
--then your afflictions are blessed.

If God shall teach you by afflictions:
  how to live to Christ more,
  how to lift up Christ more, and
  how to long for Christ more
--then your afflictions are blessed.

If God shall teach you by afflictions:
  how to mind heaven more,
  how to live in heaven more, and
  how to be fit for heaven more
--then your afflictions are blessed. 

If God by afflictions shall teach:
  your proud heart how to lie more low,
  your hard heart how to grow more tender,
  your censorious heart how to grow more kind,
  your carnal heart how to grow more spiritual,
  your froward heart how to grow more quiet
--then your afflictions are blessed. 

When God teaches your thoughts as well as your brains, your heart as well as your head, any of these lessons--then your afflictions are blessed.

Where God loves--He afflicts in love. And wherever God afflicts in love, there He will, sooner or later, teach His people such lessons as shall do them good to all eternity!

~Thomas Brooks

The Garment Which The Savior Always Wore" by James Smith

HUMILITY is a most precious grace--it is filled with beauty, loveliness, and glory. This is the garment which the Savior always wore. This is the grace which gave such a charm to all that He did and said. It is one of our best garments, and without it the soul is generally naked. "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another." 1 Peter 5:5.

For lack of humility--the Church is rent and torn with divisions. For lack of humility--believers bring many trials and crosses on themselves, and sow the bitter seeds of trouble and remorse.

If I were truly humble, I must be happy, for it is with such Jehovah dwells: "For this is what the high and lofty One says--He who lives forever, whose name is holy: I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and humble in spirit." Isaiah 57:15. To such He looks with esteem, love, and delight: "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My Word." Isaiah 66:2.

"I hate pride and arrogance!" Proverbs 8:13. Pride is . . .
most loathsome to God,
injurious to men, and
a stronghold of Satan within us.

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble!" James 4:6. He keeps the proud at a distance, and will not allow them to approach him: "Though the Lord is great, He cares for the humble--but He keeps His distance from the proud!" Psalm 138:6. He threatens them with everlasting destruction. "The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished!" Proverbs 16:5

Lord, give me true humility, and let me be clothed with it from day to day!

Continually Facebook

1Thessalonians 5:17 commands us, "Continually Pray."

At various times in my life, I have puzzled over what that means. Recently, Joel Beeke told the story of a maid who had been waiting upon some pastors/theologians, who were confounded by this very question. When they asked her, she said something to the effect that when she served them bread she prayed that God would nourish her; when serving them drink, that He would give her the water of life; when cleaning, that He would remove all filth from her.

That's a good idea. There's a reason that God has filled His Word with simple everyday illustrations of immense spiritual realities. But as an explanation of 1Thess 5:17, it's just not that satisfying.

Well, Facebook to the rescue. Really? Yes. But not in the way that you might think. Something happened this morning that was a mixture of challenge, inconvenience, and concern. And my first reflex was, "I should post that to Facebook." You see, I have some friends who would be intrigued by the oddness of it, others who would sympathize with me, others who might know something and suggest it, still others who would help me, and even others who would pray for me.*

And it struck me. At the best times in my spiritual life, these were all things that I continually related to my Father, and to my Savior, and to the Spirit... not to Facebook.

I told Him when something odd happened, because it was His providence to me (Eph 1:11), and I enjoyed relating to Him that I recognized His hand in my life (Ps 139:16-18).

I told Him when something was challenging, because I knew that He cared for me (1Pet 5:7), and  that He commands me to let me know about such challenges (Phlp 4:5-7), and even because I know that every demonstration of my inability is a glorious display of His ability, and another lesson in absolute dependence (2Cor 12:7-10).

I asked Him for help first, because I knew that ultimately all help must come from Him (Ps 124:8), and because His is all the help we need (Rom 8:31-32).

I loved to share my life with Him, because it was a constant delight that union and communion with Him was the story of my life (Jn 6:56, Jn 15:4-5, Jn 17:20-26, Gal 2:20, Rom 6:3-8. Rom 8:17).

So, Facebook to the rescue. And I do indeed plan to post this to Facebook! But Father first. And Christ first. Are you in a dry season spiritually? Might it be in part because your life is better characterized by "facebook continually" than by "pray continually"? Is it possible that where experiential union and communion with Christ ought to be, you've been duped into accepting a counterfeit union and communion with 1134 friends (even with believers, with whom we're commanded to fellowship)?

This has, of course, been a temptation and a problem for all Christians. But our "friendships" with others were never meant to be so comprehensive. This level of communication, and interaction, and dependence, and mutual delight ought to be enjoyed with The Friend who sticks closer than a brother, with our Beloved of whose I am and Who is mine. In earthly relationships, the closest analogy is the honeymoon.

Married couples cannot honeymoon forever. Someone has to earn the bread, and someone has to bake it. But that's just it; you can honeymoon forever with Christ. He is never otherwise occupied such that He hasn't the time or attention for you, and He is always with you--you needn't move a muscle or open your mouth to communicate or commune with Him.

With such sweet fellowship so constantly and immediately available to you, dear Christian, why is it that so many of us are better described by "facebook continually" than by "pray continually"? Oh, let us strive for the latter!

I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine!

*not that there's anything wrong with having friends pray for you--but really, if you go to them before you go to Christ, how is the spirit of that any different than the idolatrous praying to saints of the Roman Catholics?

Mercy And Justice by Samuel Davies

"Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other!" Psalm 85:10

The salvation of sinners by the substitutionary death of Christ, gives the brightest display of the perfections of God; and particularly of those which belong to Him, as the Supreme Ruler of the moral world.

