2025-01-19 As a Bridegroom Rejoices Over his Bride

·        From today’s opening prayer/collect:

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth…

·        This is a very bold, biblical prayer, but few Christians seem believe it.

·        Sometimes we take self-doubt and call it the Christian virtue of humility.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself,

but thinking of yourself less.

Isaiah 62:1–5 (ESV) ⁴  You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate

·        God’s people saw themselves as Forsaken, and the land as Desolate

·        Example of a parent loving their child

Isaiah 62:1–5 (ESV) ¹  For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,

and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,

John 10:35b (ESV) …Scripture cannot be broken.

·        This means it can’t be altered, or set aside, or cancelled. It’s to be trusted; it doesn’t lie.

      until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,

and her salvation as a burning torch.

1 Corinthians 1:2 (NIV)  To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ–their Lord and ours…

·        Sanctified means already made holy

·        Becoming a Christian is like finding out you’ve been adopted by the King as his true son or daughter.

o   Your responsibility is to grow into who he’s already made you.

  ²    The nations shall see your righteousness,

and all the kings your glory,

and you shall be called by a new name

that the mouth of the Lord will give.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT2) ¹⁷  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

  ³    You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,

and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

⁴      You shall no more be termed Forsaken,

and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,

       but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,

and your land Married;

       for the Lord delights in you,

and your land shall be married.

·         “Married” means something like “belongs to and protected by (the Lord)”

·        God in you!

  ⁵    For as a young man marries a young woman,

so shall your sons marry you,

·        Another translation:

Isaiah 62:5a (NLT) ⁵ Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride.

       and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,

so shall your God rejoice over you.

·        Some truths if you’re in Christ:

Galatians 4:7 (NLT2) ⁷  Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Colossians 3:12 (NIV) … God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT2) ¹⁷  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

1 Peter 2:10b (NIV) …now you have received mercy.

Romans 8:16-17a (NLT2) ¹⁶  For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. ¹⁷  And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.

Colossians 1:12-14 (NLT2) [God the Father] has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. ¹³  For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, ¹⁴  who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

·        If you’re a King’s Kid, these things are true about you no matter your feelings or circumstances. Know it. Believe it. Memorize the verses.

·        If you’re not yet a King’s Kid, know God wants you in the family, too.

o   Jesus came to save you from a life apart from God

o   He died on a cross to pay the price, and rose 3 days later to prove the price was paid

o   You can accept his offer right now to be adopted into the Family of God

o   It’s a free gift, no strings attached.