Welcome to NECF. We're thrilled you're here.
Make sure to stay with us till the end, where
we'll share some great resources to deepen your
faith. Now, let's dive into this week's sermon.
Matthew chapter 19. I will start reading from
verse 1. So, we will be continuing our study
on the issues. regarding or about women's liberty.
Let's read Matthew 19, verse 1 to 6. Now it came
to pass, when Jesus had finished this saying,
that he departed from Galilee and came to the
region of Judea, beyond the Jordan. A great multitude
followed him, and he healed the Pharisees who
also came to him. testing him and saying to him,
Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for
just any reason? And he answered and said to
them, Have you not read that he who made them
at the beginning made them male and female? Verse
5. And he said, For this reason a man shall leave
his father and mother and be joined to his wife.
and the two shall become one flesh. Verse 6.
So then, they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Therefore, what God has joined together, let
not man separate. Let not man separate. So, in
responding to the Pharisees' question, Jesus
quoted from Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. Look at
verse 4. And he answered and said to them, Have
you not read that he who made them at the beginning
made them male and female? Male and female. This
quotation is from Genesis chapter 1, verse 27.
Again, when you look at verse 5. And he said,
For this reason, a man shall leave his father
and mother and be joined to his wife. The two
shall be or shall become one flesh. This quotation
is from Genesis 2, verse 24. Now, in the past
couple of teachings, what we tried to do or what
we have tried to do in this series is to look
at reference 5, what Jesus pointed them to. Meaning
that we already dealt with this, that there is
a faulty way the Pharisees had or faulty mindset
they had about the woman. And we noted that was
not what Jesus saw. So he was trying to correct
them. And obviously he showed them an error.
that they have not been paying attention to details.
Although they were teachers of the law, they
were not paying attention to details. That's
why he said, have you not read? We look at that
word read, it's not just a going over, but really
a keen and a deliberate effort to read diligently,
to read carefully, to read with attention to
detail. And we took time to look at Jesus' response
that took us to Genesis chapter 2. And we began
our study from verse 9 in Genesis chapter 2.
And we moved down to 24. Now we're still on it
before we move. Because I will still have to
look at the response he gave in verse 4. We are
coming to that. So as I said, we have some journey
to cover. But bear with me. So, I think there
are some important things today I want us to
look at again. In response, I mean, what Jesus
responds, particularly in verse 5. Particularly
in verse 5. Now, I want to just remind us our
last teaching or our last message. We noted that
in that verse 24. Maybe let's get back to, before
I come back again. Go back to Genesis. Let's
look at that scripture from Genesis chapter 2.
Let's go back there. Where Jesus quoted that.
That means just corresponding to verse 5 of Matthew
19. Genesis chapter 2. Look at verse 24. and
be joined to his wife, and they shall become
one flesh. And this word, therefore, was actually
from like a conclusion and that we took time
to study last time, especially Adam's response
in verse 23. This is now bones of my bones and
flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman
because she was taken. out of man she was taken
out of man and we said there must be we need
to be careful as we read scripture and pay attention
to what uh the bible is saying the bible is saying
and i want us to know something and you know
when most times when we just say that this is
talking about just straight away marriage between
Adam and Eve. You begin to wonder, did Adam have
a father and a mother that he had to move away
from? Have you ever thought about that? That
he had to live in the sand? So that means there
is something much more deeper that actually God
wants to communicate to us. And for that reason,
we saw last time. that bone of my bones is not
the woman. It's not just talking about the woman,
but it's talking about an identity. And we saw
that the word deep sleep talks about Adam's vision
in deep sleep, just like what happened to Abraham
also in Genesis 15. So we saw that after Adam
had that vision, Then he responded that this
is the bone of my bone, which means that he recognized
that this woman is the same with me. We have
the same identity. We have the same stock. And
we saw that after we have gone through Moses'
teaching notes. Now, there is something I want
to do also in regard to this scripture. with
Ephesians chapter 5. So I want to come back to
Ephesians chapter 5 because I touched it in the
last part of the message we had last time. And
it's neat also to carefully and deliberately
look at that scripture. Because most times we
use that scripture for marriage. And as we said,
there's no problem to use it in marriage if you
explain it well. Just the same way when you have
a bad deed, there's nothing wrong to quote a
scripture as long as you didn't quote it wrongly.