Justice and mercy, duly tempered, and exercised with wisdom--is a summary of those virtues which belong to a good ruler. Now these are most illustriously displayed in a happy union--in Christ crucified.

Justice shines brighter in the cross--than if every sin had been punished upon offenders, without any mercy!
Mercy shines brighter in the cross--than if every sin had been pardoned, and every sinner made happy, without any execution of justice.

Mercy appears in turning the divine heart with such a strong propensity upon the salvation of sinners!
Justice appears in that when the heart of God was so much set upon it--yet He would not save them without a complete satisfaction to His justice.

Mercy appears in providing such a Savior!
Justice appears in inflicting the punishment due to sin upon Him, without abatement; though He loved Him more than the whole universe of creatures!

Mercy appears in transferring the guilt from the sinner upon the Surety, and accepting a vicarious satisfaction!
Justice appears in exacting the satisfaction, and not passing by sin, when it was imputed to the darling Son of God.

Mercy appears in pardoning and saving guilty sinners!
Justice appears in punishing their sin!

Mercy appears in justifying them--though destitute of all personal merit and righteousness!
Justice appears in justifying them--only and entirely on account of the merit and righteousness of Christ!

Mercy appears in providing a Savior of such infinite dignity!
Justice appears in refusing satisfaction from an inferior person!

Mercy appears in forgiving sin!
Justice appears in not forgiving so much as one sin--without a sufficient atonement!

Mercy, rich, free mercy--towards the sinner!
Justice, strict, inexorable justice--towards the Surety!

In short--mercy and justice, as it were, walk hand in hand through every step of this amazing scheme of salvation by the substitutionary atonement of Christ!

God pardons and saves the sinner--and yet condemns and punishes his sin!

Though innumerable multitudes of rebels are pardoned--yet not one of them is pardoned until their rebellion is punished according to its demerit in the person of the Surety!

The precept of the divine law, which they had broken--was perfectly obeyed.
The penalty which they had incurred--was fully endured and paid, indeed not by themselves--but by their divine substitute.

Hence the divine law is magnified, and made honorable, and the rights of government are preserved sacred and inviolable--and yet the sinful rebels are set free, and advanced to the highest honors and blessedness!

God brings the greatest good--out of the greatest evil!

God pardons and saves the sinner--and yet condemns and punishes his sin!

God gives the brightest display of His justice--in the freest exercise of His mercy!

God gives the richest discovery of His mercy--in the most rigorous execution of His justice!

God magnifies His law--in justifying those who had broken it!

God reveals the utmost hatred against sin--in showing the highest love to the sinner!

What an astonishing God-like scheme is this! What a stupendous display of the infinite wisdom of God!

Christ: Our Defender and Shield

There are many times during our lives when we fear this world, men, our situations and circumstances.  But we do not have to fear, not as God's children for we have a great promise in Psalm 18:2, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."  This reminds me of The Breastplate of St. Patrick, 

Christ beside me, Christ before me,

Christ behind me King of my heart;

Christ within me, Christ below me,

Christ above me never to part.

Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand, 

Christ all around me shield in strife;

Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting,

Christ in my rising light of my life.

Christ beside me, Christ before me,

Christ behind me King of my heart;

Christ within me, Christ below me,

Christ above me never to part.

The Golden Ephod

Again, as I have been reading through Exodus along the Read the Bible in a Year: Calendar of Daily Readings by Robert Murray M'Cheyne (You can buy it here), I came to Exodus 28.  There it describes the priests and especially the garments of the high priest.  It states in verse 6-14, 

They shall also make the ephod of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen, the work of the skillful workman. It shall have two shoulder pieces joined to its two ends, that it may be joined. The skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its workmanship, of the same material: of gold, of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen. You shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, six of their names on the one stone and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, according to their birth. As a jeweler engraves a signet, you shall engrave the two stones according to the names of the sons of Israel; you shall set them in filigree settings of gold. You shall put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of memorial for the sons of Israel, and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for a memorial. You shall make filigree settings of gold, and two chains of pure gold; you shall make them of twisted cordage work, and you shall put the corded chains on the filigree settings.

You see this ephod taken up in many different places throughout the Old Testament, so I went on my e-sword program to get quickly to Matthew Henry's commentary on this and this is what it said (I hope you are encouraged by it):

Directions are here given concerning the ephod, which was the outmost garment of the high priest. Linen ephods were worn by the inferior priests, 1Sa. 22:18. Samuel wore one when he was a child (1Sa. 2:18), and David when he danced before the ark (2Sa. 6:14); but this which the high priest only wore was called a golden ephod, because there was a great deal of gold woven into it. It was a short coat without sleeves, buttoned closely to him, with a curious girdle of the same stuff (Exo. 28:6-8); the shoulder-pieces were buttoned together with two precious stones set in gold, one on each shoulder, on which were engraven the names of the children of Israel, Exo. 28:9-12. In allusion to this, 1. Christ our high priest appeared to John girt about the breast with a golden girdle, such as was the curious girdle of the ephod, Rev. 1:13. Righteousness is the girdle of his loins (Isa. 11:6), and should be of ours, Eph_6:14. He is girt with strength for the work of our salvation, and is ready for it. 2. The government is said to be upon his shoulders (Isa. 9:6), as Aaron had the names of all Israel upon his shoulders in precious stone. He presents to himself and to his Father a glorious church, Eph. 5:27. He has power to support them, interest to recommend them, and it is in him that they are remembered with honour and favour. He bears them before the Lord for a memorial (Exo. 28:12), in token of his appearing before God as the representative of all Israel and an advocate for them.