His wife

[Johan]

God created Adam in His image.

Gen 2:18 Later, the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a companion that is a suitable match for him."


And surely. . it is not good to be alone!


Gen 2:21 so the LORD God caused a deep sleep to overshadow the man. When the man was asleep, he removed one of the man's ribs and closed up the flesh where it had been.

Gen 2:22 Then the LORD God formed the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man.

Gen 2:23 So the man exclaimed, "At last! This is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. This one will be called 'Woman,' because she was taken from Man."


So God ceated a companion for man. Someone that is his equal . . .and not his child.


In this present moment in history . . we find that God has many children . . . but no companion. And we know that true fulfilment cannot be without a family.


“And surely. . it is not good to be alone!”


And God created for Himself children. This we all know . . .but where is the companion.


Or is God destined to live only with His children. . . .living in this “not good” situation.


“And surely. . it is not good to be alone!”


But we see something else in Scripture


Isa 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.


And we see the growing up of His children.


Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:


And then? Are we then destined to still be children of God? And God destined to be alone? Just living with all of His children . . .and it is just children . . .but they are grown?


No. Surely not. Then we are ready for the grown-up relationship! Companionship . . .because we are not children anymore . . .and the relationship can obviously not be that of children anymore!

And then . . .we start to get revelations on the Song of songs . . .and the anointing . . .there

Son 1:2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

And we get some more revelation on this "great mystery"

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 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.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Love Johan

 

[Mike]

Just to be clear, Gen 2:18 says "And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone;".

God is not lacking anything. The Church is the bride of Christ, but this says nothing of His need of a bride. He needs nothing.

I don't suspect you were saying otherwise. Just pointing this out.

 

[Johan]

Just to be clear, Gen 2:18 says "And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone;".
God made man in His image . .. and in the image of God . . . man lived . . .and discovered . . .that he needs someone


God is not lacking anything

God was one . . .no-one to bestow His love upon . . .just Him . . .and . . .nothing.

The Church is the bride of Christ, but this says nothing of His need of a bride.

Man didn't like life . . .in God's image . . .without a companion

He needs nothing.

in God's image . . man needed . . .someone

I don't suspect you were saying otherwise. Just pointing this out.

You heard something . . .that maybe you never heard before . . and . . you were not sure . . now you are.

Love Johan

 

[Nathan]

I am not saying your post is wrong Johan, you gave a lot to think about, but I wanted to add some comments.

I think we need to understand that God does not procreate, He just creates. Procreation is different than creation because a creation can be the image and likeness of its creator, but not the essence of its creator. Procreation is the essence of its origin - as in having the same DNA and makeup. Humans are not like that and will never be. Christ was born fully man and fully God - He is/has the essence of God

The lie of satan was that Adam and Eve would 'become like God'

Genesis 3:5
For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

The word used is 'elohiym - satan was saying they would be as God is.

God created man in His likeness and image, and when we are "born from above" we receive His essence in us in the form of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the essence of God and lives in us, but that does not make us as God is. He does provide the connection to God, and through that connection the sustenance of God, but never the essence of God.

God alone is, and we are/will be with Him through the life He gives from His Spirit. But we must never, ever, consider ourselves as equal in essence to the creator.

It is much different than human procreation in that our children indeed are our equal once they reach maturity. They become like us in all ways because they are the very essence of our beings.

God does not say He needs companionship in the sense of someone to be His equal, but He does say He wants worship through a relationship. The closest thing we see to actual companionship is when God calls Israel His 'friend'.

Isaiah 41:8
But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

God is proclaiming His deep love toward the people, much in the same way Jesus did toward His disciples;

John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

The word Jesus used was philos, which is a form of companionship - but not equality. We still need sustenance from God, and throughout eternity we will need sustenance.

As I said, I am not thinking that you intended to say we will be "like Gods" or anything, but there are some religions that do believe we will be.

 

[Johan]

I am not saying your post is wrong Johan,

You are welcome to . . .because in your understanding it is wrong. But do not worry . . . .as His "essence" is my Life . . .your opinion cannot disturb me. . . as His divine nature is not able to be disturbed

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.


you gave a lot to think about,

God touched you in the spirit . . .and your mind can "offset" that.