Or didn't explain it wrongly. Amen. Then you
look at Ephesians chapter 5. So just walk with
me gradually. I want to start reading from verse
1. So we're going to do maybe just a contextual
study. I want us to read from verse 1. Now look
at verse 1. Therefore, Be imitators of God as
dear children and walk in love as Christ also.
Wait a minute. By saying therefore, it means
that that was not where the discussion starts.
So it starts from chapter 4. So let's move back
a little bit to chapter 4 to see. I'm not going
to read the entire chapter 4, but let me just
pick some few verses from chapter 4. Look at
particularly verse 1. Chapter 4, verse 31. He
said, let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor,
and evil speaking be put away from you. Obviously,
he's talking to the church in Ephesus. So he
said, put it away from you. Put away from you.
He said, with all malice, verse 32, and be kind
to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another. Even as God in Christ forgives you.
So you can see verse 31 and 32 is like a comparison.
What you should not or what should not even be
mentioned among you as believers, as a church,
as a body of Christ. It's not your identity.
That shouldn't be heard among you. But then he
now told them what is. in consonant with who
they are. What's that one? And be kind. That
is the nature of who they are. Be kind to one
another. Tenderhearted. Forgiving one another.
Even as God in Christ forgives you. So God now
is the model of their walking in forgiveness,
of their walking in kindness in the Son. So look
at... Chapter 5. Therefore, be imitators of God
as dear children. Meaning that he's saying that
just reflect your nature. Because you are God's
children, so you have the ability, you understand,
to look at what daddy is doing or what he has
done in Christ. And then you do it. Meaning Christ
is the model. And in fact, verse 2 tells us that.
And walk in love. So he is trying to tell them
right from this context where we start to read.
In a nutshell, is to walk in love. Because that
is their nature. Because he said, as dearly beloved
children. We have talked about this text over
and over. When he was talking about love in the
sand. And as Christ also has loved us and given
himself for us. And offering a sacrifice to God.
for a sweet -smelling aroma. Which means that
Christ is a model of our walking in love. Are
we together? Of our walking in love. So Paul
was teaching about love here in the sand. That
that love must be modeled after our nature, must
be modeled after Christ, what he did in the sand
to us through his death and resurrection. That
is through his sacrifice. Now look at verse 3.
Move to verse 3. He said, but fornication and
all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even
be named among you as it is fitting for saint.
Now, if you look at also, it's like Paul was
just saying what you should not be behead among
you and what should be. Do you understand what
I'm saying? Just like we saw in chapter 4, verse
31 and then 32. He said, what should not, and
then what should. The same way here he is saying
verse, if you look at verse 1, you understand,
verse 2 of chapter 5, he said, what should. And
then by the time you move to verse 3, he said,
what should not, because it does not reflect
your nature. He said, but fornication and all
uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even
be named among you as is fitting. for saints.
Remember, they are saints. They are saints. Are
we together? In chapter 1, he has already, chapter
1, verse 1, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
by the will of God, to the saints, you understand,
who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus.
So already, they have been sanctified. They are
saints. They have a new name. They have a new
nature. And so he said, covetousness, fornication
is not part of your nature. Uncleanness is not
part of your nature. So it should not be named,
even be mentioned among you, because that is
what is fitting for the saints. Because those
things are not part of the nature of the saints.
He now moved to chapter 4, verse 4 of chapter
5. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor
coerced jesting, which are not fitting. He said,
those type of talk are not fitting. There are
some, there are some, this filthy talk should
not be heard among you. I mean, shouldn't come
out of your lips. He said, but rather giving
of thanks. I mean, it should come just naturally.
