Wearing White On the Wedding Day

Why do most brides wear white? Why should a bride wear white?
White has always been a symbol for celebration for some 2,000 years, as well as a symbol for happiness and joy on the wedding day. Most brides wear white to symbolize maidenhood. White is also the symbol of purity and virginity. Cream, Ivory and Pearl are also acceptable colors and they carry the same symbolism as white.

A bride wearing white on her wedding day means much more than simply physical purity. Yes, we make mistakes, but the Lord says that “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). While a woman may not possess her virginity any longer, she can still possess purity, because purity is much more than mere virginity. Purity is your actions before God and man with the man who you are going to marry. If a woman has confessed her sin and repented of it, it is no longer remembered by God, for He has said “I will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:25). He has made her clean. He has granted her a second chance.

Because a wedding is a time for celebration, and represents the happiness and joy of the couple getting married, there is no reason why the bride should not wear white if she and her husband-to-be have guarded their purity with each other until God united them in marriage. A woman is able to wear white for all the reasons above as well as the fact that God has purged her, made her sins as white as snow and remembers them no longer. She may not be a virgin, but she has maintained purity since her mistake, being cleansed and made pure by God. If she and her husband-to-be are walking in purity in their relationship, there is no reason she should not be able to wear white.

A woman should wear white for the following reasons:

1. White represents a time of celebration, which is what a wedding is.
2. White represents happiness and joy, which is what takes place in marriage.
3. White represents maidenhood, a woman's time of singleness prior to unity.
4. White represents purity, your current actions (despite past mistakes) in light of God's forgiveness and granting of a second chance.
5. White represents the cleansing of God, washing our sins from us and making them as white as snow.

A bride should wear white on her wedding day because God has cleansed her and made her as white as snow, giving her a second chance at purity; because their relationship will be guided by purity, and they can honestly stand before God and man and say that they remained pure with each other until marriage united them. White reflects not only physical purity, but also what God has done for and in us, as well as what we have chosen to do in purity. If Christ does not see His bride as tarnished when we commit sins, why should a bride have to appear tarnished despite her past sin? It is all washed white by the blood of Christ, forgiven, forgotten, and cleansed.

With that being said, the majority of weddings taking place today are mocking the sacredness of the marriage institution when the bride wears white. This is especially true of secular weddings. These women should not be wearing white because they are neither virgins nor are they maintaining purity. Any couples who joyously and habitually partake in fornication out of wedlock, when they get married the bride should be wearing any colour except for white. In fact, it would be most fitting if these brides were wearing black. If you are not pure or maintaining your purity, you have no right to get married in a white wedding dress! If you wanted to get married in a white dress, you should have thought about your actions earlier and repented of your sins, forsaking them and practicing purity until your wedding day. Then, and only then, do you have the right to wear white.

What Is Marriage? What Does Marriage Entail?

“Marriage is honourable in all!” Marriage is a sacred and holy covenant made between a man and a woman in the sight of God and men. It is a covenant that is made for life or until death separates you. It is a time where you invest your life into the life of another, seeking to fulfill their needs while helping them to grow in their relationship with the Lord and become more Christ-like in character. It is a time where you can genuinely and sincerely love another person from the heart and pour yourself into them. Marriage requires unconditional love, sacrifice, and great intimacy. Intimacy requires:

• Trust
• No lying
• No going back on words
• No changing
• Truthfulness
• Time

As the husband, it is my duty to be gentle toward my wife. After all, she is a precious gift from God. I am commanded to love my wife – at all times, in every way. Many today have this idea that their spouse must earn or be deserving of their love, but this command is given regardless of whether she earns or deserves it. I am to treat her like a queen – like she is the most precious gift on Earth. I am to respect her, cherish her, and adore her. It is my privilege and right to encourage her to become more Christ-like in her attitude, speech, behaviour, and every day life. I am to minister to her daily. I am to appreciate her in public. This will give great testimony to our marriage and will give outsiders a high view of how wonderful my wife is. I am never to speak negatively about my wife to anyone – friend or family – or to tell others of her flaws or weaknesses. I am to build her up in the eyes of others. Any negative things should be discussed between my wife and I only, and resolved between the two of us and before God Almighty. To bring these outside the marriage and discuss them with other people is to breech the integrity and honour of the marriage covenant and my promise to “uphold her,” which means to appraise her highly and valuably before others for her worth – those God-given qualities that God has instilled in her that make her a wonderful partner and beautiful wife. I am to guard her heart – at all times. It is my duty to protect her – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. God has entrusted me with this beautiful young woman, His daughter, and I am to look after her with the utmost and greatest care. I am commanded to love her as I love my own body. As a husband, if I want a harmonious marriage, it is my responsibility to obey God’s command to me and to “love my wife.” If I love her the way I ought, that will cure half the problems that many people face in their marriages.

As Proverbs 5:18-20 puts it: “May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A love doe, a graceful deer – may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man’s wife?” This is the key to a happy marriage. The woman you marry is the wife of your heart.

Men are responsible for the spiritual covering of their household. A husband should live marriage for what’s best for his wife – not himself. He should put his desires on the shelf.

What Does It Mean To...

...Love Unconditionally?
To love unconditionally does not mean that if and when my wife sins I merely overlook it without saying anything to her. No, if I love her unconditionally, I will speak to her of her sin so that she might repent toward God and forsake her sin. Unconditional love seeks her best at all times. To love unconditionally means that if and when she sins, after having repented and forsook her sin, I am to forgive her and not hold her sin over her head or lord her sin over her as if I am perfect and never sin, which would be a lie. “The way in which you measure others will be measured unto you.” Even in her sin, I do not stop loving her.

To love unconditionally means that no matter what circumstances might arise or what tragedies might befall my wife, I do not give up on her and/or stop loving her. If she gets cancer and her hair falls out, I remain by her side, reminding her that she is still beautiful, pouring my love upon her because she will be in need of it, knowing that my love has not wavered for her and that I do not look at her any differently or any less. If she is in an accident that leaves her paralyzed, I remain by her side, showing her that she is still precious and worthy to me and that my love has not wavered, nor do I look at her any differently or any less. I continue bestowing my love upon her, letting her know that she is not a burden in any way to me and showing her that she is no less in my eyes and heart than she had been before.

Unconditional love does not give up on the other person, nor does it walk out when times get tough or trials arise and weigh down upon us. True love loves at all times in all situations without waning even an ounce. “Agapao,” the highest form of love, is a principle, a fact that relates to the will, a decision. “Phileo” is associated with fondness, emotions. Unconditional love is based upon “agapao,” whereas fleeting love, if it can be called love at all, is based upon “phileo.”

...Love Sacrificially?
Christ was the perfect example of sacrifice. If need be, the husband is to give himself up for his wife; he is to lay his life down for his wife, to protect her at all costs. Even die for her. But this is ultimate sacrifice. In every day life with his wife, he is to sacrifice for her, put her best interest before his own. He is to kill his selfishness and sacrifice his time for his wife. He is to show her honour.

What Does It Mean To "Love" Your Wife?

At least twice in Scripture the husband is commanded to love his wife (Eph. 5:25; Col. 3:19). In the first, Christ is given as the example, His love being sincere, pure, ardent, and constant affection. Even with the imperfections and failures a wife has (and husbands have them, too), a husband is to love his wife in this manner at all times, which we can derive from the command given in 1 Pet. 3:7.

A wife might do things that boggle her husband, and he might wish that she were stronger in these areas than she is, but he is to understand that she is a woman as God created her. Her weaknesses are so the husband can come alongside her and be her protector and guard her in such areas. Husband and wife are complementary.

