The new covenant

Today’s scripture:

“(v.11) Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, (v.12) To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things, …(v.17) Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God.” (Proverbs 2:11-12, 17)

I need to forewarn you, this is probably going to be a very controversial topic but I feel it needs to be said and biblically explained. I’ve often wondered in the past after being born again, if I can loose my salvation, and believing very strongly that I couldn’t based on John 10:28-29. But I didn’t read it carefully and consider all the other passages that say otherwise. But I prefer to put it in another way. Maybe it’s possible for us to give up our covenant with God by our own will. Please dear ones, let me explain and carefully study the scriptures of what I’m presenting here. Don’t take my word for it. But consider what God’s word says about this.

Since the beginning of time, God has held a special place in His heart for marriage. In fact, in Genesis 1:27, we see this on the sixth day of the creation of the world. In chapter 2:18 God says it is not good for man to be alone, that he should have a helper.

It is amazing to me how the words marriage, covenant, testament, and relationship all tie in together. Marriage is a covenant, but we also are familiar of the term covenant when speaking about God’s promise to His people. See, the word covenant and testament are the same, and this all is about a relationship. He says that our intimate relationship with Him is like a marriage. A marriage that is so sacred, it should not be defiled with harlotry. Harlotry in the since of anything that we go after with our heart that separates us from God.

Today we are looking into the sixth topic on the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is teaching, which is “Marriage Sacred”. In Matthew 5:31-32, Jesus says that it there is absolutely no reason a husband and wife should get divorced except for sexual immorality. And if we take in consideration of Matthew 18:21-35, we see that God wants restoration, especially in marriage. I believe God would have a spouse to stay with the other spouse who has committed adultery if there is genuine repentance. I don’t think it would be in God’s will for a married couple to get divorced IF there is true repentance. Can you see the commonality or the sameness of a marriage between a husband and wife vs. the marriage between God and us?

I’m writing this verse out because I want you to see how plainly God puts it as He compares our marriage with Him and with the passage in Matthew 5:32. Look what it says in Jeremiah 3:1–9…

1“They say, ‘If a man divorces his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man’s, may he return to her again? Would not that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; Yet return to Me,” says the Lord.

2 “Lift up your eyes to the desolate heights and see: Where have you not lain with men? By the road you have sat for them like an Arabian in the wilderness; And you have polluted the land with your harlotries and your wickedness.

3 Therefore the showers have been withheld, And there has been no latter rain. You have had a harlot’s forehead; You refuse to be ashamed.

4 Will you not from this time cry to Me, My Father, You are the guide of my youth?

5 Will He remain angry forever? Will He keep it to the end?’ Behold, you have spoken and done evil things, as you were able.”

6 The Lord said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: “Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot.

7 And I said, after she had done all these things, ‘Return to Me.’ But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

8 Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also.”

You may read this and ask “what about the verse in John 10:28-29?” Where it says that no one can be snatched out of His hand. But God has given us free will (Luke 13:3, 2 Thess 1:8, Prov 3:31, Joshua 24:15, Duet 30:19). These verses show that we have a choice to obey. What the verse in John 10 is really saying is nobody outside of the relationship between God and us can snatch us out of His hand. But, because of our own will we can still choose to rebel. If we rebel enough, He will give us over to sin and to the devil (1 Corinthians 5:5) but for hopes that we will repent.

Now of course, God is also a forgiving God. In fact, Jesus says in Matthew 18:21 to forgive an infinite amount times, that is if you plead for mercy with a contrite (brokenness) heart. See, after He tells Peter to forgive many times, He gives a parable. He said heaven is like this… a servant (you and me) who owed some money to his king (God) couldn’t pay what he owed so he fell on his face (contrite heart or Godly sorrow) and begged for mercy. Then the king (God) forgave all what he owed (salvation). But later the servant was faced with the same thing only this time he was on the forgiving end, but he would not forgive the person who owed him money (backsliding). So, when the King (God) heard this He would not forgive him and through him into prison (gave him over to Satan) until he could pay what he owed (come back to God).

Reflection:

The attitude in this is an attitude of reverence and holiness. If you truly look at scripture you can see how much God holds marriage as a very sacred thing. So sacred He does not want it to be defiled. He would rather give you over to Satan and let you have your way than defile your relationship with Him. God is not forceful. He will go after your heart but if you want sin then sin you will have.

Challenge:

Is there anything that your keeping as an idol in your heart that He looks at as harlotry? I have one in my marriage that I struggle with, and that is having my own way. If your married, go to your spouse and no matter what they have done, forgive them. Explain how sacred this marriage is to you.

-Doug McGowan