Anything that happens, oh, glory to Jesus. Oh,
thank you, Father. That is what is fitting for
the saint. You understand? Kowals joking, and
this is where you know, and you know that those
who invite comedian to come and to making jest
of the Holy Spirit, I mean, and be making jest
of sacred things, of course, cannot be true,
cannot be, cannot be what is fitting for the
saints. You understand? Comedy and comedians
have no place. You understand? In the agenda
of God. You understand? We don't need them. Generally,
human beings, we can crack jokes. But there are
jokes that should not be heard. Not those ones
that play with sacred things. Things of the spirit.
No, no. Not glorifying lies. On stage, he said,
when I was coming on that day, and I saw my mama
coming, You have not seen your mama. There's
no way there. So you cook up all kinds of things
and people are laughing. And we speak foolish
things. We speak things that are not fitting.
Making jest. No, that's not correct. Speaking
vulgar words. You understand? No, that's not
correct. That is not fitting for saints. He said,
but giving of thanks. He said, giving of thanks.
So Paul was teaching the church. How they should
live a life that is fitting for a saint, for
their nature. The life that reflects their identity,
fitting for saints. Look at verse 5. Look at
verse 5. For this you know. So pay attention
here. He said, for this you know. So he's telling
the saint, you know, that no fornicator, unclean
person, or covetous man who is an idolater. Has
any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and
God. Verse 6. Let no one deceive you with empty
words. For because of these things, the wrath
of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Comes
upon the sons of disobedience. You know, most
times. When we use this text, especially this
text, I will read another text that is in 1 Corinthians
also. You know, most times, many people have
preached and taught believers. Will you go into
make it? Don't you know that you can't? This
is some of the text they used to say you will
lose your salvation. That if you practice these
things, if you live in fornication, if you live
in these, you understand, you will lose your
salvation because... you will not inherit the
kingdom of God. But look at it. Remember, he
told them, don't you know, or this you know.
I want you each time you are reading scripture,
pay attention. I mean, Paul has been saying that
actually to the Corinthians, to the church in
Corinth. He will tell them, don't you know that
your body, do you understand what I'm trying
to say? Don't you know. Now here he's saying,
for this you know, which means that it is, He
is trying to tell them, remember what I said
earlier on, that there is a lifestyle he is telling
them not to do because it does not align with
their nature. So he's trying to point them that
that lifestyle he's telling them not to do is
actually coming from somewhere. It's a lifestyle
of other people who are not in Christ. Are we
together? So verse 5 and verse 6 is describing
people. Who are not in Christ. Because that is
their nature. That is how they live. So when
he said. For this you know. That no fornicator.
That one no fornicator. Unclean person. Is not
saying. That a fornicator here. In this context.
Does not mean the person. Who fornicates. No.
He means an unbeliever. Living in fornication.
That's what this one means. Are you with me?
That's why when you move to verse 6, he said,
let no one deceive you. Let no one deceive you
with empty words. For because these things, the
wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
No, saints are not sons of disobedience. Are
we together? Saints, because they are saints.
They are not sons of disobedience. So Paul was
not saying that. If a believer practices these
things, he will not inherit the kingdom of God
or he will have the wrath of God. No. And again,
we're going to, which we started, but we'll teach
on what is called the wrath of God. You understand?
Because it's a word that needs to be understood
in its own context. The wrath of God is not saying
God has a wrath. No. Because that's why, let
me leave that. We're coming back to it. You understand?
Now, but the point I'm trying to make is that
he said the light of God is upon the sons of
disobedient. Are we together? So when you look
at from verse 5 to 6, he's just showing the lifestyle
that are actually a nature of the unbelievers.
And he called them fornicators. He called them
unclean persons. He called them covetous. A covetous
man. Who is an idolater. He said these people
have no inheritance. In the kingdom of God. But
the saint have an inheritance. He said I commend
you to God. And to the word of his grace. Are
we together? Which is able to build you. You
understand? That word there is not. That's not
the correct way. He's not able to build you and
give you. No. Which has built you. and has given
you an inheritance among them that are sanctified.
Because it's not something that is continuous.
No. Are we together? Oh, glory to Jesus. There
are some certainties sometimes when we touch,
we have to just adjust them a little bit before
we continue. Please, go to that scripture quickly.
Let me just do something. In Acts 20, verse 32.
