“…you are fellow citizens (sumpolitēs: people consecrated to God) with God’s people, built on the FOUNDATION (the basis of something) of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the CHIEF CORNERSTONE. In Him the whole building is JOINED TOGETHER and rises to become a HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD. And in Him you too are being BUILT TOGETHER to become A DWELLING in which GOD LIVES BY HIS SPIRIT.” (Eph. 2:19-22)
- WHAT IS OUR BASIS (foundation): All of mankind is guilty of sin (Rom. 3:23), what we have earned as a result of sin, is death (Rom. 6:23), God has provided a free gift (Rom. 6:23) We must repent of our sin to receive this gift (Acts 3:19-21)
- WHAT IS OUR CORNERSTONE: In other words what is the pattern we have to follow? “If you love Me, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.” (John 14:15) “Let this MIND be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Phil. 2:5) “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)
- HOW ARE WE JOINED TOGETHER: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and GAVE HIMSELF FOR HER, that He might sanctify and cleanse her…For we are MEMBERS OF HIS BODY, OF HIS FLESH AND OF HIS BONES…For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and THE TWO WILL BECOME ONE FLESH. This is a profound mystery—but I AM TALKING ABOUT CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.” (Eph. 5:30) We will be joined to Christ just like a man and woman are joined together, by a covenant. “They shall ask the way to Zion, saying, ‘Come and let us JOIN OURSELVES to the LORD In a PERPETUAL COVENANT That will not be forgotten.’” (Jer. 50:5)
Jewish marriage customs in Bible times involved The first step which was betrothal, the establishment of the marriage covenant that bound the man and woman together as husband and wife, The covenant with Jesus could look something like this,
“Will you sincerely promise in the presence of God and these witnesses that you will accept this Bible as the Word of God (remember Jesus is the Word of God) – believe and practice its teachings rightly divided – the New Testament as your rule of faith and practice, government and discipline, and walk in the light to the best of your knowledge and ability?”
-Bill Stockham