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.


but I wanted to add some comments.

I think we need to understand that God does not procreate, He just creates. Procreation is different than creation because a creation can be the image and likeness of its creator, but not the essence of its creator. Procreation is the essence of its origin - as in having the same DNA and makeup. Humans are not like that and will never be.

This is why we need to see that God put His "essense" . . .Jesus in us . . .to establish "procreation" as we died as human beings and were not created again but born again.

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.



Christ was born fully man and fully God - He is/has the essence of God

sure . . .He was God Himself . . .getting born as a human being . . .and thus being human also


The lie of satan was that Adam and Eve would 'become like God'

Genesis 3:5
For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

And many are still living that lie . . .trying there best . . .through their own efforts . . .to become God . . .but . . changing only into better human beings . . .as the "essense" . . .can only be established by a birth out of God.

1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.


The word used is 'elohiym - satan was saying they would be as God is.

By living under the law . . . teaching them to become better . . . but without the "essence"

God created man in His likeness and image, and when we are "born from above" we receive His essence in us in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Good

The Spirit is the essence of God and lives in us, but that does not make us as God is.

sure . . .but when we die . . .and the Spirit lives . . .we live the Life of God . . .and the "essence" . . is flowing from us . . .as our Life
Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

He does provide the connection to God,

sure

and through that connection the sustenance of God,

sure

but never the essence of God.

and . . .glory! This also!



God alone is, and we are/will be with Him

sure . . .

through the life He gives from His Spirit.

but not just be with Him . . .but also live His blessed Life . . .Jesus . . .which is now our Life in us and out of us . .not us but Him . . .because we . . .are dead . . .and alive in Him



But we must never, ever, consider ourselves as equal in essence to the creator.


sure . . .that is why true children of God can only be that through the Life of Jesus . . .as their new "essence" and can never reach it through the tree of good and evil . . .the law . . .trying to be good and training and laboring to be like Him



It is much different than human procreation in that our children indeed are our equal once they reach maturity. They become like us in all ways because they are the very essence of our beings.

And God . . .according to you will never experience this joy . . .but has in "His wisdom" only established . . .a 50% way

God does not say He needs companionship in the sense of someone to be His equal, but He does say He wants worship through a relationship.

This is the way the heathen used to have relationship with their gods.

The closest thing we see to actual companionship

And now you heard . . . not of a "closest thing" . . .but of the . . .true thing

is when God calls Israel His 'friend'.

Isaiah 41:8
But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

God is proclaiming His deep love toward the people, much in the same way Jesus did toward His disciples;

John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

And now . . .the "greater works" are here . . .not "friends" . . but children!

The word Jesus used was philos, which is a form of companionship - but not equality. We still need sustenance from God, and throughout eternity we will need sustenance.
sure
and "essence"

As I said, I am not thinking that you intended to say we will be "like Gods" or anything, but there are some religions that do believe we will be.

Well actually I am echoing . . .Jesus
Joh 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
Joh 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Joh 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Joh 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Love Johan

 

[Eugene]

The Church is the bride of Christ

Brother Mike, can you show me scripture that shows that?

Just a thought is that as a type of Jesus and His bride, God took only a rib portion of Adam’s body to be that joint heir with him; not his entire body.

A scripture that comes to mind is Rom 8:17 as pertaining to our heir ship as children of God.
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (Jesus’ bride?); IF so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Thanks.

 

[Nathan]

Well actually I am echoing . . .Jesus
Joh 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
Joh 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Joh 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Joh 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Love Johan

I think that you were replying to some things I said in my post but the quotation thing kind of messed it up which makes it very hard to understand. Is it possible to redo your post so I can better understand?

 

[GodsGrace]

In reading the O.P., I thought of the Trinity.

God is not alone.
"Let US make man in OUR image"

God is Love.
Love is meant to be shared.
To be shared it needs someone.
God is Father
Son
Holy Spirit

God's love is shared between these 3.
They are not distinct persons and yet they are.
They are one and yet THEY share everything.
The Trinity is beyond our understanding, but it is still more than 1 person.

