Monday, December 03, 2018

2018.12.03 Hopewell @Home ▫ Genesis 2:23-25

Questions for Littles: What did Adam say in v23? Whom must a man leave to be joined to whom (v24)? What do they become? What does v25 say about their clothes? What does it say about their hearts?
In the Scripture for this week’s sermon, we arrive at the end of Day 6. Again. Last time that we arrived at the end of Day 6, in the first chapter, 1:27 summarized in a blink what would require 22 verses in chapter 2. But if we put the two together, v25 is ultimate display of man being made in the image of God, the climax that causes God to go from the first “not good” all the way to the very first “very good.”

The man and his wife’s fellowship with one another is a key part of their fellowship with the Lord. They were naked and not ashamed. Of course, they had no sinful nature, so there was no wickedness inside them to provoke. Also, without any sin, they were comfortable being fully exposed. They had nothing to hide.

This made their relationship an image of the relationship among the persons of the Trinity. They were in complete agreement. They were in perfect fellowship. They were entirely for one another. They didn’t even think of sinning against one another. They perfectly delighted in one another.

But it wasn’t just in front of one another that they were naked. They were also naked in front of God. They were in perfect fellowship with God. They were entirely for God, and they were sure that He was entirely for them. They were not yet even thinking of sinning against God. They perfectly delighted in God.

This is how we were created to be with God, but now we can only begin to recover it through the work of the Holy Spirit, applying to us the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Only a new nature can enable us to start being for God like we should, and this nature comes by the work of the Holy Spirit. And only Jesus’ blood and righteousness can turn God’s wrath away from us, so that He only has favor toward us.

And it is only those married couples who have this restored relationship with the Lord who can begin to enjoy a truly glorious God-imaging marriage with one another. Our problem is sin, and the solution begins not with a to-do list, but rather with the gospel—the good news of what Jesus has already done.
How are you safe before the Lord, even though you are laid bare before Him?
Suggested Songs: ARP45B “Daughter, Incline Your Ear” or TPH549 “O Gracious Lord”

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