Acts 20, verse 32. You understand? 20, 32. Look
at it. He says, So now, brethren, I commend you
to God and to the word of his grace, which, here
he says, which is able to build you and to give
you an inheritance among them who are sanctified.
You know, it will look, when you read this scripture,
it will look as if you are to be committed to
the word of God. You understand? And then it
will give you your inheritance and it will build
you. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Now, before
I explain this, just move quickly, you understand,
to chapter 26, verse 18. Just move. It's the
same text also. I mean, the same way it was presented
in that place. 26, verse 18. 26, verse 18. You
understand? Now, maybe let me just read. A little
bit, but my focus is verse 18. Let me read verse
17. He said, I will deliver you from the Jewish
people as well as from the Gentiles to whom I
now send you. Of course, Paul was just narrating
that if you go back a little bit, you will understand
what he was trying to communicate in the psalm.
And then verse 18 says, to open their eyes in
order to turn. So how is a man sanctified? He
is by faith. How is a man received forgiveness?
By faith. How is a man received or how does a
man receive inheritance? Oh, talk to me now.
It's also by what? By faith. So, it's by faith
you receive inheritance. Are we together? Together
with the saints. With other saints. So, it's
not you do something. It's not that you commit
yourself to the world and then God delivers to
you your inheritance. No. Your inheritance comes
at salvation when you believe. Are we together?
So when you go back here, you will read it properly.
So now, brethren, I commend you to God, verse
20, I mean chapter 20, verse 32, and to the word
of his grace, which has bailed you. That's how
it's supposed to be. You understand? And giving
you an inheritance among them that are sanctified.
Glory to Jesus. Because he came by faith. It's
not an ongoing thing. It's what has happened.
It's a past tense. It came when you believed.
So when you go back to Ephesians chapter 5, where
we are looking at. So when he says that in verse
5, that these fornicators, the person who is
unclean, the one who is covetous, who is an idolater,
he said they have no inheritance. Definitely
you know he's talking about people who are not
born again. They have no inheritance. We have
an inheritance among them that are sanctified.
Together with believers, together with other
believers, together with brethren in the Son.
And so he also moved further to talk about these
unbelievers. He said they are sons of disobedience.
They are sons of disobedience. They are sons
of disobedience. Earlier, Paul pointed the church.
in Ephesus that this is who they were before.
He's trying to say this is not their current
position. This is who they were before. Look
at Ephesians chapter 2 from verse 1. This is
what he told them. He said, Who now walk in who?
The sons of disobedience. He said, this is who
you were before. You understand? He said, among
whom also we all once conducted ourselves in
the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires
of the flesh and of the mind. And we are by nature,
okay, by nature children of wrath. Did you see
that? The believer is not under the wrath. He's
only the children of disobedience. He said, just
as others. But look at verse 4. He said, but
God, but God, who is rich in mercy because of
his great love with which he loved us, even when
we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together.
Made us alive together with Christ. By grace,
you have been saved. He's talking to believers.
Though that was your lifestyle, but now you have
been saved. Verse 6, and raised up together and
made us three together in heavenly. That place
is not there in the sand. In the heavenly, in
Christ. Jesus. In Christ is only a place. Glory
to Jesus. Amen. Verse 7. He said that in the
ages to come, he might show the exceeding riches
of his grace in his kindness toward us in Christ.
Verse 8. For by grace you have been saved through
faith and are not of yourself. It is a gift of
God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Verse 10. For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus for good work, which God prepared
beforehand that we should work in them. Hallelujah.
Now go to verse 8 of chapter 5, Ephesians chapter
5 verse 8. He also noted the same thing. He said,
for you we are once in darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord. So walk as children of
light. Walk as children of light. So you can
see that verse 5 and 6 is not saying that believers
who practice those ungodly lifestyle would not
inherit the kingdom of God. No, that's not what
he's saying. But Paul was just admonishing them
to live the life fitting for the sin. and pointed
them that there's a lifestyle which they have
been practicing before they believed. Now that
they are believers, they cannot continue to practice
those lives because they knew, now they know
that those who are in that lifestyle, who are
unbelievers, whose lifestyle is the way they
live because they are unbelievers, that's how
they live. You understand? That's their lifestyle.