To love your wife is to place her first before yourself. That does not mean that you allow yourself to be walked upon by becoming placid, quiet, and submissive. No, the husband is to stand up for himself and be a fighter, a mighty man of valour. But as Phil. 2:3-4 says: “…count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you not only look to his own interests but also to the interests of others.” If your interests conflict, providing they fit the pattern of Phil. 4:8, then be willing to sacrifice your interest for the sake of your wife’s interest. For a wife to reverence her husband means that she does not tear him down, but that she must build him up.

In the second, husbands must love their wives with a tender and faithful affection. They must not be bitter toward them, not use them unkindly, not use harsh language or severe treatment, but be kind and obliging to them in all things. Husbands are to live with their wives in a wise and sober manner, not according to lust or passion. They must give due respect to her, protecting her person, supporting her credit, delighting in her conversation, affording her a handsome maintenance, and placing a due trust and confidence in her. To love your wife is to behave lovingly and peaceably toward her, cherishing her.

The word in Eph. 5:25 is “agapao,” the highest kind of love. It is spontaneous, a love irrespective of rights that makes much of a person. The gentile bride that Samson chose to love proved to be unworthy of him and his love. She allowed fear and family pressure to turn her away from him. A wife might act in such a sinful way that people would say, “she has no right to his love,” but this command in Scripture tells husbands to love their wives whether they deserve that love or not. The church didn’t deserve Christ’s love, and yet He loved her anyway and gave His life for her.

A husband who loves his wife would die for her rather than put her in harm’s way. He would sacrifice his life for hers. A husband should so love his wife in his heart that no sacrifice would seem to great for him to make for her. Just as a man must take care of his body, so he must see to his wife’s comfort. He must protect her from harm, desire her well-being, and pay close attention to the signals she sends. He needs to help her develop her potential, nourish her, and cherish her.

The husband is not to do his best to imitate Christ, he is to imitate Christ. The key to making the principles of marriage work is faith.

To love my wife is to put into practice the acts of love mentioned in 1 Corinthians from verses 4 through 8a: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; love is not arrogant or rude; love does not insist on its own way (sacrifice for the sake of your wife); love is not irritable or resentful; love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” “Love never ends!” Another rendering is “Love never fails.” You can fail-proof your marriage! If a person truly and honestly loves their spouse, the marriage cannot fail because they have fail-proofed it. If a person does not purely and sincerely love their spouse out of the depths of their heart, having made that decision to do so irrespective of rights, the devil and the world will try and work on them to either cheat on their spouse or to divorce their spouse, both of which are great sins.

How will we have the type of love that “is kind…is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”? The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God – such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself. Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected?

Direction Toward Marriage

For the man: Read and meditate on Ephesians 5:25- 33. What does this mean and how can you make it evident in your life as a man/husband? What does it mean to “love” your wife? (Eph. 5:25; Col. 3:19) What does it mean to love unconditionally? What does it mean to love sacrificially? What does it mean to be a man/husband? What is marriage and what does marriage entail? What ways can aid toward a harmonious marriage, and how can you invest yourself in order to assure you have a harmonious marriage? Read Galatians 5:22-23; James 3:17; and 2 Peter 1:5-9. How can you develop these Christian characteristics and how can they enhance your marriage? How can you be sure that Jesus Christ has the pre-eminence in your marriage and that He remains on the throne of your marriage, being the Center and Refuge of all things pertaining to your marriage? What significance do these passages teach the man? 1 Peter 3:7; Hebrews 13:4; Titus 2:2, 7-8; 1 Timothy 3:4. How can they become evident in your life?

For the woman: Read and meditate on Proverbs 31:10- 31. What does this mean and how can you make it evident in your life as a woman/wife? What does it mean to “submit” to your husband? (Eph. 5:22; Col. 3:18) What does it mean to love unconditionally? What does it mean to love sacrificially? What does it mean to be a woman/wife? What is marriage and what does marriage entail? What ways can aid toward a harmonious marriage, and how can you invest yourself in order to assure you have a harmonious marriage? Read Galatians 5:22-23; James 3:17; and 2 Peter 1:5-9. How can you develop these Christian characteristics and how can they enhance your marriage? How can you be sure that Jesus Christ has the pre-eminence in your marriage and that He remains on the throne of your marriage, being the Center and Refuge of all things pertaining to your marriage? What significance do these passages teach the woman? 1 Peter 3:4; Hebrews 13:4; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Timothy 2:9. How can they become evident in your life?

Blessing of a godly wife — Proverbs 12:4 — "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.” (KJV) "An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who shames [him] is as rottenness in his bones." (NASB) "An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones." (ESV) "A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones." (NIV)

Key to a happy marriage — Proverbs 5:18-20 —"Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love."

Psalms 127:1 — "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain."

Proverbs 18:22 — "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the Lord."

What Is Marriage?

Genesis 2:18-25; Hebrews 13:4

Marriage is a divinely created institution. It is the foundation of the family, the church, and the country. Because of its great importance, its definition is regularly under attack. Therefore, it is imperative that we, as Christians, have affirmed these things to be true in their entirety, for one day we will give an account (Heb. 13:17) of how marriage was upheld before God:

Intentions for Marriage:

1. God’s intention for marriage is repeatedly established in both the Old and New Testaments of Scripture.
1. The purpose of partnership.
   "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." Genesis 2:18
2. The purpose of parenthood.
   "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." Genesis 1:28
   "Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." Psalm 127:3-5
3. The purpose of pleasure.
   "Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?" Proverbs 5:15-20
   "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." Hebrews 13:4
4. The purpose of preventing fornication.
   "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency." 1 Corinthians 7:2-5
5. The purpose of picturing the church.
   "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." Ephesians 5:31-33

Definition of Marriage:

2. God ordained marriage as a voluntary union of one man and one woman for life.
   "And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Genesis 2:22-24
   "And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Matthew 19:5-6
   "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." Ephesians 5:31
3. Christian marriage is not simply a contract between a man and a woman, but is a covenant ratified in the presence of God.
   "To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God." Proverbs 2:16-17
   "Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant." Malachi 2:14
   "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Matthew 19:4-6
4. A healthy marriage is the best foundation for families and raising children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
   "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck." Proverbs 1:8-9
   "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." Proverbs 6:20-23
   "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Ephesians 6:1-4

Sexual Fulfillment Within Marriage:

5. Sexual intimacy is legitimate only within the bounds of marriage.
   "But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul." Proverbs 6:32
   "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience." Colossians 3:5-6
   "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." Hebrews 13:4
   "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul." 1 Peter 2:11
6. It is the Christian church’s intention not only to teach and preach abstinence before marriage and purity during marriage, but also sexual fulfillment in marriage.
   "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14
   "But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul." Proverbs 6:32
   "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency." 1 Corinthians 7:2-5
   "Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love." Proverbs 5:19

What Is Real Love?

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient. When you really love someone, you accept him or her just as he or she is. Of course, you encourage them to grow, but you love and accept them unconditionally – no strings attached. Real love allows you to be patient with weaknesses and flaws.

Love is kind. Love is positive and lifts people up, never pulls them down. Love sees the need of others, and does what it can to meet those needs. It’s never harshly critical.

Love is never jealous. Remember, love gives; it does not take. It wants to share time and attention with others. It allows the one you love the freedom to have other friends and interests apart from you. It’s not possessive.

Love is never boastful. It centers on the other person and not on you. If it brags about anything, it brags about the one you love.

Love is not proud. Love keeps you from being “full of yourself” and keeps you humble. You are proud of your partner and not of yourself for snagging him or her. You realize that person is a gift from God, and not somebody you have “earned.”