I like how Ravi Zakarias speaks about the Trinity.
But I still don't understand it.

As to the Bride of Christ.
Is not the Church (capital C) the bride of Christ?
Is this not all through the N.T.?

Ephesians 5:25-27
Revelation 19:7-9
2 Corinthians 11:12

 

[Nathan]

In reading the O.P., I thought of the Trinity.

God is not alone.
"Let US make man in OUR image"

God is Love.
Love is meant to be shared.
To be shared it needs someone.
God is Father
Son
Holy Spirit

God's love is shared between these 3.
They are not distinct persons and yet they are.
They are one and yet THEY share everything.
The Trinity is beyond our understanding, but it is still more than 1 person.

I like how Ravi Zakarias speaks about the Trinity.
But I still don't understand it.

As to the Bride of Christ.
Is not the Church (capital C) the bride of Christ?
Is this not all through the N.T.?

Ephesians 5:25-27
Revelation 19:7-9
2 Corinthians 11:12

We are said to be, likened to be, but should not ever think that we will be in the physical sense(not that you are) or the true sense. The Bride of Christ is meant more for us to understand His love toward us and how our relationship should be toward Him. It really is a big metaphor.

We should never think that we can become equals with God.

 

[GodsGrace]

We are said to be, likened to be, but should not ever think that we will be in the physical sense(not that you are) or the true sense. The Bride of Christ is meant more for us to understand His love toward us and how our relationship should be toward Him. It really is a big metaphor.

We should never think that we can become equals with God.

I never said we will be equal to God.

It does appear to me that God is preparing a Bride for our Lord, We, the Church, are the bride.

Christ is preparing His bride by sanctifying her
Epehsians 5:26

That He might present to Himself the Church... after it is prepared... in all her glory.

Jesus loves His Church as one would love their own body
Ephesians 5:28-29

Ephesians 5:32
Paul is speaking about Christ and the Church

 

[Nathan]

I never said we will be equal to God.

It does appear to me that God is preparing a Bride for our Lord, We, the Church, are the bride.

Christ is preparing His bride by sanctifying her
Epehsians 5:26

That He might present to Himself the Church... after it is prepared... in all her glory.

Jesus loves His Church as one would love their own body
Ephesians 5:28-29

Ephesians 5:32
Paul is speaking about Christ and the Church

I was not implying that you said we would be wondering. Just don't want you to think I did.

Yes, but all of those are allegorical meanings. That's the thing. We are being prepared just like a bride, and we are being sanctified(which brides in that day I believe went through some major rituals before marriage), and we are going to be clothed in glory - seen just as beautiful as a bride is on her wedding day, and we are loved by Jesus - just as a man truly loves his wife.

But it is nothing more than symbology and metaphors to get a point across. A good point. Up till that point in time people looked at God as very unapproachable. Which, He was/is, but still they just never could understand the love of God - even though He tried to tell them over and over through the prophets.

So it was very needful of the NT to use this type of symbology in order to really have people understand what kind of relationship God really wants. It was never meant to be a literal - physical/spiritual - thing.

 

[Jim Parker]

Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

There it is!
That's it!
The church is one flesh with Christ.
Eph 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

iakov the fool

 

[Mike]

Brother Mike, can you show me scripture that shows that?

Metaphorical. I'm drawing from Matthew 25 and Rev 19:7-9.

 

[Eugene]

The Church is the bride of Christ

Brother Mike, can you show me scripture that shows that?
Just a thought is that as a type of Jesus and His bride, God took only a rib portion of Adam’s body to be that joint heir with him; not his entire body.
A scripture that comes to mind is Rom 8:17 as pertaining to our heir ship as children of God.
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (Jesus’ bride?); IF so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Metaphorical. I'm drawing from Matthew 25 and Rev 19:7-9.

Both scriptures you draw on are figurative of a portion of the total church in fact suggesting different raptures (Being caught up).
Five virgins of Matt 25:7-8 were foolish yet they remain virgins.

