The most spiritual person I have ever known, one of my siblings, passed away from throat cancer, so I can relate somewhat because I stayed with him for the last year. He may never know how much his struggles gave to me. Some of those books are part of his library that I'm still working thru.
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The True Bride of Christ (some things ARE worth waiting for)
The church came out from Jesus as Eve came out of Adam's side. Not created but built up. God is interested only in building His eternal dwelling. This is the governing vision and God's heart's desire is to dwell among us.
The bride is submissive to her Husband, goes to Him with all her questions, is as mute as a lamb having only the Word of God for her offensive.
The seed of the promise was to come thru Sarah (grace) and not Hagar (law) Galatians 4:21-31
The Bride is also representative of the follower of the Lord 1 Peter 3:5-6
We, as true overcomers, the bride, are the daughter's of Sarah: Galatians 4:28
Not just children of Grace (through Sarah) but of Faith (through Abraham) Galatians 3:29
Not the children of the law (Hagar) but children of grace (Sarah) both being children of Abraham Romans 4:13
Who is the Bride? Look to Galatians 3:28
Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker was God. That was his faith and we are Abraham's (thru Sarah) children and therefore rightful heirs when we look to the builder of faith to overcome Hebrews 11:10
That is the true New Jerusalem, the Bride.
We are the NEW CREATION 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Corinthians 6: Galatians 6:15-18
I love the verses about Hagar and Sarah. Both had promises from God, but only one had the spiritual inheritance given to their offspring.
THE MOTHER AND GRACE ARE THE SAME THING
Galatians 4:21-31
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother, the metropolis of Christianity, or rather the state of liberty into which all true believers are brought.
Jerusalem which is above is the spiritual Jerusalem; the true church of God.
The word rendered "above" (anw) means, properly, up above, that which is above; heavenly, celestial,
Colossians 3:1-2
Rules for Holy Living
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
John 8:23
But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world
Here it means, the heavenly or celestial Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:2: "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God, out of heaven."
Hebrews 12:22: "Ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem."?
Here it is used to denote the church, as being of heavenly origin.
Is free. The spirit of the gospel is that of freedom.
It is freedom from sin, freedom from the bondage of rites and customs, and it promotes freedom for all in Christ.
Galatians 4:7
So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
The House Being Built = New Jerusalem
1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.?
Such a life shall constantly proclaim his praise--as the sun, the moon, the stars, the hills, the streams, the flowers do, showing what God does. The consistent life of a devoted Christian is a constant setting forth of the praise of God, showing to all that the God who has made them such is worthy to be loved.
Barnes' Notes on 1 Peter 2:9
That ye should show forth the praises of him - Margin, "virtues." The Greek word (a??et?` arete¯) means properly "good quality, excellence" of any kind. It means here the excellences of God - His goodness, His wondrous deeds, or those things which make it proper to praise Him. This shows one great object for which they were redeemed. It was that they might proclaim the glory of God, and keep up the remembrance of His wondrous deeds in the earth. ...
Who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light - Ephesians 4:1. Darkness is the emblem of ignorance, sin, and misery, and refers here to their condition before their conversion; light is the emblem of the opposite, and is a beautiful representation of the state of those who are brought to the knowledge of the gospel. Acts of the Apostles 26:18. ...