We know that in the scriptures, a believer’s relationship with Jesus is compared to a Bridegroom/Bride relationship. The following is a description of two types of marriages. At the end, let me know which marriage you prefer.
Marriage A:
The main requirement in this marriage is the bride is required to love the husband with all her heart, mind and soul. On the wedding night, to facilitate this requirement, the husband provided the bride with “10 rules for an intimate happy marriage”. The rules certainly were for the bride’s benefit, as they spelled out what pleased the husband. If the husband was pleased, then intimacy could occur.
Now, no bride in history had ever been able to perfectly obey these rules, so the husband hired a helper for the bride. The helper’s only job was to observe the bride’s actions 24/7, and indicate to her when she fell short of the rules in any manner of thought or deed. The purpose being for the bride to realize the areas where she had fallen short, and try do better.
Before the bride was allowed to enter the husband’s bedchamber, she must ask and receive forgiveness for each shortcoming, and promise to do better the next day. The husband usually forgave her, unless a serious or repetitive violation had occurred. Then, she had to be really sorry for those infractions.
The Bride so desired intimacy with her husband, she took the rules and kept them close to her heart. At first she loved the rules and equated them to intimacy with her husband. She would spend all day thinking about the 10 rules, as she so wanted to be pleasing to the husband. She actually grew to like it when the helper pointed out her shortcomings, knowing the result would soon be intimacy with her husband as he forgave her.
Many times, even when the helper was silent, she asked herself if her actions had been good enough, maybe she could have done better. That way the husband might see her initiative in the matter, and be extra pleased, rewarding an extra 5 minutes in his presence.
However, as time went by, the bride began to realize the “10 rules for an intimate happy marriage” no longer made her complete. She still desired to obey the rules, but the harder she tried, the more she failed. Depression set in and she dreaded having to continually account for her mistakes. She grew weary of having to be sorrowful over and over. The bride reached a point where she believed her husband no longer loved her. After all, most of her time was spent apologizing to him, as he was only pleased when the rules were obeyed.
Finally, she completely withdrew to her own corner of the house, avoiding the husband’s presence as much as possible.
Marriage B:
The main requirement in this marriage is the Husband is required to love the bride with all His heart, His mind, and His soul. To facilitate this requirement, on the wedding night, the husband provides the bride with a promise that He will never leave or forsake her. He promises His love for her will never cease. He whispers in her ear she is perfect and complete in His eyes, a spotless bride without any blemish. He assures her that nothing she can do will ever diminish His love for her.
This Husband cherishes His bride. He chases her around the house desiring intimacy. She giggles and tries to hide, but He catches and embraces her. She can’t resist His love, and embraces Him back. His love changes her from within. She returns His love back to Him, because He first loved her.
All day the bride thinks of her Lover. She recalls His kisses, how He caresses her. Thoughts of their intimacy break forth in shouts of joy and loud singing. Her Beloved is never far from her. Sometimes her thoughts accuse her of being unworthy of such love. But, at that very moment of doubt, He sneaks up from behind and startles her saying: “My love, you are blessed with every blessing, set your mind on Me. I have prepared supper for your pleasure. Come and I will serve you. Let us drink from my vineyard. I love you so.”
Never does the Bride think there are rules to obey to earn His intimacy. What rules? There is only one rule for the bride. It is to believe her Husband loves her unconditionally. His love is what sustains her forever.
Conclusion:
Marriage A is a cruel “law based” counterfeit, another Gospel. It is typically taught in some form in most churches today.
Marriage B is the un-compromised Gospel, free from law, which is the power of God for salvation and the renewal of the mind. It is very seldom heard taught today.
We must not be ashamed to proclaim the finished work of Christ, faith in Jesus plus nothing. It is the true Gospel.
“It is Finished” 