Brother Johan quoted this same Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (How? The five virgins lacked oil suggestive of the Holy Spirit and denied entrance to the marriage.).
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness (righteous acts - Strongs G1345) of saints.

Failure to make ourselves ready - watch until He comes? Consider the Church qualifying as Thyatira in Rev 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
A similar warning in Rev 18:4 . . Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

An example of a portion of the Church not ready in Rev 7:13-14.
Rev 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (They had the same white robes as those of Rev 17:7 yet they were not ready).

What do you think?

 

[Mike]

What do you think?

You may be making more of the symbolism and the metaphor of the bride than I tried to present. Actually, I believe you, Wondering, Nathan, and I are on the same page. Were the verses in Revelation referring to the New Jerusalem, the Church, or both? Respected theologians differ in their opinion.

Verses that have been presented from Matthew, Ephesians, 2 Corinthians, and Revelation support this image of the Church being His bride. They are images to paint a picture of one betrothed, preparing and being prepared for the bride-groom.

Do you agree that this metaphor is present in these scriptures? If so, then I don't see anything to divide us? Dear Wondering did a nice job of making her point.

 

[Johan]

Well actually I am echoing . . .Jesus
Joh 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
Joh 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Joh 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Joh 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Love Johan

I think that you were replying to some things I said in my post but the quotation thing kind of messed it up which makes it very hard to understand. Is it possible to redo your post so I can better understand?

Yes . . .I agree with you . . .will have to do something about that . . .in showing my words between others a bit better . . .I tried again . . .let us see
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nathan said: ↑

I am not saying your post is wrong Johan,

You are welcome to . . .because in your understanding it is wrong. But do not worry . . . .as His "essence" is my Life . . .your opinion cannot disturb me. . . as His divine nature is not able to be disturbed

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.


you gave a lot to think about,

God touched you in the spirit . . .and your mind can "offset" that.

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.


but I wanted to add some comments.

I think we need to understand that God does not procreate, He just creates. Procreation is different than creation because a creation can be the image and likeness of its creator, but not the essence of its creator. Procreation is the essence of its origin - as in having the same DNA and makeup. Humans are not like that and will never be.

This is why we need to see that God put His "essense" . . .Jesus in us . . .to establish "procreation" as we died as human beings and were not created again but born again.

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.



Christ was born fully man and fully God - He is/has the essence of God

sure . . .He was God Himself . . .getting born as a human being . . .and thus being human also


The lie of satan was that Adam and Eve would 'become like God'

Genesis 3:5
For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

And many are still living that lie . . .trying there best . . .through their own efforts . . .to become God . . .but . . changing only into better human beings . . .as the "essense" . . .can only be established by a birth out of God.

1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.


The word used is 'elohiym - satan was saying they would be as God is.

By living under the law . . . teaching them to become better . . . but without the "essence"

God created man in His likeness and image, and when we are "born from above" we receive His essence in us in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Good

The Spirit is the essence of God and lives in us, but that does not make us as God is.

sure . . .but when we die . . .and the Spirit lives . . .we live the Life of God . . .and the "essence" . . is flowing from us . . .as our Life


Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

He does provide the connection to God,

sure

and through that connection the sustenance of God,

sure

but never the essence of God.

and . . .glory! This also!



God alone is, and we are/will be with Him

sure . . .

through the life He gives from His Spirit.

but not just be with Him . . .but also live His blessed Life . . .Jesus . . .which is now our Life in us and out of us . .not us but Him . . .because we . . .are dead . . .and alive in Him



But we must never, ever, consider ourselves as equal in essence to the creator.


sure . . .that is why true children of God can only be that through the Life of Jesus . . .as their new "essence" and can never reach it through the tree of good and evil . . .the law . . .trying to be good and training and laboring to be like Him



It is much different than human procreation in that our children indeed are our equal once they reach maturity. They become like us in all ways because they are the very essence of our beings.

And God . . .according to you... will never experience this joy . . .but has in "His wisdom" only established . . .a 50% way

God does not say He needs companionship in the sense of someone to be His equal, but He does say He wants worship through a relationship.

