Crime
Crime would not exist if it were not for the criminal. To write
about crime is to write about the act of rather than the reason
for and our focus should be on the criminal if we are to have a
full understanding. In John 18:30, Jesus was accused of being a
criminal though he had never broken any law. Though Pilate
judged Jesus to have no fault at all, he was still crucified. 1
Peter 2:22 "Who did no sin, neither was guile (deceit) found in
his mouth". So as we see according to the scriptures Jesus was
no criminal. There is an interesting facet about his life: the
life of Christ was surrounded by sinful law breaking criminals
and though he ate with them and was friendly with them he never
participated in the acts of crime with them. Why did Jesus have
such an association? The answer is clear: if he as the Son of
God had been called to save that which is lost, he had to as God
in the flesh identify with these people, thus becoming the Son of
Man also. Never before had God came so close to man as in the
form of a humble servant. He was no longer the cloud by day and
fire by night, the rock which followed the children of Israel
through the wilderness providing water but he now was a human
being. Luke 5:32 "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners
to repentance". Jesus was a friend of and kept company with
those who committed crimes and those who were considered sinners.
Matthew 4:16 " The people which sat in darkness saw a great
light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death
light is sprung up". You must understand that Jesus was hope for
these people. Jesus was a man like no other to them, never had
anyone spoke like this before.
All throughout the bible we can find examples of law and those
who break the law. Just like our modern society there will
always be law breakers. People can not live without laws. If
there was no law mankind would surely destroy itself. If there
was no punishment for crime then what would stop you from
becoming a criminal? Laws set a moral precedence which society
adopts to live by. This reduces chaos and brings order for safe
living conditions. (1 Timothy 1:9 speaks of why we have laws).
The law is a result of the curse which stems all the way back to
the garden of Eden. The first law was broken by Adam and Eve as
a result of sin and being disobedient to God. God brought the
curse (Genesis 3:14-19) upon the world and had to institute rules
not so much as punishment, but more for mans own protection.
Once the original sin had been acted out, man lost his protection
because he had fallen from God's sovereign mercy, love and grace.
In verse 15 we see the first promise of God to bring a redeemer
into the world to restore man back to his maker. The most
terrifying aspect of this original sin which had been committed
was that it brought about death! Crime and sin bring about
death. "The wages of sin or the penalty for sinning is death".
"If we only believe", that is what the bible says, "if we only
believe". Society and lawlessness will continue until Jesus
returns but we have one that is faithful and true that knew what
it was like to eat with the sinner, to die like a sinner, and
this one is Jesus who even in death was unable to die as a
righteous man but died a criminals death hanging between two
thieves (Luke 23:32-33). Though Jesus died and was buried as a
criminal, by Gods power (Acts 2:24), by his own power (John
10:18), and by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11) Christ
raised from the dead by the power of the trinity and overcame
death. Jesus still stands alone as the only one worthy to pardon
sin and the criminal. This is because he experienced the
humiliation and pain of mankind's sins and disease upon the cross
and gave himself as a lamb to the slaughter. The law breaker and
the criminal who hungers and thirst after righteousness shall be
fed. Matthew 21:31 (paraphrased) "Jesus saith unto them, Verily
(I tell you the truth) That the publicans and the harlots go into
the kingdom of God before you". 1 John 3:8 "He that committeth
sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the devil". Instead of tablets of stone God
now with his own finger writes his law into our hearts and in our
minds by the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 10:16-17). Where there seemed
to be no redemption for sinful man, God made a way through his
Son and as a result forgiveness can be had and iniquities
(violation of the law, transgression of the law) forgotten.
(Titus 2:14) "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us
from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar (people of
possession) people, zealous of good works". So you see there is
hope!
Divorce-Family man (Everybody Duck)
This is a subject which most everybody is familiar with. We all
know someone who has been in a marriage that did not last. The
percentages (%) are quite high these days concerning divorce.