That is not the lifestyle of the believer. He
said those ones who did not believe and they
are living that lifestyle because that is the
way they live. He said that they have no place
in God's kingdom. They are sons of disobedience.
But because they are in God, that lifestyle is
a past life. And that is not fitting for the
saint. So you can see from the first part of
chapter 12. Chapter 5, what Paul is admonishing
them is to walk in love. Is to walk in love.
And walking in love, you now move on to begin
to talk and speak concerning other issues. I
said I want to read that verse also that looks
almost what Paul is saying here in 1 Corinthians
chapter 6. Look at 1 Corinthians chapter 6. It's
the same thing he was teaching also here. 1 Corinthians
chapter 6. There are any of you having a matter
against another? Look at verse 1. Go to law before
the unrighteous and not before the saint? Do
you not know that the saint will judge the world?
Now, each time you hear Paul is talking about
do you know, know, know, don't you know? That
is the only way a believer will live right, is
by how? By knowledge. Believers do not do what
is right by putting them under the law. Do this.
Don't do that. Touch not. Don't do this. No.
They live their life by knowledge. The more they
know God, the more they know their identity in
him, the more they practice and they live according
to who they are. So he told them here. He said,
do you not know? that the saint will judge the
world? And if the world will be judged by you,
are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
Do you not know that we shall judge the angels?
How much more things that pertain to this life?
If then you have judgment concerning things pertaining
to this life, do you appoint those? who are least
esteemed by the church to judge. Verse 5, I say
this to your shame. Is it so that there is not
a wise man among you, not even one, who will
be able to judge between his brethren? But brother,
go to the law against brother, and that before
unbelievers. Now therefore, it is already an
utter failure for you. That you go to the law
against one another. Why do you not rather accept
wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be
cheated? No. You yourself do wrong and cheat.
And you do these things to your brethren. Verse
9. Do you not know that I am unrighteous? will
not inherit the kingdom of God. Now look at verse
9 again. Do not be deceived. The same thing he
told them. Do not be deceived in verse 6 of Ephesians
chapter 5. Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators,
nor idolaters, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revelers, nor extortioners, will inherit the
kingdom of God. So verse 9 is not talking about
believers. Look at verse 11. He says, and such
were some of you. Oh, talk to me. He says, such
were, not now. He says, such were some of you.
But you were washed. But you were sanctified.
But you were justified in the name of the Lord
Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. Glory to
Jesus. So he was pointing them to a lifestyle
that is not theirs. That lifestyle is a lifestyle
of those who did not believe. And those who did
not believe have no inheritance. In the kingdom
of God. Go back to verse 5. I mean Ephesians
5. Go back to Ephesians 5. So look at verse 8.
Or from verse 7. He said, therefore do not be
partakers with them. Because that's not your
nature. Verse 8. For you were once in darkness.
Now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children
of light. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all
godliness, righteousness and truth. Finding out
what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship
with unfruitful works of darkness. But rather
expose them. For it is shameful even to speak.
of those things which are done by them in secret.
For all things that are exposed are made manifest
by light. Whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore,
he says, awake you who sleep, arise from the
dead, and Christ will give you light. Pastor,
you want to talk to us in this text in the psalm.
Sometimes you go. He taught us some time ago.
In this part. He said that. He talked to us in
a number of things here. And I want you to see.
In this part. He's talking about walking in light.
Walking in light. Walking in light. Walking in
light. He further shows us. You understand. If
you continue from verse 15. So you can see from
verse 7. Or from verse 8. to verse 14, he talks
about walking in light. From when you read from
verse 15, he says, See then that you walk circumspectly,
not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time
because the days are evil. We talked about these
scriptures before, meaning that the days are
unreliable. Therefore, do not be unwise, but
understand what the will of the Lord is. what
the will of the Lord is. So he said, do not be
unwise. So he talks about working in wisdom also
here. When you move from verse 18, he talks about,
and do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation,
but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the
Lord. Did you see that? Verse 21. Submitting
to one another in the fear of the Lord. If you
look at this place, it's talking about also being
filled with the Spirit or living in the Spirit.
