By Okpan Cleopas,
Text: Matthew 19: 1 – 6.
INTRODUCTION
The word “Join” means “to bring together; to connect; to combine.” It also means “to unite in an act or purpose.” Our message today is about what God has joined together, which is a divine arrangement that must be respected and obeyed.
When God joins certain things together He has a purpose for doing so. He expects everyone to respect His will in that regard so that His purpose may be achieved (Matt. 7: 21).
Let us now consider some things which God has joined together, and which no one is expected to separate.
1). Man and Woman in Marriage.
Jesus said that in the beginning God “made them male and female. And He said ‘For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will cleave to his wife. And the two will become one flesh. Therefore, they are no longer two but one flesh…” (Matt. 19: 4 – 6).
The divine arrangement in marriage is for a man and a woman to love each other enough to want to be together as husband and wife. It is not for a man to have sexual craving for a fellow man, or a woman craving for a fellow woman. So, gay marriage is not a divine arrangement since it is an abomination (Rom. 1: 18 – 32).
Also, the divine arrangement in marriage is that no one should cause a separation when God has joined a couple together. Attempt is made to separate when one joins himself with a harlot (1 Cor. 6: 16). Divorce is another attempt to cause separation. God hates divorce (Mal. 2: 15, 16).
2). Christ and the Church.
Paul said, “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1: 22, 23). Also, “And He is the head of the body, the Church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence” (Col. 1: 18). Then, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling” (Eph. 4: 4).
The scripture is very clear here. The church is the body of Christ; the body of Christ is the Church, and Christ is the head of this one body. He is not the head of churches or denominations, but of the one church that He promised to build (Matt. 16: 18), and which He purchased with His blood (Acts 20: 28).
Establishing different churches that wear human names, teach doctrines of men, with human founder as head, is an attempt to separate the Church from Christ. This is dangerous (Matt. 15: 7 – 9).
3). Baptism and Salvation.
Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16: 15, 16). Peter said, “There is also an antitype which now saves us – baptism…” (1 Pet. 3: 21).
It is very clear from scriptural submission that baptism and salvation are very strongly connected, and nobody should attempt to separate them. Let us see why baptism is connected to salvation.
Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2: 38).
Baptism puts one into Christ (Gal. 3: 27; 2 Cor. 5: 17).
It is a command to be baptized (Matt. 28: 19; Mark 16: 16).
CONCLUSION
Let us all endeavour to respect the divine will, and never separate what He has joined together that we may be blessed by Him. Culled from: http://brainnewsng.com/what-god-has-joined-together-okpan-cleopas/ 1 Like 1 Share |
