THE MARRIAGE RING --Part IV

"Prudence forbids all unequal marriages, and there should be an equality as near as may be in AGE. How unnatural, how odious is it to see a young man fastened to a piece of antiquity.

"...Equality of RANK is desirable, or as near to it as possible.... Many a wife has carried to her grave the sting inflicted upon her peace by the insults of her husband’s friends; and in all such cases, he must receive a part of the venom.

"To my brethren in the ministry I do recommend, and recommend with an earnestness which I have no language sufficiently emphatic to express, the greatest caution in this most delicate and important affair. In their case, the effects of an imprudent marriage are felt in

the church of the living God .... Not only much of the comfort, but of the character of a minister depends upon his wife; and what is of still greater consequence, much of his usefulness."

--John Angell James

THE DESIGN OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST

-II-

What, if anything, did Christ actually ACCOMPLISH by His death on the cross?

First, by His death on the cross, Christ effected RECONCILIATION for His people: "WE (are) reconciled to God by the death of His Son...." – Romans 5:10; see Colossians 1:21,22

Second, Christ effected the JUSTIFICATION of His people, and all by His death: Being justified FREELY by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...." "But God commendeth His love toward US, in that, while WE WERE YET SINNERS, Christ died for US, Much more then, being now justified by His blood, WE shall be saved from wrath through Him." --Romans 3:24; 5:8,9

Third, Christ effected REDEMPTION for His people: "Christ hath redeemed US from the curse of the law, being made a curse for US: for it is written, ‘Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree....’" Again, the writer of Hebrews enjoins, "...Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having OBTAINED ETERNAL REDEMPTION FOR US." – Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 9:12

Next, by His death on the cross, Christ effected REPENTANCE, and FORGIVENESS for His people: "Him hath God exalted", writes Luke of Him whom "the God of our fathers raised up" and "whom ye slew and hanged on a tree," – "Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give REPENTANCE to Israel, and FORGIVENESS OF SINS." –Acts 5:30,31

Again, He actually accomplished the SALVATION and the REGENERATION of His own: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY HE SAVED US, by the washing of Regeneration and Renewing of the Holy Ghost...." – Titus 3:5

Sixth, and last, Christ, by effecting the purpose He had in mind to accomplish by His death on the cross, has now become to His people, their "WISDOM, and RIGHTEOUSNESS, and SANCTIFICATION, and REDEMPTION." --I Corinthians 1:30

Have you never read, "ALL THAT THE FATHER GIVETH ME SHALL COME TO ME; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from Heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of ALL WHICH HE HATH GIVEN ME I SHOULD LOSE NOTHING, BUT SHOULD RAISE IT UP AGAIN AT THE LAST DAY."--(John 6:37-39)

Or, have you never read the 10th chapter of John? Space would not permit the printing of the entire chapter here, but note the following verses:

Verse 11 --"I Am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for THE SHEEP."

"I Am the Good Shepherd and know MY SHEEP, and am known of MINE. As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR THE SHEEP. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and THEY SHALL HEAR MY VOICE, and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again." --verses 14-17

"Then came the Jews round about Him, and said unto Him, ‘How long dost Thou make us to doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and ye believed not, BECAUSE YE ARE NOT OF MY SHEEP, as I said unto you. MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, AND I KNOW THEM, AND THEY FOLLOW ME: AND I GIVE UNTO TO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father which gave them Me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand." –verses 24-29 (read carefully verses 1-29 in their entirety.)

Have you never read the 17th chapter of John?

"Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee: As Thou hast GIVEN HIM POWER OVER ALL FLESH, THAT HE SHOULDGIVE ETERNAL LIFE TO AS MANY AS THOU HAST GIVEN HIM. And this is life eternal, that they may know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. I have glorified Thee on the earth: I HAVE FINISHED THE WORK WHICH THOU GAVEST ME TO DO. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. I HAVE MANIFESTED THY NAME UNTO THE MEN WHICH THOU GAVEST ME OUT OF THE WORLD: Thine they were, and THOU GAVEST THEM ME; and they have kept Thy Word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee. For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me, and THEY HAVE RECEIVED THEM, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me. I PRAY FOR THEM: I PRAY NOT FOR THE WORLD, BUT FOR THEM WHICH THOU HAST GIVEN ME, for they are Thine. And all Mine are Thine and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, KEEP THROUGH THINE OWN NAME, THOSE WHOM THOU HAST GIVEN ME, that they may be one as we are.-– (1-19)...Neither pray I for these alone, but FOR THEM ALSO WHICH SHALL BELIEVE ON ME THROUGH THEIR WORD .... " --(20)

"Father, I will that THEY ALSO, WHOM THOU HAST GIVEN ME, BE WITH ME WHERE I AM; that THEY may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovest Me before the foundation of the world. O Righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I have known Thee, and THESE HAVE KNOWN THAT THOU HAST SENT ME. And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in THEM, and I in THEM." – 24-26

Notice also the first chapter of Ephesians: and primarily that it is directed "to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus." –verse 1

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed US with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according AS HE HATH CHOSEN US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, THAT WE should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having PREDESTINATED US UNTO THE ADOPTION OF CHILDREN by Jesus Christ unto Himself, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL, To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made US accepted in the beloved. IN WHOM WE have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; Wherein He hath abounded toward US in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto US the mystery of His will, ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PLEASURE WHICH HE HATH PURPOSED IN HIMSELF: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: In Whom also WE have obtained an inheritance, BEING PREDESTINATED ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIM WHO WORKETH ALL THINGS AFTER THE COUNSEL OF HIS OWN WILL: That WE should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ." – verses 3-12 (con’t.)