And by living in the Spirit means ministering
to one another. Now, in all of this, he's talking
about the same thing. Working in love, it means
working in light. Working in light means working
in wisdom. Working in wisdom means working in
the Spirit. Glory to Jesus. So, Paul was just
emphasizing, but he's talking about the same
thing. All the same thing. Now, look at verse
22. Wives, submit to your own husband as to the
Lord. For the husband is their head. of the wife.
As also Christ is the head of the church and
he is the savior of the body. He is the savior
of the body. Now, most times we use this text,
you understand, and thought it as marriage. But
no, it is not marriage. I don't want you to disconnect
this text from the others that we have read.
It's the context we are reading. Don't disconnect
it. No. What is the context saying? We have talked
about it. Walking in love. which means walking
in light, walking in wisdom, walking in the Spirit.
Are we together? That's the context of discussion.
You can say walking in love, it still means the
same thing. You are correct. When you say also
walking in the light, you are correct. When you
say walking in wisdom, you are correct. You understand?
When you say walking in the Spirit, you are correct.
Or being filled with the Spirit. Because it talks
about being filled with the Spirit. We have taught
it in this church. It's not something coming
on you. You understand? It's you. That's why
he said be filled with the Spirit. You understand?
He says speaking to one another. Talking about
ministering to one another. Just the same way
walking in love. You understand? Forgiving one
another. All those things we have talked about.
So that's the context. And I don't want you to
go away from the context. So he continues in
that perspective. Look at verse 22. You understand?
He says wives. So this verse 22 to that point
is actually talking about the application of
what Paul has already taught the entire church.
to wives. What he taught from verse 22 to 24,
it's just like, for example, what you just maybe
told a child and then an adult appeared, you
just informed or you just teach the same thing.
These are two different class of people, but
we are teaching the same thing. Remember, when
he said wives submit, that's exactly what he
taught to the child. In fact, in verse 21, he
said submitting to one another. So that is...
Living in the spirit. So when you read also,
you understand? So that is also means living
in love. That's what also means living in the
light. It also means living in wisdom. Are we
together? Or not living as unwise because submitting
means that you are not living as unwise. Hallelujah.
So being filled with the spirit ministry to one
another. So in fact, Paul told the wives to submit,
you understand? What he said to submit. was not
different from what he told the church. So to
submit, as I said, it means working love. To
submit means working light. To submit means working
wisdom. To submit means working the spirit. That's
what it means. Look at verse 25 quickly. He said,
Husband, love your wives just as Christ also
loved the church and gave himself for her that
he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing
of the water by the word that he might present
her. Again, here he's instructing the man to
walk in love. What is walking in love again?
It means walking in the light. What is walking
in the light? He said also walking in wisdom
or not walk as unwise. It also means walking
in the spirit. You understand? And in each case,
when you see what he told, he told the man when
you walk in love, he gave the man as Christ is
the model for him to walk in love. Just the same
way he taught the church. In verse 1, if you
look at it, he told them, he told the church,
he said be imitators of God as dearly beloved.
And then he pointed to Christ as their model.
The same thing is pointing to Christ as the model
of the man to live in love. So it's not a different
message. This is not a message exclusive to married
people. No. This is a message to the church.
The same message for children. The same message
for those who are married. The same message because
it's a church. All groups, the same message.
So don't say, no, it's only to the... I mean,
don't talk like that. So here is not just...
I want you to see something quickly. Look at
verse 28. So husbands ought to love their own
wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife
loves himself. For no one ever hates his own
flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as
the Lord does the church, for we are members
of his body. Of his flesh and of his bones. Of
his flesh and of his bones. Please, if you are
sleeping, wake up now. Because I'm getting to
where I'm going. Understand? I want you to note
this, please. I want you to note this. Now, look
at verse 28. I want you to note something there.
I want you to note that. He said, ought to love
their own wives as their own bodies. You know,
before, even me, when I used to read this place,
I used to think it's a physical body. That's
the direction that they are going. I used to
think that that's the scripture saying, husband,
you should love your wife as this your body.
