Tom and Jane had a beautiful wedding. All of their friends and relatives were there. The
reception went on until late at night. When the reception was over, Tom went home to his
parents’ house and Jane went home to her parents’ house. Come Monday, they each went to
their jobs and went home to their parents’ houses afterward, just like they did before they were
married. They did almost nothing together except, for an hour once a week, they went out to
dinner. Even while they were in the restaurant, there was nothing about the way they acted
toward each other that made them appear to be anything but casual friends. If you ask Tom
and Jane, they would quickly say they were married to each other, but nothing about their lives
showed it. They had a ceremony and a reception, but nothing about their lives changed. Tom
and Jane had a wedding, but not a marriage.
Marriage is a pivotal time in someone’s life. People celebrate wedding anniversaries. When
they do, they look back at how much has changed since they got married. After two people
become married, they become next of kin. No longer are their parents or siblings their closest
relatives, but their spouse is. When they take those vows, that is exactly what they want. They
are anxious to begin their life together. Often after a couple has been together a long time, we
never say the name of one without saying the other. It is always Tom and Jane, Bill and Sally,
Pete and Barb, etc.
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife,
and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking
with reference to Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:31,32NET
Paul is saying here that we become one in Christ, once we come to Him in faith. Our lives are
forever changed. Our bond and commitment to Christ is even greater than our commitment to
our spouse and more life changing. Tom and Jane had a wedding, but not a marriage. Raising
your hand or coming forward to receive Christ does not make someone a Christian, if they are
not fully committed. We can’t be like Tom and Jane, who spend an hour a week together and
consider themselves married. Our lives must pivot on that moment. As we look back over the
years since we came to Christ, we should see tangible change. When people say our names,
they should automatically think about us and Christ.
Here are just a few of many verses that describe how our lives are changed once we become
unified with Christ:
“So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed
away – look, what is new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NET
“What shall we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may
increase? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Or do
you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized
into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism
into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the
glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:14
NET
“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of
God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person
does not belong to him.” Romans 8:9 NET
“I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ
lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness
of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NET
“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things
above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about
things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is
hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you
too will be revealed in glory with him.” Colossians 3:14
NET
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy
he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled,
and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, who by God’s power are
protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time.” 1 Peter 1:35
NET
It is clear that salvation (being one with Christ) is much more than coming forward or
raising your hand at a church service. If we think of coming forward or baptism as being wed
with Christ, then we must carry through and have a marriage with Him. Otherwise, your
pledge to God is of no value. Spending an hour a week with God is not salvation, any more
than spending an hour a week with your spouse is a marriage.
Don’t feel frightened or overwhelmed by this. God, through Jesus Christ, has already made
the way clear for us by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Once you turn to Him in obedience, He
will guide you every step of the way, if you let Him.
To The Glory Of God