Is the Church Christ?

[Your closest friendnt]

7 minutes ago, 1to3 said:

Both= in that  the parable explains the literal.

Those wh0 believe in our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus will be reunited for ever  with God the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

Will be reunited for ever...with God ....???

Reunited...???? 

They were ones united then they God separated and now they will be reunited....

Perhaps if you give the scriptures it will help to understand what you have read to say that...and that calls for discussing the scriptures...

That I would like to do...

[Marilyn C]

59 minutes ago, 1to3 said:

Both= in that  the parable explains the literal.

Portrayed as the bridegroom in this relationship, God reveals Himself to be faithful, loving, and committed to a covenant union with His church, comprised of all who believe in Jesus Christ and have accepted His atoning grace and gift of salvation.

Those wh0 believe in our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus will be reunited for ever with God the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

1 John 3:2 explains that when Christians see Jesus, either through death or at the rapture, they will be like Him

 

 

 

  1 John 3:2

² Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

 

It is either a parable or it is literal. You can`t have it both ways. You can`t rail at people in OZ for not seeing the parable, and then write it as a literal marriage. 

Parable. (your quote)

Also I do not know how lacking the educational system has gotten in your land of oz or anywhere else for that matter , to not be able to SEE a Parable for what it is.

Literal. (your quote)

When Christ returns in the prophesied Second Coming, He will celebrate with His bride in a wedding ceremony where the two will be united forever.  

[1to3]

@Marilyn C What do YOU think it means?

[Vine Abider]

On 2/3/2023 at 9:10 PM, Marilyn C said:

Hi VA,

yes, would be good if we could all attend to the topic. Yes, all agree that the church the Body of Christ is (of) the Lord. However, many think that we are also a female, a wife, a bride.

Now, I do have a few more thoughts regarding this. Over our way here in OZ I know of a lady, (divorced) who believes that Jesus is her husband, because she told me. This thought is very soulish as it is all about `me.`

And that has been a focus of many of the Pentecostal denominations & Charismatics. They tend to read God`s word as all about me/us. `Who we are in Christ,` What is your gifting,` `What is your dream...` and so on.

Now, while there is some truth there it is an unbalanced focus. The Lord is always our focus and it is He we read of in God`s word. We are only part of His great eternal purposes.

The difficulty has come about when believers have taken the symbol to be literal. Now let`s look at a few symbols -

The Lord is my rock - does that mean He is a real rock? No, but it denotes, strength.

The Lord is the Lamb of God - is He a real lamb? No, but it denotes His vulnerable sacrifice.  

The Lord is the bridegroom and will marry the bride - is that a real marriage? (as on earth?) No, but denotes the union, the becoming one, in harmony.

`and they shall become one...` (Gen. 2: 24)

`that they may be one as we are.` (John 17: 11)

`for we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.` (Eph. 5: 30)

 

There is not closer or greater relationship than Christ the Head and His BODY.

One morning in my meditation the Lord showed me the three "B's" - His body, His building and His bride. It dawned on me that He was speaking to us in terms we could best understand, about things we too care deeply about.  (It was one of probably ten things I would say the Lord has very specifically made clear to me in pretty much an instant over the past 50 years.)

If we think of these things as they relate to us, there is nothing that we would be as passionate about as our bodies, our house (building) or our spouse (bride - in my case).  This is God telling us that He is most passionate about these things, and He conveys these pictures to us.

So the bible uses word pictures like these, and such illustrating Christ as our "rock."  Does that mean He is an actual rock?  Maybe not, but 1st Corinthians 10:4 says "they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ."  So the pictures and relationships it conveys are wonderful, but also quite mysterious to us. 

But these are the pictures He uses to best communicate effectively with us, and we need the Spirit's illumination to see what it all means clearly. So we sometimes get into these interesting back & forth conversations about things that are more than a little nebulous to our natural minds . . .  It's really sort of amusing when you think about it - we're like children siting around trying to describe their understanding of quantum theory to each other! 

 

[1to3]

2 hours ago, Your closest friendnt said:

Will be reunited for ever...with God ....???

Reunited...???? 

They were ones united then they God separated and now they will be reunited....

Perhaps if you give the scriptures it will help to understand what you have read to say that...and that calls for discussing the scriptures...

That I would like to do...