That's what I used to think. You understand?
But I want you to take note there. He said, he
who loves his wife loves himself. So, That means
he's equating body as himself. Take note. Himself.
Take note of that also. Look at verse 29. You
see, for no one ever ate his own flesh. Yet again,
here in verse 29, not the word flesh. In verse
28, bodies. Himself. In verse 29, flesh. But
nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord
does the church. Now, not again church. The church.
Now look at verse 30. For we are members of his
body. That is talking about Christ. Not again
body. Of his flesh. I want you to not flesh again.
And of his bones. I want you to not bones again.
We are. That is where Paul was going. That was
where Paul was going. So don't forget. I don't
want to remind you again. What we did after a
Torah study. Looking at the discussion and the
teaching note of Moses. We noted that that word
bones, or the bones of my bones, it means the
same stock. It means the same kindred. It means
the same family. It means the same identity.
Are we together? So when he said we are members
of the same body, that word body is talking about
the same thing as flesh. He's talking about the
same thing as bones. So when he said we are members
of the same body, he's saying we are members
of the same family. When he said we are members
of the same flesh, that means he is saying also
we are members of the same family. When he said
we are members of his bones, it means we are
members of the same family. That's what he's
saying. So when he's talking to the man and said
that you ought to love your wives as your own
body. He's talking that you're supposed to love
her because she's from the same family. He said,
if you do so, you love yourself because you are
in that family. So it is part of your body. The
body of Christ is part of your body. So if you
love the body of Christ, you are actually loving
yourself. So that's what I want you to see there.
So the body, flesh. Bones refers to the same
thing. It's referring to the same stock, identity.
Are we together? That's what it's saying. So
it refers to Christ's union. Listen, when you
said Christ and the church, when you said the
body of Christ, you are talking about our union
with him. Do you understand what I'm saying?
So when you said body, you are talking about
union. That's another word. Because when you
say we are of the same family, what you are saying
is that we are of the same union. We are united
together. When you say the body of Christ, what
you are saying is that we are united with him.
So, he's referring to union. So, I want you to
connect with Pastor Bob. Pastor, you might talk
about, I mean, talk to us. Our union with Christ.
You understand? So, when you are marrying your
wife, don't be seeing her as a foreign body.
She is part of you. She's part of you. You are
united in Christ together. She's part of your
family. That's what this place is teaching. That's
what this place is teaching. Male and female,
we are part of the same family. We are part of
the same body. We are part of the same flesh.
Part of the same bones. Verse 28 is not referring
to physical body. That's not the direction. It's
also pointing us to physical body. No. It's pointing
us to union. Remember. Our union with Christ
makes us have our union with others. That's why
I pity people who think that my father, my father,
no. Or God is my father. They don't see that
their union with God automatically brings them
into a family. That means my union with God makes
me to be united with Pastor Chidi. That's the
same thing. So because we are the same family,
the same body, the same flesh, it also means
the same bone, you love your wife. You are actually
loving yourself. You are actually loving yourself.
So we are members of his body. We are members
of his flesh. We are members of his bones. This
means we are the image of God. As he is the image
of God, we are the image of God. It also means
as a woman is the image of God, we are also the
image of God. Or as we are the image of God,
she is also the image of God. That is the binocular
you have to see your wife. The same. You understand?
Equal. The grace that save you, the grace that
save her. The Holy Spirit in you is the Holy
Spirit in her. We are of the same family. So
Adam's response. The bones of my bones pointed
to God's plan. That is what Apostle Paul was
trying to explain. That what God showed to Adam,
that the bones of my bones is a plan God has
prepared. He planned it, that that would be in
Christ. He will bring a family. So when Adam
woke up from the vision, he saw it and he escaped.
This is the bone of my bone. What he's saying
is that she is of the same family. He pointed
us to the plan of God for humanity. So the bones
of my bones, the flesh of my flesh is not a wife.
