THREE MARRIAGES
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Three Marriages
1. Three Marriages
a) Christians are figuratively "married" to Christ (Romans 7:2-4). In some ways, our marriage to Christ is something like Rebekah's marriage to Isaac (Genesis 24), and Rachel's marriage to Jacob (Genesis 29).
Romans 7:2-4
2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
2. Isaac's Marriage To Rebekah
a) In Isaac's case, Isaac seemed to do little until right at the happy ending where he marries Rebekah and loves her (Genesis 24:67).
b) It was Abraham, Abraham's manservant, and Rebekah herself who seemed to make all the effort toward this marriage. All Isaac did was enter into the marriage.
c) This may be a parallel to your marriage (or conversion) to Christ. It may be that other people did a lot of work and went to a great deal of trouble in order to convert you. Their sacrificial, dedicated, and prayerful work brought Christ to you. All you had to do was accept him.
3. Jacob's Marriage To Rachel
a) In Jacob's case the opposite was true. He had to go on a long journey, then work hard and long —14 years!— before he was permitted to marry Rachel (Genesis 29).
b) This may be the better parallel to your marriage (or conversion) to Christ. Perhaps you had to seek out Christ pretty much on your own. Perhaps other people, rather than helping you, put obstacles in your way. You had to labor and struggle against odds in order to join yourself to Jesus Christ.
4. Our Marriage To Christ
a) There is another way to see these stories as parallels to conversion. Abraham's manservant has something in common with Jacob. Each man went to very great lengths of self sacrifice to bring about the marriage he was involved in. Both went on a long journey. Both were seeking to help God fulfill his promise. Both were faithful. Both paid a price.
b) In these two men, and in their desires and deeds, we can see a parallel to Jesus Christ.
i) Seeking: Christ did so much for us. He left his home and came to seek us (Luke 19:10).
ii) Serving: He took the role of a Servant (Philippians 2:5-7, Zechariah 3:8).
iii) Suffering: He suffered much for us, paying a heavy price (Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:5-6).
iv) So we have become his beloved bride (Ephesians 5:25-30, Revelation 21:2).
The End ...
Romans 7:2-4
2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
2. Isaac's Marriage To Rebekah
a) In Isaac's case, Isaac seemed to do little until right at the happy ending where he marries Rebekah and loves her (Genesis 24:67).
b) It was Abraham, Abraham's manservant, and Rebekah herself who seemed to make all the effort toward this marriage. All Isaac did was enter into the marriage.
c) This may be a parallel to your marriage (or conversion) to Christ. It may be that other people did a lot of work and went to a great deal of trouble in order to convert you. Their sacrificial, dedicated, and prayerful work brought Christ to you. All you had to do was accept him.
3. Jacob's Marriage To Rachel
a) In Jacob's case the opposite was true. He had to go on a long journey, then work hard and long —14 years!— before he was permitted to marry Rachel (Genesis 29).
b) This may be the better parallel to your marriage (or conversion) to Christ. Perhaps you had to seek out Christ pretty much on your own. Perhaps other people, rather than helping you, put obstacles in your way. You had to labor and struggle against odds in order to join yourself to Jesus Christ.
4. Our Marriage To Christ
a) There is another way to see these stories as parallels to conversion. Abraham's manservant has something in common with Jacob. Each man went to very great lengths of self sacrifice to bring about the marriage he was involved in. Both went on a long journey. Both were seeking to help God fulfill his promise. Both were faithful. Both paid a price.
b) In these two men, and in their desires and deeds, we can see a parallel to Jesus Christ.
i) Seeking: Christ did so much for us. He left his home and came to seek us (Luke 19:10).
ii) Serving: He took the role of a Servant (Philippians 2:5-7, Zechariah 3:8).
iii) Suffering: He suffered much for us, paying a heavy price (Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:5-6).
iv) So we have become his beloved bride (Ephesians 5:25-30, Revelation 21:2).
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