Yes we need the covering for our sins by the Holy Blood of Christ Jesus to come into the presence of God (1 John 1:7) (Hebrews 10:22)  (Hebrews 13:12) , Christ Jesus is our advocate before God (1 John 2:1,) ( God is light and no darkness can live in His light 1John ch1) we Need the Blood covering atonement of Christ Jesus to to UNITE us /go into the 3rd heaven where God resides (Colossians 1:20)

[HAZARD]

We are JUSTIFIED in the eyes of God by faith, just-if-I'd never sinned. The precious literal blood of Jesus (sprinkled on the heavenly Mercy Seat) takes our sins away forever (1st Peter 1:18,19; Hebrews 9:12,24). This is true righteousness, and it is found ONLY in Christ Jesus! We are commanded to seek HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS if we want to enter into the Kingdom of God. “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and RIGHTEOUSNESS, and sanctification, and redemption” (1st Corinthians 1:30). The Lord Jesus Christ is our righteousness through faith in Him!!!

[Marilyn C]

6 hours ago, Vine Abider said:

One morning in my meditation the Lord showed me the three "B's" - His body, His building and His bride. It dawned on me that He was speaking to us in terms we could best understand, about things we too care deeply about.  (It was one of probably ten things I would say the Lord has very specifically made clear to me in pretty much an instant over the past 50 years.)

If we think of these things as they relate to us, there is nothing that we would be as passionate about as our bodies, our house (building) or our spouse (bride - in my case).  This is God telling us that He is most passionate about these things, and He conveys these pictures to us.

So the bible uses word pictures like these, and such illustrating Christ as our "rock."  Does that mean He is an actual rock?  Maybe not, but 1st Corinthians 10:4 says "they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ."  So the pictures and relationships it conveys are wonderful, but also quite mysterious to us. 

But these are the pictures He uses to best communicate effectively with us, and we need the Spirit's illumination to see what it all means clearly. So we sometimes get into these interesting back & forth conversations about things that are more than a little nebulous to our natural minds . . .  It's really sort of amusing when you think about it - we're like children siting around trying to describe their understanding of quantum theory to each other! 

 

Hi VA,

It is wonderful when God speaks to us, and is something to be listened to. However, you may not realise that when you say that as the reason for your belief then you are saying what you hear is above God`s word. We don`t always hear correctly and as you would agree what we hear needs to be in line with God`s word. 

And that is what we are discussing. Or are we not allowed to discuss because you have heard God say......

Also, to say that we are like children trying to discuss quantum theory also puts a dampener on a discussion - "well we aren`t to know," then people think and say God`s word is too hard and not for us to know.

So is that what you mean? 

[Marilyn C]

21 hours ago, Your closest friendnt said:

In one part of your post is describing the Royal Priest or the members of the Royal Priesthood for clarity....

Hi YCF,

Finally get back to you. The post you are referring to had quotes from 1to3.

[Marilyn C]

6 hours ago, 1to3 said:

@Marilyn C What do YOU think it means?

Hi 1to3,

Now, that is very good of you to ask. I`ll try and explain succinctly. I believe any interpretation we need is already in God`s word, thus I don`t try and make things up. 

Thus, we need to go to the book of Ruth. There we find the typology of the Lord as kinsman-redeemer. Boaz is the type and he had to fulfill 4 requirements in his role as kinsman-redeemer. 

These are the four requirements that Boaz needed to do to acquire the land and Ruth.

1.  Proof of Relationship.

Boaz was a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech. He was a kinsman. (Ruth 2: 1)

 

2.  Uphold God`s Law.

Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city to oversee the transaction. (Ruth 4: 2)

 

3. Clear the debt.

Boaz asked the closer kinsman if he desired to redeem the parcel of land of his brother Elimelech. He also said that the transaction included the marriage to Ruth. The closer kinsman declined to redeem the land and Ruth thus not becoming the kinsman-redeemer. Boaz however, chose to redeem the land and to take Ruth as his wife. (Ruth 4: 4 - 12)

 

4.  Consummate the marriage union.

Boaz took Ruth for His wife and she bore a son to him, Obed, and he begat Jesse the father of David.  (Ruth 4: 13 - 22) From this line Jesus was born. (Matt. 1: 1 - 16)

 

(to be continued.)

 

[Your closest friendnt]

7 minutes ago, Marilyn C said:

Hi YCF,

Finally get back to you. The post you are referring to had quotes from 1to3.

The point I was making is when I read in your post that we should put on the white linen garment...

This is a reference to the Royal Priesthood...

It's like in the Sinai Covenant not everyone was a Priest...

And so is with the New Covenant not every believer is part of the Royal Priesthood...