Love is not rude. Love respects others and shows them courtesy. It demands respect from other people toward the one you love.

Love does not demand its own way. Love thinks about others first. Real love accepts changes in circumstances and people. It produces a concern for the needs of others.

Love is not irritable or touchy. Love is not too sensitive; it does not take everything so personally. Real love does not wear its feelings on a sleeve.

Love does not hold grudges. Love is able to forgive; it does not dwell on past failures. It the Old Testament, a teen named Joseph was sold into slavery by his older brothers. He was taken to a foreign country never to see his home again. Many years later, Joseph became the ruler of that country. One day his brothers came to this country begging for help; they did not know Joseph was in charge. He had a choice to make: forgive and help them, or hold a grudge and hurt them. What would you have done? Joseph said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20). Essentially he said, “I forgive you.”

Love is not glad about injustice. Real love does not find pleasure in the pain or wickedness of other people. It does not enjoy finding fault in others.

Love is glad when truth wins out. Real love is based on truth and honesty. The Bible says “perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Fear is what keeps us from being honest – fear of what our friend will think of us, or fear of what if she knew the truth. Love tells the truth, even though it is not always pretty.

Love is loyal no matter what the cost. It will always be faithful and stand by the person loved, no matter what.

Love always believes. Love is willing to trust. When you really love someone, you will believe in her, even when she cannot believe in herself. Again, because there is no fear in love, you trust that person. You are able to give yourself completely to the relationship.

Love always expects the best. It will always give a person the benefit of the doubt. Real love is positive, not negative. It looks for the best and finds it.

Love always stands its ground in defending the other person. Love is protective (without being jealous), and will continue to love even when it is not returned.

What To Look For In A Life Partner

by Dr. David Doherty

The choice of a life partner will determine much of your future; it will seriously influence your children’s eternal destiny, and it will impact the testimony of your church. It is the most important decision you will ever make next to your salvation. Scripture has much to say about this subject! God has also given us examples of people who married unfit partners, i.e. David and Michal, Abigail and Nabal. Be careful! Look for these features in your “special friend.” He/she…

1. Must Be Converted.
   The Bible dogmatically declares that Christians are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Co. 6:14-18). Literally, we are not to be in a state of becoming unequally yoked with unbelievers. Find someone who deeply loves the Lord and he/she will have no trouble loving you for a lifetime.
2. Must Be Consecrated.
   Many people can “talk up a storm” of good intentions and lofty goals, but what is more important is what they actually accomplish. A glowing testimony is not necessarily a true picture of reality. Look for consistent godly living in a potential life partner. Any relationship will be as stable and meaningful as it is spiritually. Spirituality is never static. Look for honest spiritual growth in yourself and in your “super buddy.” Ask, is Jesus number one in his/her life?
3. Must Be Controlled.
   No one wants to be a “yo-yo” on someone’s emotional string. Make sure that a potential life partner is controlled by the Word of God and that he/she is honestly Spirit-led in emotions, attitudes.
4. Must Be Compatible.
   Don’t date anyone who exhibits qualities which would disqualify from being your life partner. Don’t marry anyone that you don’t deeply love or anyone who doesn’t truly love you. Make certain you are both being led by the Lord in the same direction for life. Ask yourself, “What attracts us to each other?” Learn to pray together, to laugh together, and to enjoy life together. Take all the time necessary to know the will of God in this vital area of life.

No one wants a miserable life and an unhappy marriage; such is not God’s desire for His children. With parental care and wisdom, God has provided us with counsel regarding what to look for in a potential life partner. Biblical credentials for a suitable life partner:

1. A Godly Wife:
   Titus 2 presents basic qualities for a Christian wife. She is to be a “taught” person (v.4). Her teachers are not the worldly, unbelieving professors of man’s wisdom. Rather, her teachers are mature, spiritual women who know by experience what they are teaching. These older women teach six “courses.” They are: (1). Sober-mindedness: This course produces purposeful discipline and wise choices. Graduates are serious, committed and sensible. They do not have ”butterfly” personalities. (2.) Love: This study teaches them to love their own husbands…a hard course! By loving the Lord, accepting their calling from God for their lives, graduates will resolve to love (to give and to receive love) their husbands. Don’t marry a flirt, or someone who is not committed to purity. (3.) Discretion: Students in this course “study” to make wise choices…they don’t live by flashes of impulse buying. Careful thought goes before their words and actions. (4.) Purity: This study avoids the psychological “mind-field” of immorality. Graduates don‘t have bitter regrets and shameful memories. They have dedicated themselves to the Lord and to the man they will marry for life. (5.) Home Management: A godly wife will keep her home loving, fresh, clean and rejoicing. Her home will be her earthly priority. (6.) Obedience: This course advocates loving cooperation with her husband. She is not a female “lone ranger.” Graduates form a happy “team” relationship with their husbands.
2. A Godly Husband:
   Scripture has something to say to young men who plan to be husbands in God’s time. A potential husband must be marked with: (1.) Sober-mindedness: He must be thoughtful, weigh his words and actions and be sensitive to other. Scripture must be his Guide. (2.) Good Works: He must be a worker! All his works must have the adjective “good” before them. He must seek to be a blessing, a breath of heavenly fresh air, to others. Good works motivate him. He must be consistent in his goodness. (3.) Doctrinal Purity: Right beliefs are foundational to right behaviour. A suitable husband must know the Lord, walk closely with Him and now the Word of God and live it out in daily life. To know sound doctrine is a good start towards living a life that is marked with “uncorruptness.” He has no moral rot. (4.) Sound Speech: A potential husband must know how to speak in such a way that others will not condemn him. He must be honest, true to Scripture, kind and gracious in all he says on a regular basis.

Things To Look For In A Spouse

from Rick Klaver to his children many years ago

1st Life	Let the dead marry the dead.
2nd Character	A person’s standards, scruples, morals, values, etc. The foundation of a person, without which all the rest becomes a farce and you wind up with balloon people (everything on the outside, nothing on the inside). A person of good character does what is right because it is right. What do they stand for? What do they stand against? Why? Don’t just ask them what they believe. What is the basis of their beliefs? Did Martians tell them? Anyone throwing darts can accidentally hit a bulls-eye – you want the one who hits them consistently.
3rd Personality	You’ll have more desire to spend time with someone polite, easygoing, refreshing, and other-centered rather than a self-centered, energy-sucking grump.
4th Looks	If you hit with the first three, they could look like potatoes and you wouldn’t care.

16 Ways to Avoid Marital Failure

A sermon by Alistair Begg

1. Do not be so foolish as to maintain it cannot happen to you. (1 Cor. 10:11)
2. Do not assume that a great marriage can be discovered and enjoyed without some solid hard work. (Prov. 24:30-34)
3. Do not allow the busyness of life to disguise neglect.
4. Do not make the mistake of taking each other for granted. (1 Pet. 3:7)
5. Do not dig up old failures or past disappointments. (Phil. 3:4; Ps. 103:3)
6. Do not compare your spouse unfavourably with others, in terms of looks, abilities, or anything else. (Prov. 5:15-19)
7. Do not take someone of the opposite sex into precincts that are the exclusive domain of your spouse. (i.e. If some lady from the office sees you have broad shoulders and wants to cry on them, tell her to go cry on someone else’s shoulders. Protect the sanctity of your marriage! Women minister to women, men minister to men. Period! )
8. Do not allow each other the kind of freedom that breeds neglect. (i.e. If you say you will call at a certain time, be sure to do so.)
9. Be daily in prayer for the health of your marriage and the harmony in your home.
10. Be sacrificial in your expression of your love for each other.
11. Be imaginative, daring, and occasionally extravagant in displaying your affection.
12. Be sure that you do not use your children as the glue that holds you or the wedge that separates you. (i.e. It is the children who will leave the home while the two of you will remain.)
13. Be ruthless in resisting anyone or anything that will draw your affections from each other.
14. Be ready to listen (women), and willing to speak (men), about what’s going on inside each other’s heads. (i.e. Do you know what your spouse is thinking about? What are your spouse’s fears, hopes, dreams?)
15. Be certain that a great marriage is possible with divine enabling and human effort. (Eph. 3:20)
16. Be aware of how quickly time is passing, and seize the day. (i.e. You have each other for a short period of time, so make the best use of the time.)

