“The Dilemma Of A One-Sided Love Affair”

II Corinthians 11:1-4; Jeremiah 3:14-15

1) Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

2) 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.

3) 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.

4) 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.

14) Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

15) And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Preface

T

he The title of our message might sound like something from a soap opera, but unfortunately, is probably more "true-to-life" than is healthy.

The misconception of salvation that is held by Man explains the dilemma in our subject. You see, because we believe that we, of ourselves, are important to the Lord, we expect Him to "take" just about anything—while we take nothing! Man fails to recognize that he has been created, by God, for a purpose!

Main Thought

Jeremiah is often chosen by people because of the opinion, frequently stated, that "God is married to the backslider." Evidently, those with the proclivity to sin want and need to believe that this is true.

In our text, Paul is saying to Israel that he has taught them that they might be prepared to be espoused to Jesus. The fact is that God has one "bride"—and that is the Church. Obviously, since God is a Spirit, any bride He would take must be spiritual, also. Therefore, instead of preachers "espousing" the current psychological "babble," their efforts should be concentrated upon preparing a people for heaven.

Through our selection from Jeremiah, we are given to understand that Man will not be selected in large numbers. This is not because of God not being fair, but because "the Way" is narrow, restricted and is prohibitive precisely because it is not humanly accepted, but rather, through the Spirit.

Unlike fleshly "lovers," the Lord never leaves us "guessing" concerning His intentions. He has one purpose for "courting" us and one only—to save us from the eternal judgment. of hell.

Seeing our plight, He is willing even to share with us what makes Him, "Him": His image and likeness. Since all but Jesus are born into the World as fleshly beings, we must be "born again" into the image and likeness of Jesus, Obviously, since one cannot be "born again" physically, this "second birth" must be spiritual. Try as we might "to educate" (much as some "medicate"), education will not eliminate sin. The only thing that will is being put to death with Jesus.

To be "Christian" means to be "Christ-like" and one only can be considered "like" anyone else when he can be identified with the character of the other. Today’s "Christians" often seem to forget this in that they desire all of the rights, privileges and blessings of being a "loved one"—but none of the responsibility. Therefore, the "Christianity" of most becomes determined by what God has done for them rather then by what has been done (by the individual) for the Lord.

Perhaps because "God is a Spirit... ," we seem to believe it to be "ok" that most of the love shown in our spiritual life comes from the Lord. Why should this be alright? After all, we would not be pleased with this behavior (toward us) were this a "natural" relationship—nor would it be tolerated.

This was Israel's "handling" of their situation with God. You see, though they were not committed, they expected God to "do" for them. Perhaps, they felt this to be their "right" as a bride. The problem? While they were His "natural" bride, they were not His "spiritual" bride. That bride would not be "born" for centuries—in a small, crowded room, inhabited by eager, seeking and expectant individuals.

It is we who have accepted the position of "oneness" with the Lord and while that bestows upon us eternal blessing, it also assures a debt that we cannot pay. As part of His Church, we are now "married" to Jesus, though we have, as yet, not "come together" with Him. This is somewhat of a problem, for too many accept that because we are still waiting, we are not required to conduct ourselves as a bride. Of course, most of us already know of the ancient custom of waiting a year before the consummation of the marriage. If at any time within that year the bride was found to be "with child," the woman was considered an adulteress—and would be dealt with accordingly.

Just as physical fornication was not tolerated within a solemnized, yet not yet consummated union, so we, being "solemnized" with Jesus, though we have not yet "come together" with Him, will suffer the consequences of "adultery."