A 'fitting' for the bride of Christ

The Question: Dave & Chris, from the passage tonight, in verse 40, what does it mean by everything should be done in a fitting/decent way?

This question stems from our series called 'Lets get spiritual' from 1 Cor 12-14 and in particular ch 14. (You can listen to the talks here)

Paul has been speaking since v26 about what happens when the 'bride of Christ' gathers. And Paul is saying that there is an order in the gathering.

The structure of the passage is as follows:

1. Each person has something to bring - but for it to be spoken it must be edifying for all people

2. But then he goes on to tell various groups to be silent for the sake of order

Tongue speakers: only 2 or 3 if no interpreter then they are to be silent

Prophets: only 2 or 3 if a revelation comes to another then the first is to be silent

Women: While the prophesy is being weighed they are to remain silent

The two key verses in this section are v33

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace

And v40

But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way

God's nature is always to have order. Ever since he created the world his ordered nature has been on show. He has made creation in a certain way to work a certain way and this includes relationships between men and women.

The question is about fitting and orderly. Are these two words the same?

The word fitting is about doing things in a decent way; behaving in a way that depicts our respect for each other.

The word order is what helps us to achieve our proper behaviour.

So, the two words are very similar with only a small difference between them.

To sum up: 1 Corinthians 14 is all about what is 'fitting' for the bride of Christ when we gather together.

God's dwelling in our dwelling

The Question: Jesus' name means God saves. It says this in Matthew 1. It also says at the end of Matthew 1 that he shall be called Immanuel which means God with us. Please explain.

One of the great truths of heaven is stated in Revelation 21:3

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God
is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God
himself will be with them and be their God.

In fact this has been God's promise ever since the beginning of creation ultimately finding its fulfilment in Jesus. Let's look at this truth and hopefully it will unpack and answer the above question.

In Genesis 1 & 2 we are given a great picture of God being with his people. However all goes 'belly up' in Genesis 3 when Adam & Eve disobey God's good word to them. They are then punished for their rebellion by being cast out from the Garden. God no longer dwells with his people.

The story from here on in is about reversing the effects of sin and therefore restoring the dwelling of God with man.

This theme is picked up again strongly in Exodus where Moses is told to build a tabernacle or temple. Interestingly the word tabernacle means 'dwelling place'. It is where God dwells with his people.

As the story of Israel progresses the tabernacle becomes permanently located by means of a temple in Jerusalem. But in Ezekiel 10 we see something disturbing - 'then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped over the cherubim' (v18). God's glory departs from the temple. Historically this is seen when the Babylonians come in and destroy, ransack and pillage the temple.

The exile is a terrible punishment upon God's people for their continued rebellion to his good word. God once again does not dwell with his people.

But God's promise to once again dwell with his people is seen in the prophets that are around post the exile. Take for example Haggai, this is what he says in chapter 2: 6-9

This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more
shake the heavens and earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations,
and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with
glory', says the LORD Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will
be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty.
'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty.

Haggai says that this new temple will be of greater glory than the former and a place of peace. But he is not talking about mere bricks and mortar.

Fast forward a couple of hundred years - a bloke walks into the temple courts in Jerusalem. He upturns tables, scatters stuff everywhere and then says:

Get these out of here! How dare you turn by Father's house into a market!
His disciples remembered that it is written: 'Zeal for your house will consume
me'. Then the Jews demanded of him, 'What miraculous sign can you show us to
probe your authority to do all this?' Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple,
and I will raise it again in three days.' The Jews replied, 'It has taken 46
years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?' But
the temple he had spoken of was his body. (Jn 2:16-21)

Jesus becomes this new and greater temple promised long ago. He becomes God dwelling with us and among us. And so when you look at Matthew 1 and Jesus is called Immanuel (God with us) he is picking up upon promises made many years before and is saying they find fulfilment in me.

How does God see you?

The Question: What is a reference for God seeing us 'through' Christ vis - 2 Sam 22:@5? i.e. Christ's righteousness as ours.

On the surface this seems like an easy question but it is also one that has been and will continue to be embroiled in controversy over the years. The reason for this is because the question is one that touches on one of the cornerstone statements of faith, namely 'justification by faith' (JBF).

Let's briefly examine why this is such a central aspect to Christianity. The cross is the central point, the pivotal saving point; JBF is also at this point. To distort JBF is to distort salvation and
faith is the instrument of salvation.
a) Faith in Jesus Christ alone as presented in the gospels therefore we preach Christ in a JBF kind of way because there is no other way
b) Faith arises from the Holy Spirit in rebirth and so is evidence of regeneration, but not merely evidence, it is the means and instrument which we we grasp Christ and his benefits
c) Its effective in Jesus in dealing with sin on the cross, our righteous actions can’t acquit us. He totally bore sin and justifies the ungodly
d) Faith is ‘reckoned’ for righteousness (account something). Faith in Jesus Christ that is counted as righteous. Whose righteousness is it? God’s given by JC
e) Faith alone makes Jesus Christ Lord, but this makes faith never alone
f) Only faith makes Jesus Christ Lord, this is truly exalting Jesus
g) Faith alone gives us access to God (Ro 5:1-11): constitutes the ongoing basis of access to God.

Having seen the importance and centrality of justification by faith let's turn to the Scripture. There are many references that answer the initial question:

Rom 3:22

The righteousness of God through faith in/of Jesus Christ for all who believe

Rom 6

The whole idea of being united to Christ

I cannot stress just how important the idea of union with Christ is. Martin Luther in his famous treatise "On the freedom of a Christian" was expounding on what it means for us to be united with such a wonderful bride in Jesus. Listen and rejoice in Luther's words:

It is impossible now that her sins should destroy her, since they have been laid
upon Christ and swallowed up in Him, and since she has in her Husband Christ a
righteousness which she may claim as her own, and which she can set up with
confidence against all her sins, against death and hell

Union with Christ gives the Christian great assurance. Being united with Christ gives victory over sin and death. As Luther goes on to say;

Our sins are unable to destroy us, Christ the righteous husband, takes on
the needy and impious harlot and gives her all his good things

Those who belong to Christ have died with him to sin and death, and now live to God and to righteousness.

Rom 13:14

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Gal 3:27

For as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ.

It seems clear to me that when God sees us his perspective is that we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. And as a result of this he declares us to be righteous.

Is this how God sees you - if not, probably time to do something about it? Time to get some God given faith!!