WHEN AN APOSTLE IS CONCERNED -- Tomorrow:
"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 subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." (2 Corinthians 11:1-4)
Devotion 11 of 29
A CHASTE VIRGIN TO CHRIST
" . . . as a chaste virgin to Christ."
Other versions read, "to Christ . . . a pure virgin" (NASB), "a pure virgin to Him" (NIV), "to Christ . . . a pure bride" (RSV), "completely holy to Christ" (BBE), "a virgin pure for presentation to Christ" (NJB), "a pure maiden" (LIVING), "a faithful bride" (WEYMOUTH), and "a fresh unspoiled girl" (PHILLIPS).
In the Revelation, John saw the presentation of the bride to the Lord Jesus, her "husband." "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Rev 21:2-4).
Later that glorified city is said to be the bride herself – the Lamb's wife. "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal" (Rev 21:9-11).
Until that grand occasion, the bride is making herself ready for the marriage – to be joined to a spotless Husband. Therefore, it is written, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints" (Rev 19:7-8).
I must acknowledge that as I consider the modern church, I am NOT brought to think of a "chaste virgin" – one that is unspoiled with the contaminants of "this present evil world." The smell of the world is upon it, and the "garments of salvation" are not evident. It is too difficult to distinguish between the professed church and the world. In fact, sometimes such a distinction cannot be made at all.
The church has always had to deal with defilement within. However, this is a day when it can be said of it as was once said of Israel: " . . . the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment" (Isa 1:5-6). If you were to remove professionals from the church whose ministry has solely to do with addressing problems, a significant reduction in staff numbers would occur.
A SERIOUS WORK
Rescuing the fallen is a noble work, indeed, but when it is the fallen within the church, it is very dangerous work as well. It is of such a serious nature, that only the advanced are to engage in it. As it is written, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Gal 6:1). Such a work is to be entered into with much fear, and a determination to avoid being contaminated by the situation. Jude wrote of such efforts, "And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh"(Jude 1:22-23). This does not mean we save them by causing them to fear, threatening them with hell. The fear is to be in the one doing the rescuing, lest he be defiled by the very people he is seeking to save. One version reads, "be careful that you aren't contaminated by their sins" (NLT).
This by no means suggests that it is in order to leave those who have fallen to remain in a state of condemnation. Indeed, this is precisely why Paul is laboring so diligently with the Corinthians. However, it is every believer's business to avoid being in a situation where such a ministry is required. The grace of God may very well, indeed, recover those who have fallen back into sin. But grace was not given primarily for that purpose! It teaches a person to avoid retrogression, moving forward to maturity and readiness for the appearing of the Lord. As it is written, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:11-13). If these conditions are not taking place, then the grace of God has been "frustrated" and rejected, for these the things that grace unfailingly does.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for providing all of the means necessary to be well pleasing in Your sight.