This is the way the heathen used to have relationship with their gods.

The closest thing we see to actual companionship

And now you heard . . . not of a "closest thing" . . .but of the . . .true thing

is when God calls Israel His 'friend'.

Isaiah 41:8
But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

God is proclaiming His deep love toward the people, much in the same way Jesus did toward His disciples;

John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

And now . . .the "greater works" are here . . .not "friends" . . but children!

The word Jesus used was philos, which is a form of companionship - but not equality. We still need sustenance from God, and throughout eternity we will need sustenance.


sure
and "essence"

As I said, I am not thinking that you intended to say we will be "like Gods" or anything, but there are some religions that do believe we will be.

Well actually I am echoing . . .Jesus

Joh 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
Joh 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Joh 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Joh 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

Love Johan

 

[Johan]

There it is!
That's it!
The church is one flesh with Christ.
Eph 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

iakov the fool

And the church . . . .is you. As I do not want to be married to an organisation . . .and neither . . .does God
Love Johan

 

[Jim Parker]

And the church . . . .is you. As I do not want to be married to an organisation . . .and neither . . .does God

What do you mean by "organization"? The Church, made up of the believing people, has always been an organized congregation with elders, overseers (bishops), and deacons to lead and serve it.

iakov the fool
(beaucoup dien cai dau)



DISCLAIMER: By reading the words posted above, you have made a free will choice to expose yourself to the rantings of iakov the fool. The poster assumes no responsibility for any temporary, permanent or otherwise annoying manifestations of cognitive dysfunction that, in any manner, may allegedly be related to the reader’s deliberate act by which he/she has knowingly allowed the above rantings to enter into his/her consciousness. No warrantee is expressed or implied. Individual mileage may vary. And, no, I don't want to hear about it. No sniveling! Enjoy the rest of your life here and the eternal one to come.

 

[Nathan]

Thanks I'll have to say up front that I am not real good at long replies like this that are broken up.

Maybe its the term "born again" that gets people thinking in two different directions. I have decided to go with "born from above" because it really does make a difference in how people understand what happens.

Procreation is different than creation. Sure Jesus comes to live in us, through the Spirit, but that only makes us a "new" creation - not a procreation. We are still humans, but with the capability of receiving life through Him. If we were procreation's, then we would have eternal life apart from Him. I never see in the Bible where that is possible.

Satan was actually telling them they could live outside God's law, not under it. Not becoming "better human beings", but rather becoming as God is, God like beings. This is the same as thinking we are "procreation" of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away;behold, the new has come.

We are in Christ as the new creation, not Christ in us as a procreation. His Spirit is in us, but not in a combination of us and Him. If that were the case, then we could never sin.

Ephesians 4:30 - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

If we were united, in a procreated state, with the Spirit - then it would be impossible for us to grieve the Spirit.

God does not experience joy in the same way we do. It is impossible to understand just how He experiences it - because we cannot be like Him. God wants worship. That is not heathen. It is natural to worship that which is greater than you. If you are "equal" to something you cannot worship it.

Revelation 22:1-5
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

We are children of God, yes. But that is a true metaphoric term used to describe the fact that it is God who brings us into His family. Family being, those with the same thoughts and desires.

Maybe we are speaking the same thing, maybe not. Its kind of hard for me to know for sure. But I had a really strong feeling that your saying we are procreated beings of God, which make us like Him in all that He is. That would be impossible as God Is, and we will always be His creation.

However;

1 John 3:2 - Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

While I am a firm believer in looking toward eternity by faith, looking for and waiting for our heavenly home, we should not neglect that which is here and now. However we will be like Him, has not yet appeared. We don't know how much like Him we will be just yet. But we can look forward to that change with anticipation.

 

[Eugene]

.
1 Cor 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Today one claims to be Baptist, some Catholic, and others Methodist or other organized religion. Carnality!

A proper way of addressing God’s people is in Rev 2:8 . . unto the angel (who is this angel?) of the church IN Smyrna.

All we in Christ are one Church and as 1 Cor 12:20 says, but now are they many members, yet but one body.