Our Legal Marriage Covenant Devoted to Jesus Really Matters. How? ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba %

Our Legal Marriage Covenant Devoted to Jesus Really Does Matter. Let’s look at the marriage covenant that is referred to in scripture.

During Biblical times, a young man would go to the house of the one he wanted to marry. He was accompanied by his father. There he would offer her a glass of wine handed him by his father. That glass of wine was to say, “I love you. My life I offer to you. Will you marry me?” If she accepted and drank from the glass of wine, she sealed the covenant. But if she did not, there was no marriage covenant. Jesus Christ took the cup of wrath due us because of sin. He paid our price. A price so great, He asked the Father to remove that cup from Him, if any other way was possible. Aware of the depth of agony before Him. He set His face to the cross because of His tremendous love for me and you.

Then once the contract of marriage was signed. The bridegroom would return to his home with his father to build on the edition to their house. Meanwhile the bride would prepare and wait with great anticipation for her love to return for her. No one knew the timing of the return as all waited until that day when the groom’s father would announce. “Go, get your bride.” Then the son would run whatever time of the day or night to fetch his bride home. Then would begin the great festival with feasting and rejoicing. Finally it was time for the wedding and the wedding feast. What a beautiful picture of Christ and His church.

But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not ]understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left Matthew 24:36-41 NASB

Our Legal Marriage Covenant Devoted to Jesus

When Jesus Died on the Cross the Covenant of Sin and Death which bound us died. This because He paid the price we owed. That is why He can offer us a new covenant signed by His blood. That new covenant is throughout the scripture shown metaphorically as a covenant of marriage. This is why also throughout scripture God displays marriage between a man and a woman as so honored. To be seen as a picture of the relationship of Jesus and His Bride. Also, Israel the nation was chosen and referred to often as God’s chosen “wife”. Yet, He also bemoans throughout scripture Israel playing a harlot chasing after other gods.

His covenant with them was through the law given to them through Moses. The Law of God’s righteousness, holiness, and Grace was always displayed through nature. As well as being placed in the conscience of man. Also it is displayed in the perfect balance of the universe. Yet, He gave them the written law as well. Why? So that they and we might see how far we fall short of His righteousness.

The Purpose of the First Covenant

The law of God. His righteousness, holiness, and justice is unchanging. Humanity from the very beginning wanted to believe they could be a god within themselves. How else was it the serpent deceived Eve? Then Adam chose Eve over God’s command. If she were to die, then he chose also to die with her. All they had known was God’s love, His presence in the Garden, and His provision. They did not understand fully the righteousness of God, His love, His justice, and His wrath against sin. So, it was they would fall. And we are now born with a choice as to which covenant we fall under. Do we choose to say yes to the cup of wine offered by Christ? Or do we wish to remain under the old covenant.

Such is the confidence we have toward God through Christ. Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 NASB

How Can We Have a Legal Marriage Covenant Devoted to Jesus?

Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Romans 7:1-3 KJV

Paul is moving here to further explain what he has already presented in Romans 6. We died with Christ so we might live then to Christ. This time he presents this as a metaphor using the marriage covenant. Just as God refers to our union with Christ a marriage covenant. And God the Father’s Covenant with Israel. Although, His is somewhat like that of a faithful husband with an unfaithful wife. Ours is to be one of greater devotion, given we have the Holy Spirit indwelling to guide us.

Wherefore, my brethren, 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. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. Romans 7:4-6 KJV

We who accept the proposal of marriage We are united with Christ by accepting the cup He offers. Our sins died on that cross with Him. That is, we are then raised to new life. Our spirit which was dead because of sin, is now made alive in Him. That marriage covenant is then sealed with Him by the Holy Spirit.

An Unbreakable Legal Marriage Covenant Devoted to Jesus

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him, regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in the Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1: 3-14 NASB

How are both true? He chose us before the foundation of the world. And He gives us the chance to choose Him. Seems by many an impossibility that both are equally true. Yet, I firmly believe as do many great theologians, they are both equally true. If I understood all the mysteries of who God IS. And truly knew how this all fits together. He would not be as wondrous or glorious. Since I cannot fully understand now, I long for the day even more that I see Him face to face. The day all the mysteries are gone. Yet, even then. The magnificence of seeing Him is such a wondrous thought, nothing matters as much as being just in His presence.

The Former Covenant’s Grip of Death

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 2 Corinthians 3: 7-11 KJV

The law itself was not evil. Indeed, it was the outward writing of that which was written in the heart of humanity. Our conscience failed to keep us from sin. Even those who try with all their might to reach heaven on their own like the people of Babel. However, we fail. Therefore, the law itself is not bad. It only exposes the death within us.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Romans 7:7-12 KJV

There is a time before “awareness” that as a child, we are protected. That is until we become aware of right and wrong. Children do lie, hide, and sin; but unaware that they are sinning. This considered as before the “age of accountability”.

So, What is our hope if we Accept the Legal Marriage Covenant Devoted to Jesus?

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 KJV

Ah, yes! We will be transformed. We will be dressed in robes of righteousness. Ours will be fine linen, bright and clean on that our wedding day.

He is coming to take us Home one day soon. We shall rise to meet Him in the air to forever more be with Him. The question then is. Have you taken the cup He offers you? Have you said yes to Him?

Our next glass of the wine He shares with us will be in our wedding with Him. He said, “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 26:29

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

7 Ways Jesus Death Burial and Resurrection Powers You to Conquer Sin

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. That is except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible except where otherwise indicated

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Picture licensed from Kling AI