The Scripture you wanted to hear a little bit from today is part of the reason I love you guys. It has absolutely nothing to do with marriage. Nothing. I tried stretching it. Nope. Didn’t work.
The thing is though, this passage is about how Jesus Christ saves his people. And the reason that you wanted this passage to be part of your wedding is because you realize that your marriage is a signpost – it points to the ultimate relationship of Jesus to his Church – of Jesus to the whole group of people who love him.
And you also realize that a ‘successful’ marriage isn’t necessarily the same as a ‘happy’ marriage – even though we want you to be happy; you guys recognize that a truly successful marriage is one in which Jesus is made much of, not your marriage itself.
Let me make a series of brief observations from this passage, then, and I’ll throw in a few marriage applications as well, God willing.
First, this passage exists because there are people that are truly Christians – that truly follow Jesus – and people that think they’re Christians. Even preachers that think they’re Christians who aren’t. Paul’s point here is to show what the true Christian life looks like. So he says this: (vv. 15-17). So there are real Christians and people that only think they’re Christians – and Paul is about to show us the difference.
Second, a true Christian considers themselves bad. Paul outlines his religious achievements. He looks like a moral dude on the cover. Any one of us would’ve said he was a ‘good man.’ And he’d achieved great things, even religiously. But he knew that he could either keep trying to look good before God and man, or he could have Christ. He couldn’t have both, and neither can we. (v. 7) A true Christian knows that to have Christ – you have to consider yourself to be a bad person.
This is good for your marriage, by the way. Josiah and Jackie – you’re about to be a bad husband and wife. When you begin to think you’re good at it, you’ll begin to think the other person’s bad, and you’ll fight. So remember, you’re bad.
Third, a true Christian treasures and values enjoying Jesus more than anything in this world. (v. 8). Paul here uses a vulgarity to describe everything that exists in comparison to knowing Christ. He says that knowing Christ is so good that everything else is a flaming pile of poo. So enjoy Jesus more than anything else, okay?
In marriage, that means that you shouldn’t be seeking to enjoy marriage more than Jesus. You do that, you’re going to seriously be disappointed. Josiah and Jackie, you guys are great. But you ain’t God, and you can’t be all-satisfying to each other. Only Jesus can.
Fourth, a true Christian gets their status of ‘righteousness’ by being united to Christ – not from trying really hard to be good people. (v. 9) In order to enter into God’s kingdom rather than being punished by it, you need to be considered righteous before God. But you’re a bad person. So you need to be covered by someone else’s righteousness. Hence, being united to Jesus. You want to be righteous before God – you have a choice – look to your own goodness – which doesn’t exist – or bank on Jesus’. A true Christian says, “I’m going to bank on Jesus’ righteousness – not mine.” And so God considers them righteous.
In marriage, remember that you’re not righteous, but that God has considered you both to be righteous. Real love in marriage is going to come from remembering that God considers your spouse to be righteous because of Jesus.
Fifth – the results of being considered righteous by God are as follows: a) knowing Jesus in a personal way. B) being empowered to live for Jesus, not for yourself. C) living a life of suffering in this world to show that it’s not your home – your home is with Jesus. (v. 10)
Those are the things that characterize and make a Christian marriage unique.
Sixth – the end goal of this is rising from the dead and living with Jesus forever. That’s a Christian’s goal. That’s what Paul is talking about in v. 11 – (v. 11)
Don’t make marriage your goal. Make living with Jesus one day your goal. Then, you’ll have a successful marriage.
Seventh – Christians work really hard at all this stuff. (vv. 12-14) Christians strive and strain to live like Jesus.
Eighth – that straining is based on the fact that a Christian knows Jesus has already earned heaven for them – not because they’re trying to earn it. (v. 12, 14). In other words, you strain towards living in a heaven-type way because Jesus has grabbed you and made you a citizen of heaven. You’re not trying to earn it. You do that, and we’ve seen that you won’t enter it. You’re just trying to live in a way that’s appropriate to the fact that that’s your true home - with Jesus. Not on this earth.
So guys, I love that you wanted to be reminded of this stuff. A God-honoring marriage is about Jesus – not the marriage. Remember Jesus, and you’ll have a successful marriage.
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