A 'Love Triangle' Is Not Quickly Broken

The following is a speech that I delivered back in 2005 at Bible College for my Speech Communications class. Sadly, after I had given this speech, the majority of my fellow students began to back-bite about me, saying that I only spoke on this subject in order to get a wife. This was not the case, however, as I was at least seven years older than most of them and had no interest in any of them. My purpose for giving this speech was two-fold: (1) to glorify God, and (2) to hopefully prevent my fellow students from becoming part of the great statistic of divorce. Only three students, that I know of, were listening to my speech and had been affected by it. Two, a couple that split up afterwards, came up to me individually to thank me for my words as it saved them a great deal of problems and pain. May it be a blessing for you, too.

INTRODUCTION

A speech doesn't have to be something that you have experience in. It can simply be something that you are passionate about. For that reason, I have decided to speak on a subject that each of us will one day face, should the Lord tarry. I have titled my speech, "A 'Love Triangle' Is Not Quickly Broken."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 NIV

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

DEFINITION OF THE GREAT ROMANCE

1. What is the Great Romance?
The Great Romance confronts us with the eternal ideals.
1. Love
2. Beauty
3. Hope
The greatest gifts. The very heart of God.
2. Why do we love beautiful flowers?
   Because we love beauty. We were created to love beauty. We love _____ because God loves _____.
1. Beauty
2. Song
3. Love
4. To be loved
3. The Great Romance is...
1. About God's love for us and our love for Him. About that same love expressed between us—between a man and a woman; husband and wife.

DEFINITION OF LOVE

4. What is Love?
1. It's not based on emotion or feelings.
2. It's not a feeling.
3. It's a choice.
Since love is based on the will (on our ability to choose) and not emotions, our love should last a lifetime. A decision is a stronger and firmer foundation for our love than emotions. Emotions come and go.
God himself chose to love the world. I am convinced that he did not feel pleasure about offering His only Son as a blood sacrifice to prove His love for us. God's love was firmly rooted in choice, not feeling. If we choose to love as God has chosen to, then a man and a woman will stick together through all of life's storms.

All throughout God's Word He says to us:

I love you. I choose you. I rescue you. I cherish you. You are precious to me. You are my very own. Never leave me.

He wants us to repeat those exact same words back to Him. In fact, He wants us to say those words to each other in marriage—continuously.

ORIGIN OF THE GREAT ROMANCE

The Great Romance started back in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. God loved them and they reciprocated His love. In that same way, they loved each other. The Great Romance was not just about the Garden of Eden, however. In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel is the bride. In the New Testament, the church is the bride. The Great Romance began in the Garden; continued at the cross with Christ giving His life for us; and will blossom at the Second Coming. Jesus Christ showed us His love by giving His life for us and He wants us to love Him in return. At this very moment, Christ is wooing His bride. Imagine Him standing before us saying:

I love you. I choose you. I rescue you. I cherish you. You are precious to me. You are my very own. Never leave me.

The Garden of Eden is a picture of the manner in which God designed marriage to be. Marriage is a love triangle. It is not merely between a man and a woman, but between a man, a woman, and God. A threefold union.

THE PURPOSE OF MARRIAGE

I believe that the purpose of marriage is three-fold, like God Himself is three-fold.

1. Marriage forms a unit (Matthew 19:6, "They are no longer two but one flesh.").
2. Marriage seeks progeny (Malachi 2:15 NIV, "Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth." Genesis 1:28a, "And God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply.'").
3. Marriage forms a picture of Christ (Ephesians 5:25, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.").

5. Three main factors required for a great marriage
These were in perfect unison in the Garden of Eden. If any one of these is missing, your marriage will be hanging on by a thread.

1. Communication:
1. We need to learn to communicate fully and effectively.
2. From our accomplishments/struggles to our strengths/weaknesses.
3. We need to communicate everything.
4. You cannot grow closer to one another if you do not learn to communicate.
5. The greatest benefit in your communication will be the ability...
• To quickly apologize if you have erred, and
• To quickly forgive if the other person has erred
2. Trust and Honesty:
   We need to learn to trust each other and to be entirely honest with each other. If we are honest in everything we do, it will be simple for the other person to trust us. If you truly care about the other person, reveal yourself to them. Don't be afraid to be who God designed you to be.
3. Faith in God:
   We need to have faith in God because we will inevitably run into problems in our marriages that we think are impossible to either overcome or repair. The Bible says that "What is impossible with men is possible with God." There is nothing too big for God to handle. In marriage, if both of you are looking to the Lord, there is absolutely no problem that the three of you cannot overcome.

CONCLUSION

Marriage is a very sacred and binding institution. We need to take it very seriously. If God is not the primary focus for our marriages, then we should not get married. The Great Romance is all about God's love for us and our love for Him, as well as that same love expressed between a man and a woman; husband and wife. The closer you grow to God, the closer you will grow to each other. The tighter you are bound to each other, there is not an obstacle that cannot be overcome. "A threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Proverbs 31: Traits of a Good Woman

"A prudent wife is from the Lord." Proverbs 19:14b

A prudent wife is not dumb.

A prudent wife is not lazy.

A prudent wife does not waste her time.

A prudent wife is a learner.

A good woman is a helper, not a hindrance.

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

A good woman as described here is very valuable! There are not many like her. Key words: rare, uncommon, unusually excellent, unique, precious, matchless.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

A good woman is honourable, faithful, and chaste. She does not do anything or say anything behind her husband's back. Key words: trustworthy, dependable, inspires confidence, reliable, honest, deserving.

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

A good woman is trustworthy, genuine, and wise. She does not explode one day and apologize the next. She is good to him every day - including the days prior to God having brought him into her life. Key words: constant in her love, unshaken, umoved, faithful, ceaseless, enduring, unchanging, loyal, permanent.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

A good woman is a willing, eager, hardworker. She looks for tasks that will be an asset to her family. Key words: industrious, hardworking, busy, diligent, patient.

14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

A good woman is prudent. She is a capable, wise shopper. Key words: frugal, not wasteful, using economy and good management.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

A good woman gets up early and serves others. Key words: self-starter, energetic.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

A good woman is enterprising. She buys property, plants a cash crop, and multiplies her investments. She is not afraid of getting her hands dirty. Key words: enterprising, daring, yet cautious, resourceful.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

A good woman does physical labour and thus is strong. Key words: physically strong, hard worker.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

A good woman is competent; she takes stock of her work and is satisfied that she has done things right. She is dependable. Key words: willing to work long hours.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

A good woman is willing to do repetitive, boring work. Key words: willing to do monotonous work.

