The relationship with God is unique, especially so when the way it began is considered in view of the terrible condition of mankind at the time. The world was mired in sin, and except for God’s love for his creation, he could have allowed mankind to perish. Paul said in Romans’ that the work God did through Christ astounded him.  He wrote the awe he felt in Romans 5:5-8: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Paul in his zeal to please God had consented to the persecution of Christians thinking it was good and that it pleased God. He knew that even the good and righteous would not want to die for someone or a cause, and yet Christ died for men and women who were sinners to make the renewed relationship with God possible, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:27: That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  

God can’t stand sin and the only way for anyone to be in the presence of God is to be sinless. Since Christ is sitting at God’s right hand, we know he is sinless. At the moment, believers aren’t in God’s presence except through Christ by faith. Those who died in faith are in the grave waiting the resurrection. Their time of living in faith is over and now it is the responsibility of those who are alive to carry on the faithfulness as members of the body by continuing to grow into Christ and spread the gospel. The believer must continue in by faith in Christ and learn all that he or she possible can. Peter said in 2 Pet 3:14-18: Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ is the instruction for all Christians.

There is one more unique aspect contained in what Christ did for us. Paul wrote to the believers in Corinthian church the following in II Corinthians 7:1: Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. God promised to save us in Jesus Christ. Christ died while were yet sinners covered with the stains of the sin of unbelief. Those who hear the gospel are sinners and yet Christ says come to me. His invitation is to be saved. When the obedient ones come from the water of baptism, they have been cleansed from the stains of the sin of unbelief. It is as Peter wrote in I Peter 3:21-22: The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. The filth of the flesh is immaterial since baptism isn’t a bath for the body, but is very important due to what it shows, the answer of a good conscience to God by the one baptized.  Then as Paul wrote in II Corinthians 7:1, the believer is to clean up his or her behavior and grow to what God sees, a human free of sin through faith in Jesus Christ.

Each believer being a member of the body is part of the church, Christ’s bride. Each member is to be faithful and follow the head, which is Christ, just as the wife is to follow the lead of her husband as he follows the Master. Then the man and wife and the believers both will have a beautiful marriage with all being faithful brides of Christ.

  © 02-26-2003 DEC

   Revised 04-14-2008

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