DWJL511
Member
Did some research on pearls and wrote this about pearls and the church...
1. Pearls are a rare find from the seas. When a fisherman dives deep and finds an oyster with a pearl inside, he rejoices greatly and sets aside the pearl as a precious gem.
When the Lord finds and saves us from among the nations, He rejoices over us (Matthew 18:13). He sets us apart from the world as precious gems, as a holy people unto Himself (Deuteronomy 7:6, Isaiah 43:4, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 1 Peter 2:9).
2. Pearl harvesters may dive up to 125 feet (40 meters) deep to find their treasures, an extremely hazardous task.
Jesus descended all the way from heaven into a dark world full of evil to redeem us through death by crucifixion (Philippians 2:6–8, NLT). It was no simple task.
3. A pearl begins to be formed in an oyster when an irritant, such as a grain of sand, enters it and wounds its flesh. The fleshy mantle of the oyster then secretes layer upon layer of nacre over the offending element, until a shiny white pearl is formed.
We offended God with our sins, pierced His flesh with nails and a spear (Isaiah 53:5). Blood and water came forth from Him (John 19:34), such that when we come under the fountain of His blood, and receive His forgiveness and grace upon grace, we become clothed with His white robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10).
4. Some oysters are killed in the process of extracting the pearl.
Christ had to die on the cross (Luke 24:46), in order for the church to be birthed. But Christ also rose from the dead and lives forevermore.
5. A pearl is made of the same substance (calcium carbonate) its oyster shell is made of.
We, the church, are the body of Christ, and the righteousness that He clothes us with is His very own righteousness given as a gift (Isaiah 54:17, Romans 5:17).
6. The Rainbow-Lip Oyster, which has a shell reflecting beautiful rainbow-like colors, produces pearls with rainbow-like colors.
God’s throne is surrounded by a rainbow (Revelation 4:3), and He has given us the rainbow in the sky, as a sign of the new peace covenant that He will never be angry with us again (Isaiah 54:9–10).
7. Pearls are the only gemstones that require no fashioning (cutting or polishing) before use.
The church is already perfect and complete in Christ (Hebrews 10:14, Colossians 2:10), thanks to His perfect and finished work at the cross. There is no need to add to the Lord’s workmanship.
8. Pearls are the only gemstones found within a living creature.
We, the church, are found in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30), the living God (Jeremiah 10:10).
9. Pearls are gems that are almost exclusively used by women, and usually a must for the bride on her wedding day.
As believers in Christ, we are the bride of Christ, who is our bridegroom (John 3:29, Revelation 21:9).
10. Today, you can buy farmed or cultured pearls, where man has intervened and initiated the formation of the pearls. But these cultured pearls being common are never as highly prized as rare natural pearls.
When man tries to add to Jesus’ perfect work in redeeming us, the results are never as good as when it is all the work and grace of the Lord. If by grace, then it is no longer by works, otherwise grace is no longer grace (Romans 11:6).
11. Natural pearls are sold by carat weight, but cultured pearls are sold by their size in millimeters.
When you live by God’s grace, you will exude His glory—a weightiness in your words and actions. But when you go by self-effort, people will value you and treat you based on your own limited physical attributes and abilities.
12. Pearls should not be stored with other jewelry, because they can be scratched easily when metal or gemstones rub against them.
We, the church, are in the world, but not of the world (John 17:11, 16). We are not to be conformed to the image of the world (Romans 12:2), but are called to be a separate and holy people, salt and light to the world (Matthew 5:13–14).
13. All you have to do to clean a pearl is to use water and a clean cloth. No chemicals or solvents are needed.
We, the church, are cleaned from defilement in the world with the water of God’s Word (Ephesians 5:26), and by being reminded that we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ (Romans 1:17).
14. No two pearls are alike.
Each one of us is the workmanship of Christ (Ephesians 2:10), and He doesn’t make copies or clones. We are all members of one body of Christ, but each with differing functions, gifts and graces (Romans 12:4–8).