20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

A good woman is benevolent; she gives to those in need. Key words: compassionate, merciful, generous, easily moved by the distresses and sufferings of others.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

A good woman is confident of how she has provided for her household. It is well-outfitted due to her management and hard work. She does not wait until the last minute to prepare dinner. A good woman plans and prepares ahead. Key words: she made preparation for the future.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

A good woman is a craftsman. She is a skilled worker who creates beautiful wall and bed coverings for her house, as well as beautiful clothes for herself. Key words: has mastered skills of crafts and sewing, makes dresses with beauty.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

The good woman's husband has the time and honour to be a ruler. She brings honour to her husband by the way she keeps his domain. Key words: her support helped bring him to this place.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

A good woman is a merchant. She makes, sells, and delivers goods. Key words: organizes, manages, does not pass the work off on others.

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

A good woman is known for her honour and strength of character. Her hard work and good attitude will pay high dividends. Key words: not swayed or upset by circumstances, steadfast, valiant.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

A good woman studies and shares her wisdom and knowledge in order to help others. She uses her information in an agreeable and pleasant manner. Key words: discerning, thoughtful, gentle.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

A good woman is conscious of responsibilities. She does not waste her time or other people's time. Key words: duty-conscious, reliable, not idle.

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

You will know a good woman by how much her children and husband appreciate her and truly enjoy her company. Key words: she reaps her pleasant fruits.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

God describes a virtuous woman as one whose own hard work proves her value. She has won the right to be where she is and to have what she has acquired - honour, appreciation, esteem, and love. Key words: day in and day out, in season and out, she puts forth her creative lavour; for that efort, she was named the most worthy of all. Virtue means "acting power." It has the strength to affect or improve that which is around you.

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

A good woman is not caught up in looking good. She is conscious of the fear of God in her life. She has lived every day as though she believes she will reap what she has sown. Key words: fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

A good woman reaps what she has sown, and it is good fruit. The enterprises and business ventures she has put her hand to are profitable. The crafts, goods, and clothes she has made are known to be of excellent quality. Her dwelling and her services are well-managed, efficient, and tidy. Her children are honourable and seek God. Her husband has time and heart to invest in other people's lives because of her being a good help meet. A good woman has lots of good fruit. Key words: praiseworthy, complimented, approved, deserving, admired, applauded, worthy.

"A gracious woman retaineth honour." Proverbs 11:16

A wise woman is not pitiful, puny, or whiney. She makes herself confident, capable, useful, and thankful.

Modesty Heart Check

by Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, Janelle Bradshaw

"...Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness — with good works." 1 Timothy 2:9-10

First, it's time for a heart check...

"How does a woman discern the sometimes fine line between proper dress and dressing to be the center of attention? The answer starts in the intent of the heart. A woman should examine her motives and goals for the way she dresses. Is her intent to show the grace and beauty of womanhood? Is it to reveal a humble heart devoted to worshipping God? Or is it to call attention to herself and flaunt her beauty? Or worse, to attempt to lure men sexually? A woman who focuses on worshipping God will consider carefully how she is dressed, because her heart will dictate her wardrobe and appearance." -John MacArthur

• What statement do my clothes make about my heart?
• In choosing what clothes to wear today, whose attention do I desire and whose approval do I crave? Am I seeking to please God or impress others?
• Is what I wear consistent with biblical values of modesty, self-control and respectable apparel, or does my dress reveal an inordinate identification and fascination with sinful cultural values?
• Who am I trying to identify with through my dress? Is the Word of God my standard or is it the latest fashion?
• Have I solicited the evaluation of other godly individuals regarding my wardrobe?
• Does my clothing reveal an allegiance to the gospel or is there any contradiction between my profession of faith and my practice of godliness?

So, I'm ready to leave the house, but I still have to do a modesty check. What are some things I should look for as I stand in front of my mirror?

Starting at the top...

• When I am wearing a loose-fitting blouse or scoop-neck, can I see anything when I lean over? If so, I need to remember to place my hand against my neckline when I bend down.
• A word on purse straps: How could a purse possibly be a modesty concern? When you're wearing the strap across your chest. Regardless of the shirt you've got on, this accentuates your chest and creates a temptation for men.
• If I am wearing a button-down top, I need to turn sideways and move around to see if there are any gaping holes that expose my chest. If there are, I've got to grab the sewing box and pin between the buttons.
• The same check is needed if I am wearing sleeveless. When I move around, can I see my bra? If I do, I need the pins again!
• Am I wearing a spaghetti-strap, halter-top or see-through blouse? Not even pins will fix this problem! Most guys find these very unhelpful. It's time to go back to the closet.
• Can I see the lace or seam of my bra through my shirt? In this case, seamless bras are a better option.
• One final shirt check: Does it reveal any part of my cleavage? Does my midriff show when I raise my hands above my head? Is my shirt just plain too tight? If the answer is "yes" to any one of these questions, then I need to change my outfit.

Moving on down...

• Does my midriff (or underwear) show when I bend over or lift my hands? If so, is it because my skirt or my pants are too low? Either my shirt needs to be longer or I need to find a skirt or pants that sit higher.
• I also have to turn around to see if what I'm wearing is too tight around my derriere (bum, butt, ass, backside), or if the outline of my underwear shows. If so, I know what I have to do. :o)
• And for my shorts — I can't just check them standing up. I need to see how much they reveal when I sit down. If I see too much leg, I need a longer pair.
• The "sit-down" check applies to my skirt or dress as well. And I must remember to keep my skirt pulled down and my knees together when I'm seated.
• And speaking of skirts, watch out for those slits! Does it reveal too much when I walk? Pins are also helpful here.
• Before I leave, I need to give my skirt a "sunlight check." Is it see-through? If so, I need a slip.
• Finally, I must remember to do this modesty check with my shoes. High-heels make my dress or skirt appear shorter.

And don't forget — this applies to formal wear as well.
A note on swimwear: the pool or beach. Look for one-piece bathing suits that aren't cut high on the leg or have a low neckline.

All Mine Are Yours, And Yours Are Mine

by James Smith

"All things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine" John 17:10

This claim of Jesus refers especially to the elect. Says Jesus, "All whom the Father has, are Mine!" They are Mine by redemption and Yours by election!

Election, redemption, sanctification, and glorification are divine works encompassing the same people.
All whom the Father chose, the Son redeemed;
all whom the Son redeemed, the Spirit sanctifies;
and all who are . . .
   chosen by the Father,
   redeemed by the Son,
   and sanctified by the Spirit
   are certainly and eternally glorified!

"For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.
  And those He predestined He also called;
  and those He called He also justified;
  and those He justified He also glorified!"
    Romans 8:29-30

The Father's children constitute the Son's Church;
the Father's beloved is the Son's bride;
the Father's property is the Son's portion.

"All Mine", that is, all of My disciples, My friends, My sheep, "are Yours."
The Father as Creator, gives them to the Son as Redeemer.
The Son as Redeemer, hands them over to the Spirit as the Sanctifier.
The Spirit works in them all the good pleasure of His goodness, and brings them to the Son, who presents them to the Father as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless!