What does the bible tell us of this matter? I am not a marriage
counselor but I have been married to the same women for many
years which does in fact makes me an expert. Did you know that
Jesus died for a women? Yes he gave his life freely, committed
himself to the agony of the cross for the love of a women (Acts
20:28)! She was not even born until he died! Why did Christ say
that he was returning to the earth? Answer...To claim his bride.
When will this great event take place? Answer...When she has
matured and become a women! Ephesians 5:19-33 explains this and
marriage more clearly than any other passage dealing with this
issue. verse 25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also
loved the church, and gave himself for it:" Marriage is a giving
and loving union. Christ left this world to return to right hand
side of his father and he left his bride here on earth. The
bride was to die because there was a death sentence on her head.
But Jesus loving her more than anything the world could offer,
took her place and spared her punishment and death. In doing
this Galatians 2:20 explains this union "I am crucified with
Christ: nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:"
Even though Jesus left his bride behind, he did not leave her
comfortless to face an accusing world alone. John 14:26 "But the
Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in
my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to
your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you". When Christ
returns to find his bride without spot or blemish a chaste
(innocent, modest, perfect, clean and pure, blameless) virgin the
bible calls her, a marriage will take place. Revelation 19:7
"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the
marriage of the Lamb (Jesus) is come, and his wife hath made
herself ready". How much does Jesus love his church (bride)?
Matthew 13:45-46 "Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a
merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one
pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought
it". A pearl is used here as an example because a pearl is one,
a pearl is formed by accretion, and that not mechanically, but
vitally through a living one. The church was born through the
death of Christ. How does the bible view marriage? Matthew 19:5-6
"And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother,
and shall cleave (to glue or to join) to his wife: and they twain
shall be one flesh." Marriage is instituted by God (Genesis 2:18-
24), Honorable (Hebrews 13:4). What is the purpose of marriage?
(Genesis 2:18) says" it is not good that a man should be alone".
(1 Corinthians 7:2-9) says "to avoid fornication". Marriage
should be a life long journey of love not a disastrous collision.
To love and to cherish til death do us part. Married couple are
not suppose to split up! "If God be for us who can be against
us". Marriage is ordained of God so shouldn't God be the center
piece of marriage in order to keep it strong? Let God direct the
marriage and do not take your eye off the road and he will not
direct you wrong. When tragedy and trials come who better to
unite a family than the head of the family, Jesus Christ!
Marriage is supposed to be a life long sanction (Mark 10:2-12),
and marriage ends at death (Romans 7:2-3). Divorce is only
allowed in cases of adultery (Matthew 5:27-32). The bible
teaches and promotes reconciliation (1 Corinthians 7:10-17). A
word that is seldom used in marriage is devotion and respect.
Jesus looks at the church as his bride and has been made sin for
her that the bride might be made the righteousness of God in him.
To say we believe in Jesus Christ is to say that we believe in
the bonds of marriage. To dissolve one's marriage for anything
other than the act of adultery is to cast doubt on the unity of
Christ's relationship with his church. A believer who leaves
their spouse is in fact saying that the power of Christ is not
strong enough to endorse a marriage of the bridegroom Jesus the
head of the church) and the bride (the body of Christ). Work,
money, children, boredom, none of these thing's should be the
reason for divorce. These are used as excuses for one's own
selfishness. Marriage is not something to be entered into
lightly and immaturely. Marriage is holy and there is not only a
promise to the person you are marring but a promise to God that
you will be faithful until the end. Marriage is and should be a
relationship made in heaven. The reality is that sometimes it
turns into hell for both parties. There is still no excuse for
separation. Christ never caused pain to his church nor left her
alone to wonder of his whereabouts, never struck her in anger,
never humiliated her but shelters her, protects her, loves her,
strengthens her, encourages her, delivers her, preserves her,
helps her, absorbs the pain. Hebrews 13:5 "I will never leave
you nor forsake you".
In Christ
Dale Thompson
BRIDE
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