Matthew 13:45–46
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
1. Pearls are a rare find from the seas. When a fisherman dives deep and finds an oyster with a pearl inside, he rejoices greatly and sets aside the pearl as a precious gem.
When the Lord finds and saves us from among the nations, He rejoices over us (Matthew 18:13). He sets us apart from the world as precious gems, as a holy people unto Himself (Deuteronomy 7:6, Isaiah 43:4, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 1 Peter 2:9).
2. Pearl harvesters may dive up to 125 feet (40 meters) deep to find their treasures, an extremely hazardous task.
Jesus descended all the way from heaven into a dark world full of evil to redeem us through death by crucifixion (Philippians 2:6–8, NLT). It was no simple task.
3. A pearl begins to be formed in an oyster when an irritant, such as a grain of sand, enters it and wounds its flesh. The fleshy mantle of the oyster then secretes layer upon layer of nacre over the offending element, until a shiny white pearl is formed.
We offended God with our sins, pierced His flesh with nails and a spear (Isaiah 53:5). Blood and water came forth from Him (John 19:34), such that when we come under the fountain of His blood, and receive His forgiveness and grace upon grace, we become clothed with His white robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10).
4. Some oysters are killed in the process of extracting the pearl.
Christ had to die on the cross (Luke 24:46), in order for the church to be birthed. But Christ also rose from the dead and lives forevermore.
5. A pearl is made of the same substance (calcium carbonate) its oyster shell is made of.
We, the church, are the body of Christ, and the righteousness that He clothes us with is His very own righteousness given as a gift (Isaiah 54:17, Romans 5:17).
6. The Rainbow-Lip Oyster, which has a shell reflecting beautiful rainbow-like colors, produces pearls with rainbow-like colors.
God’s throne is surrounded by a rainbow (Revelation 4:3), and He has given us the rainbow in the sky, as a sign of the new peace covenant that He will never be angry with us again (Isaiah 54:9–10).
7. Pearls are the only gemstones that require no fashioning (cutting or polishing) before use.
The church is already perfect and complete in Christ (Hebrews 10:14, Colossians 2:10), thanks to His perfect and finished work at the cross. There is no need to add to the Lord’s workmanship.
8. Pearls are the only gemstones found within a living creature.
We, the church, are found in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30), the living God (Jeremiah 10:10).
9. Pearls are gems that are almost exclusively used by women, and usually a must for the bride on her wedding day.
As believers in Christ, we are the bride of Christ, who is our bridegroom (John 3:29, Revelation 21:9).
10. Today, you can buy farmed or cultured pearls, where man has intervened and initiated the formation of the pearls. But these cultured pearls being common are never as highly prized as rare natural pearls.
When man tries to add to Jesus’ perfect work in redeeming us, the results are never as good as when it is all the work and grace of the Lord. If by grace, then it is no longer by works, otherwise grace is no longer grace (Romans 11:6).
11. Natural pearls are sold by carat weight, but cultured pearls are sold by their size in millimeters.
When you live by God’s grace, you will exude His glory—a weightiness in your words and actions. But when you go by self-effort, people will value you and treat you based on your own limited physical attributes and abilities.
12. Pearls should not be stored with other jewelry, because they can be scratched easily when metal or gemstones rub against them.
We, the church, are in the world, but not of the world (John 17:11, 16). We are not to be conformed to the image of the world (Romans 12:2), but are called to be a separate and holy people, salt and light to the world (Matthew 5:13–14).
13. All you have to do to clean a pearl is to use water and a clean cloth. No chemicals or solvents are needed.
We, the church, are cleaned from defilement in the world with the water of God’s Word (Ephesians 5:26), and by being reminded that we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ (Romans 1:17).
14. No two pearls are alike.
Each one of us is the workmanship of Christ (Ephesians 2:10), and He doesn’t make copies or clones. We are all members of one body of Christ, but each with differing functions, gifts and graces (Romans 12:4–8).