Gullible Christians

Yet [Christians] could not be called crafty or deceptive. In fact, they were gullible fools. The worshipers of "that crucified sophist" Jesus, wrote the pagan writer Lucian, could easily be bilked by a few confident men. They set so little store by their possessions that "if any charlatan and trickster, able to profit by it, came among them, he quickly acquired sudden wealth by imposing upon these simple folk."
Finally and beyond all that, their community even within itself appeared to lack all proper respect for things like title, social status, education, gender. They did not seem to realize that any society must be structured. They treated one another as equals, sometimes even their slaves. It was shocking. Small wonder Christianity held such appeal to the lower classes and, of course, to silly women. Small wonder, too, that responsible people of rank, senators and statesmen, saw their ideas as a threat. They were. How long could Rome last if fantasies like this took hold?
...
However, the really grave offense of the Christians, the one for which they would be expelled, enslaved, and executed, was their atheism—that is, their effrontery in denying Rome's twelve gods, within the very walls of the city. ... Christians, therefore, could be charged with atheism at any time.
...
They similarly distinguished themselves by their support for the needy, the sick, for widows and orphans. They consistently networked. The wealthier employed the needy, preferred their brethren in business, and opened their houses as meeting places, adorning the walls with frescoes and the floors with mosaics showing communion loaves, chalices, praying figures, and such symbols of Christ as lambs and fish. The Christians were their own mutual-aid society that transcended class. ...and since most of them were converts, they stood in marked contrast not only to their neighbors but also to their former selves. As [Justin Martyr] wrote: "We who formerly delighted in fornication now embrace chastity alone; we who formerly used magical arts, dedicated ourselves to the good and unbegotten God; we who valued above all things the acquisition of wealth and possessions, now bring what we have into common stock and share with everyone who is in need; we who hated and destroyed one another and, on account of their different customs would not live with men of a different race, now, since the coming of Christ, live on excellent terms with them and pray for our enemies."¹

Is it not sad how none of the above testimony is held true for North American Christians today, yet is evidenced all over the third-world countries? The more I pay attention to what the Bible says, and the more I examine early Christianity and Christianity in every part of the modern world except for North America, the more convicted I am of just how un-Christian I, as well as every other North American Christian, truly am. Would I allow myself to be gullible for the sake of Christ and not put any stock in my possessions? Would I realize that they hold no intrinsic value for me and that if someone were to ask or demand them from me, I should part with them with ease? I can only pray that some day I reach such a point. As of this present moment, unfortunately, I am as selfish and greedy and in love with my possessions as the next North American Christian. We place such immense value and concern on things that the early Christians counted as loss for the sake of knowing Christ (Phil. 3:8). Even during the Reformation we read the same kind of information. Pick up a copy of the documentary Monumental and give it a watch. Would we be willing to do those kinds of things for our God? I cannot help but be ashamed of my vain profession of faith and the unbelief that clings to it. The book of Acts spells it out clearly and informs us that "all that believed were together, and had all things common" (Acts 2:44). We see this in the above historical testimony. We see it everywhere except for North America and in our own hearts. I cannot help but ask, Why?

On the subject of forgiveness, Jesus said, "If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him" (Luke 17:3-4). In response, Peter asked the no doubt perplexed question, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?", to which Jesus replied, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven" (Matt. 18:21-22). Ironically, seventy times seven is 490, the same length of time God declared upon Israel until their final and utter rejection of the Messiah. Professing Christians would do well to read Jesus' words repeatedly. I have had people ask me if they have to continually forgive someone who deliberately and repeatedly keeps sinning against them. Maybe this should serve as incentive: "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ... For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions" (Matt. 6:12, 14-15). To not forgive is to hold a grudge, which will only fill you with bitterness and hatred. If they sin against you deliberately, forgive them and pray for them.

John Reuben's song Thank You says "You know I'll turn the other cheek but see, I've only got two. So spit in my face one more time and let's just see what I do." Thousand Foot Krutch's song Get Wicked says "I can be nice, but don't test me" and "Don't mistake kindness for weakness" and "Step up, I'll bring you down." None of these statements are consistent with Christian attitudes. These attitudes are anti-Christ. They are not Christian. They all contradict what Scripture says, and the attitudes witnessed from the historical account above. Christians today argue that we should not let others walk all over us like door mats. Where do you find this sentiment in Scripture? This attitude is steeped in rebellion and self-preservation. What did Jesus say? "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it" (Matt. 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; 17:33). Jesus made it clear when He said, "do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also" (Matt. 5:39). Paul's exposition of this teaching expressed that we should "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. ... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:17-19, 21).

Professing Christians today repeatedly ask the questions "How many times should I forgive the same person?" and "How many times should I turn my cheek to the same person?" They want a number so that they can stop doing these things at that point, so that they can check off their little box that says they have done that. That is not following Christ. It is wanting to follow Him to a certain point and no further. Jesus was basically telling them that they need to do these things without end. When Jesus was beaten, spit upon, and mocked, did He retaliate? Did He defend Himself? No! He was silent before His accusers. Professing Christians also ask the question, "What if someone is trying to take advantage of me and asks me to...?" What does the Bible say, Christian? Where is your treasure? Is it in your possessions, which moths and rust can destroy and thieves can steal? Or is it in heaven, being Christ Jesus Himself? If someone wants to take advantage of you, let them. Thank them. Forgive them. Pray for them. It may be that in your selfless generosity that they come to know the Saviour. Having said that, professing Christians will raise all sorts of illogical arguments such as, "So if they want to rape your daughter, you just let them?" Why do these people try and relate items of an unrelated nature? My guess is so that they can continue in disobedience.

Read the above testimony of historical Christianity again and pay very close attention to it: "In fact, [Christians] were gullible fools. The worshipers of "that crucified sophist" Jesus, wrote the pagan writer Lucian, could easily be bilked by a few confident men. They set so little store by their possessions that "if any charlatan and trickster, able to profit by it, came among them, he quickly acquired sudden wealth by imposing upon these simple folk."". Christians should especially be looking out for other Christians: providing work for them; meeting their needs; sharing their own possessions with them. Why is it that every Christian throughout history had no problem doing these things, yet North American Christians refuse? This puts me in mind of Matthew 25:31-46. Will North American Christians be guilty of verses 41-46?

---

¹ The Christians: Their First Two Thousand Years, Vol. 2: A Pinch of Incense, 66-70.

Christian Zionism

There is a litmus test you can administer in order to determine whether someone is a Christian Zionist or not. It is a single question that you can ask, and it is non-invasive. In fact, it is very welcomed.

"Do you believe that the state of Israel is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy?"

That is it. That is the question. If the person says, "Yes", this person is a Christian Zionist, whether they know it or not and whether they admit it or not. If they say, "Yes", you could ask them a further question: "Then where does Jesus fit in?" Jesus or Israel, one or the other, is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. There is no room for both. Christian Zionists believe that political Israel is God's plan for the future (i.e., it is all about Israel). They believe that the Bible is Israel-centric, not Christ-centric.

Furthermore, these same individuals are the greatest anti-Semitics ever! They encourage Jewish people to return to their land knowing full well that when they do (if their theology were correct in the least, that is), 2/3 of them will be slaughtered by the Anti-Christ. They claim to be friends of Israel when they are anything but. If they were true friends of Israel, and if their theology were correct, they would be urging Jews not to return to their land. Urging them to return to the greatest holocaust ever is not what I would call a "friend".

Christian Zionism is a cult! Their teachings are heretical! Very few, if any, scholarly Christian theologians support the views of Christian Zionism. It is a belief advanced mostly by powerful TV evangelists and lobby groups, such as Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Tim LaHaye, Thomas Ice, Hal Lindsey, Chuck Missler, L. S. Chafer, John Walvoord, Charles Ryrie, J. Dwight Pentecost, Oral Roberts, Kenneth Copeland, Paul Crouch, Benny Hinn, James Dobson, Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Ralph Reed, and Jews for Jesus (to name a few). Christian Zionism is an elephantine form of Gnosticism, for it presumes to eschatologically decode the Bible and give secret knowledge (i.e., gnosis). Christian Zionism makes the gnostic DaVinci Code, which is mere fiction, look like small peanuts. If you do not know what a Christian Zionist is, perhaps you might know them better by another title: Dispensationalists. Christian Zionism, a.k.a. Dispensationalism, is nothing more than revived Judaism.