It is a scriptural language to show equality
in Christ, to show our union in Christ. Oh, glory
to Jesus. We are the same. We are the same. We
are the same. We are the same. So in Genesis
chapter 2, verse 24, which... Paul caught it
in verse 32, in verse 31. Look at verse 31. For
this reason, a man shall leave his father a mother
and join to his wife, and the two shall become
one flesh. Not that word flesh again. Are we
together? It's signifying union. That's Genesis
chapter 2, verse 24. Union where? Union in Christ.
So you are united with her. So one flesh. is
in God's new creation. Don't be seeing it in
the physical. That one flesh is in God's new
creation. It speaks of our union. It speaks of
our union. So that thing we do, physical marriage,
is a parable, is a pointer to the new creation,
to our union together. So even if you are marrying
your wife, you must see her in Christ. You must
see her in her real identity, in her new nature.
Although a woman is different when it comes to
the issue of reproduction, is different from
the man. When you look at the physique, the physical,
but not in identity. Are we together? She's the
same in identification with the man. So when
you read Genesis chapter 2, verse 1 to 24, it
means it is supposed to shape. our view of a
woman. That she's not second class. The same
grace in the man, the same grace in the woman.
That we are members of the same family. That
we have the same thing. We are equal in Christ.
We are equal in Christ. It is meant to change
our view, our thinking. That the identity of
the woman is not in gender, but in Christ. That
the identity of the woman is not in that her
body is different from the man. That's not where
you see her identity. Identity is in Christ,
in our union. So next time you are reading and
you are seeing when you read this chapter, you
understand, see that the communication, the context
is love. The context is living or walking in
life. The context is living in the spirit. And
that the context and the reason, the motivation,
you understand, is to see. That you can't do
that to your brother. That you have the same
thing. And that's why the way sometimes some
other men of God treat others, it looks as if
some other people are less in God than others.
You hear some statement, we are not grace mates.
You don't understand what I'm saying? Those kind
of statements, they are not supposed to be. We
are not grace mates. Okay, which verse is that?
So whether now as you fellowship in church, you
understand, you must see the woman. As God sees
her. Are we together? You must see the woman
as God sees her. And that's how we must see the
woman. As you are marrying her, remove your village
from your head. You understand? All those things
that have corrupted you. You understand? All
those matters. You already have caught the woman.
Remove it from your head. You are not marrying
a housemate. You are marrying somebody who is
equal with you. in Christ, who is equal with
you in Christ. Please, permit me to read one
verse in 1 Peter as we close. It just came to
my mind now. 1 Peter, chapter 3, verse 7. He
said, Husband, likewise, dwell with them with
the understanding. Are you here with me? With
the understanding, giving honor to the wife as
to the weaker vessel. and has been heard of the
grace of life. You know, so many people do you
understand this weaker vessel? Do you understand
what I'm trying to say? Has onto weaker vessel.
You think that the women are weak. Okay, go and
touch some people. When they beat the hell out
of you, you come and tell us the story. You understand?
But where I'm going, I'm not here to, because
we have dealt with this scripture when we are
dealing with marriage issues and seminars and
messages that we talk. But where I'm going is
being hares. Did you see that place? Hares together
of the what? Of the grace of life. No, brother,
you are no higher. Do you understand what I'm
saying? So you need to love her. You understand?
Because it's of the same body. You have the same
stock. You are equal. You have your hares of
the grace of life. You are heirs of the grace
of life. I pray that both the ladies and as well
as the men, that our idea, our focus would change
in the son. To see the woman as God sees her
in the son. The woman can become a pastor in
the son. That means because you are the same,
there is no several different, I will call it,
some for women, some for men. No, there is nothing
like that. There is nothing like that. You are
the same. The calling is one. Ephesians 4, it
talks about one calling, one God, one baptism,
one Father of all. It's one, not two. There is
no two calling. And I pray that the Lord will
keep helping us. When we come next, what we will
do is to look at the other response of Christ.
You understand what I'm saying? That will take
us to Genesis chapter 1, verse 27. And then we'll
look at what exactly is the image of God. Understand?
He made them male and female in the image. In
his image. In his image. Hallelujah. We're thankful
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