The whole concept behind the different dispensations is a false man-made system. The term "dispensation" appears only four times (1 Cor. 9:16-17; Eph. 3:2; Col. 1:25; Eph. 1:10) in the entire Bible, and its context informs you of its meaning. The word "dispense", from where we get "dispensation", has two definitions:

1. to give something (e.g., a soap dispenser)
2. to do away with something (e.g., "Let's dispense with the formalities.")

The first three passages fit the first definition, while the last passage fits the second definition. The periods of time divided into different so-called "dispensations" are a fabricated lie. There is no support for this in the Bible. Try applying the above definitions to the various Dispensational periods of time and you will find that they do not make an ounce of sense.

Another lie progressed by Christian Zionists (read Dispensationalists) says that "Paradise" (Luke 23:43) used to be a compartment in hell, separated by a fixed gulf. They claim that in the Old Testament the saints went to Paradise while in the New Testament they go to heaven. However, the word "Paradise" is not found in the Old Testament. The word "Heaven" is. The word "Paradise" is found only in the New Testament, and three times (Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:1-4; Rev. 2:7). Anyone who examines the context of these passages closely will realize that "Paradise" is another word for Heaven.

Yet another lie produced by Christian Zionists is that the term "sons of God" in the Old Testament, which occurs five times (Gen. 6:2, 4; Job 1:6; 3:1; 38:7), refers to fallen angels. If this is true, it must include Satan as one of the "sons of God" because he is a fallen angel. Is Satan a son of God? The problem here resembles that heresy of Mormonism that claims Jesus and Lucifer are spiritual brothers. Satan wants to be a son of God, and that was part of his pride that resulted in his fall. Christian Zionists argue that since Greek and Roman myths have gods coming down to co-habitate with mankind, then it must stand to reason that they got these ideas from the Bible and therefore the "sons of God" must refer to fallen angels.

Christian Zionism, and everything it stands for, is a lie straight from the pit of hell. Christian Zionism, like Mormonism and Islam, makes salvation by “race” rather than by grace. Mormonism says it is all about the white man; Islam says it is all about the Arabs; Christian Zionism says it is all about the Jews. There are about 101 other heretical lies that Christian Zionists teach (apart from all their eschatological lies), but there is not enough room in this blog entry (or even several blog entries) to cover them all and answer them biblically according to the Bible. The heretical Bible that helped spread these lies across Europe and America was the Scofield Reference Bible. Through expensive campaigns and propaganda, it replaced many genuine Bibles used at many seminaries and the false notes were treated as if they were inspired by God and belonged there.

After the death of C. I. Scofield, the notes in the Scofield Reference Bible exploded and were accelerated to advance the Zionist aims. Much of Scofield's original notes were removed and replaced with more heavily Zionist-friendly notes. In 1908, Scofield wrote concerning John 8:37:

"Cf. John 8:39. The contrast, 'I know that ye are Abraham's seed' — 'If ye were Abraham's children' is that between the natural and the spiritual posterity of Abraham. The Israelitish people and the Ishmaelitish people are the former; all who are 'of like precious faith with Abraham,' whether Jews or Gentiles, are the latter; Romans 9:6-8; Galatians 3:6-14. See 'Abrahamic Covenant,' Gen 15:18."

Compare that with the Oxford note substituted in the 1967 edition:

"All Jews are natural descendants of Abraham, but are not necessarily his spiritual posterity; Romans 9:6-8, Galatians 3:6-14."

Scofield's original footnote was accurate with Christian teachings and belief of the previous 1900 years. The revised footnote is a fallacious heresy. How can "all Jews" be "natural descendants of Abraham," a Chaldean who lived some 3,000 years ago? People of all ethnicities and nationalities are Jews, and new Jews are being converted every day from every ethnicity and nationality. You might as well say that all Lutherans are the natural descendants of Martin Luther. That is how preposterous and nonsensical this new footnote is. The publishers of this Bible (The Oxford University Press) clearly have an agenda: the advancement of the fallacious, erroneous, and heretical teachings of Christian Zionism.

Take this brazen and outrageous newly inserted footnote from the 1967 edition concerning Genesis 12:3: “For a nation to commit the sin of anti-Semitism brings inevitable judgment.” There is no word for “anti-Semitism” in the New Testament, nor is it found among the Ten Commandments. “Sin” is a personal concept. It is something done by individuals in conflict with God’s words, not by “nations.” Even Sodom did not sin—its people did. The word “judgment” in the Bible always refers to God’s action. In the New Testament, Jesus promises both judgment and salvation for believing individuals, not for “nations.” There was also no “State of Israel” when Scofield wrote his original notes in his concocted Scofield Reference Bible in 1908. All references to Israel as a state were added after 1947, when Israel was granted statehood by edict of the United Nations. The Oxford University Press simply rewrote its version of the Christian Bible in 1967 to make antipathy toward the “State of Israel” a “sin.” Israel is made a god to be worshiped, not merely a “state.” That is exactly what Christian Zionism does: it worships the state of Israel as a god. Hence why they teach and believe that the entire Bible is Israel-centric; all about Israel.

The Oxford 1967 edition continues concerning Genesis 12:1-3:

"(2) God made an unconditional promise of blessings through Abram's seed (a) to the nation of Israel to inherit a specific territory forever"
“"(3) There is a promise of blessing upon those individuals and nations who bless Abram's descendants, and a curse laid upon those who persecute the Jews."

This bequeath is joined to an Oxford prophesy that never occurs in the Bible itself:

"It has invariably fared ill with the people who have persecuted the Jew, well with those who have protected him." and "The future will still more remarkably prove this principle."

None of these notes appeared in the original Scofield Reference Bible or in the 1917 or 1945 editions. The state of Israel did not exist in 1945, and according to the best dictionaries of the time, the word “Israel” only referred to a particular man and an ancient tribe, which is consistent with the Bible text. See “Israel,” Webster’s New International Dictionary 2nd (1950) Edition.

Beware of Christian Zionists and their false gospel. Stick with “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3), the things that were taught by the church for the past 2,000 years rather than so-called “new revelation” taught in the last 200 years. “If it’s new, it probably isn’t true.” One of the reasons I will never recommend so-called "Study" Bibles to people is because 99% of them contain the heretical Christian Zionist/Dispensationalist notes. Bibles should not have such notes. That is what commentaries are for!

For biblical responses to Christian Zionism errors and heresy, see all my blog entries for the month of May.

John 6:37-44

John 6:37-44 is just one of many passages that teach limited atonement, unconditional election, and irresistible grace. Read the passage aloud and pay close attention to what it is saying. Here is a dialogue on this passage between two well-known evangelicals:

DAVE: “Unconditional election and irresistible grace are found in this passage? The words “unconditional” and “irresistible” aren’t even there, nor can they be found elsewhere in the Bible!”

JAMES: “And Jehovah’s Witnesses dismiss the Trinity because the term does not appear in the Bible. So what, Dave? The concept does, and this is the case with John 6 as well. “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me.” Those are Jesus’ words. It is the Father’s giving that results in the coming of those so given. The giving precedes and therefore determines the coming. Giving is a divine act, and since it precedes the very existence of those so given, it must be unconditional (hence, as I noted, unconditional election). But, beyond this, Jesus says that all that the Father gives Him will come to Him. Not some. Not most. All. Such cannot be said in your synergistic system where grace tries, but fails, to save at least some. What do you call the belief that God never fails to bring His elect people unto salvation, but that they infallibly come in faith to Christ? It’s called ‘irresistible grace,’ Dave: when God raises the dead sinner to life, that newly regenerated believer clings in faith to Christ. So, as you can see, you do not need to use the terms ‘unconditional’ or ‘ irresistible’ to have those divine truths right there in the text. And no matter how much you dislike them, Dave, they are still there. As long as John 6:37 remains in the Bible, people will embrace the doctrines of grace.”

DAVE: “Surely the words in (John 6:40, 44, 54) that state ‘I will raise him up at the last day’ must refer to those who actually come to Christ, but not to all who are ‘drawn’. It would certainly not include those who are drawn, and then ‘draw back into perdition’ (Hebrews 10:39). The Calvinist is reading into Christ’s words more than he actually says.”

JAMES: “I do not argue as you do, Dave. When I say those who are drawn are the same ones who are raised up, I provide exegetical basis. Here’s a summary:
1. In John 6:44, (which is the key passage regarding “drawing”), we read: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” This is a single sentence. In Greek we have, “helkuse auton, kagw anastesw auton en te eschate hemera”. The direct object of the action of the Father’s drawing is the first auton, “him”. A grand total of two words separate the first “him” from the appearance of the same term, “and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Now, you are telling us that this is a different “him”, a different group of people. That in fact there are many, many who are drawn who will not be raised up. You are telling us that the Father draws millions to Christ, but that they do not experience the last phrase of this single sentence. And upon what basis? You don’t tell us. “Surely” you can do so! What is the basis, Dave?
The fact is: there is no reason to insert a disjunction between the direct object of helkuse and the direct object of anastesw. In fact, when we consider the syntax of the passage, we note that while helkuse is found in a subjunctive clause, the main tense comes from oudeis dunatai elthein, “no one is able to come”. Note that the verb in the last clause is a future, “and I will raise him up.” The progression naturally flows into the last clause without interruption. That is, there is nothing indicated in the verbal structure to make kai disjunctive in any way! (Something you would need to find to be able to substantiate your assertion). But.. instead… the Greek grammar makes it beyond dispute: The natural reading is to see auton (“him”) in both clauses as synonymous … (in extent and meaning)!”

That little dialogue goes to illustrate a point. Arminianist-based faiths never argue with an exegetical basis; they argue based upon their pre-suppositions, feelings, and opinions. Calvinist-based faiths often argue with nothing but exegetical basis, as you can see James doing in the above dialogue. An appeal to the Greek words and grammar will always decide the case between two opposing beliefs/interpretations definitively and conclusively. Both can be wrong, but both cannot be right. The only course of action to take when this is done is to either accept what it says or reject it stubbornly, which is pride at its best.

The fact is, John 6:37-44, among other passages, teaches the truths about limited atonement, unconditional election, and irresistible grace. In fact, total depravity is also taught in this passage. The words do not have to be there for the principle to be there. The question is, what are you going to do about it? Will you conform your beliefs to what is revealed in Scripture? Or will you stubbornly reject what has been revealed in Scripture in favour of your beliefs? One is obedience while the other is disobedience.

Romans 6

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13

GALATIANS 5:1-5
Freedom in Christ is not a license to live as one pleases. It is not “doing whatever I want.” That is false liberty. We are saved to a life of love and service toward others. Believers are compelled by God’s grace to follow one law – the royal law of love: “All the law is fulfilled in one word…thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (v14).
“Love” for Christ and others will automatically result in the following of the law, which is a holy law. Whether a believer is following the royal law of love or not will be evidenced in their joy. There is only one way to spell joy:
J = Jesus
O = others
Y = you

ROMANS 6:1-14 - Union with Christ
Receiving God’s forgiveness through faith in Christ does not mean that we are set free to sin at will. The believer is united to Christ in such a way through his conversion experience that he wants to please his Lord through holy and righteous living. The “old self” is no longer in control. We are set free from slavery to sin to service in God’s kingdom.
Paul stated that God’s grace abounded where sin increased (Romans 5:20-21). The question is then raised, “Shall we continue to sin, or sin more, so that God’s grace can be displayed even more?” His answer is an emphatic “No!”
Christians have died to sin and are placed in union with Christ. What he experienced, we have also experienced. We have been united to Christ by Holy Spirit baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13). This union makes it possible to live victoriously over sin. In Paul’s writings, he makes it clear that sin is an alien power within the believer, always trying to dominate him. Our position is victorious over sin!
We need to do two things:

1. Consider this as true (6:11).
2. Present ourselves to God (12:1).

v1. Shall we continue to sin so that later we can repent and be forgiven?
v2. No! We are dead to sin. He does not say “if,” he says “are.” It is a fact! Fall into sin we may, but live and lie in it we cannot. It is not falling into the water that drowns a man, but it is his lying in it; so it is not falling into sin that damns a man, but it is his living in it.
v3-4. “Know ye not?” This is a truth which we ought not to be ignorant of. Since we are baptized into His death, as Christ was raised from the dead into “new” life, so we should walk in newness of life.
v5. “If,” which we are, according to verses 3-4.
v6. “Body of sin” – our physical bodies are not the body of sin, but rather where sin manifests itself.
v7. Every believer is dead, partaking in the one baptism, therefore we are all freed from sin.
v11. Know that you are dead to sin, but alive to God.
v12. Do not let sin reign in your body, seeing how you are already victorious over it.
v13. Do not yield your members to sin either. Yield them to God.
v14. Sin does not have dominion over us.

ROMANS 6:15-23 - Enslavement to Sin or to Righteousness
Paul challenges his readers to reject the way of sin and death and to choose the path that leads to abundant living in the Lord: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (v23).
Even though sin has lost its authority over us, it still tries to regain mastery over us. Christians can be slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness. The choice belongs to the believer. If sin is the master, believers will experience shame, guilt, and death (death meaning separation – believers who stay in sin and do not confess their sins experience a separation from God in their walk with Him).

v15. We are not under the curse and rigour of the law, yet we are under its direction and discipline: the gospel allows of sin no more than the law. The apostle is careful, both here and elsewhere, to prevent licentiousness, or the abuse of Christian liberty (see Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:15). We are not under the law to be judged by it, but that does not mean that we ignore it. God has said that the law is holy.
v16. If we continue to sin, we are servants to that sin.
v18. Being freed from sin made us servants of righteousness. We should walk accordingly (Galatians 5:16).
v19. “As” we did the former, “now” do this.
v21. What benefits came from the things you are ashamed of having done prior to salvation? The end of those is death. And this will be much more equal and reasonable, if you consider these three things:

1. How little fruit and satisfaction your former sins have afforded you in the very time of committing them.
2. How nothing but shame and sorrow does follow upon the remembrance of them.
3. How death, yes, eternal death and damnation (unless pardoning grace and mercy prevent it) will be the certain conclusion of them.

v22. Our fruit is now unto holiness (Galatians 5:22-23).

CONCLUSION:
Since we are dead to sin and victorious over sin, not only positionally but factually, we have the choice to say “No” to sin and temptation to sin. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Because we cannot see the end result of this, we need to have faith and reckon it to be true by trusting God's Word. Would God lie about such a thing? “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4). Everything that comes from God is by grace through faith. Salvation is by grace through faith. Sanctification is by grace through faith. Justification is by grace through faith. Everything in this world requires faith. In our friendships, our marriages, our relationships with our children, etc. Husbands and wives need to have faith in each other. Parents need to have faith in their children. Faith is a key element in all relationships, and especially true of our relationship with God. It is how God designed us. He designed us to walk by faith.
There is no need for us to sin any longer; neither is there any excuse. We are dead to sin. It has absolutely no control over us except that which we give it. If we give it that control, we have enslaved ourselves once again to the yoke of bondage. We have enslaved ourselves to our master, sin. Let's realize this doctrinal truth and live our lives accordingly. Let's live our Christian liberty unto righteousness, bringing glory to the name of the Father through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.