Written by: Christopher Sernaque
Dear Readers,
God’s love for mankind is so great that He offered His Son to save humankind from our sins. John 3:16, the most well known verse in the New Testament, mentions how God gave His only begotten Son. Notice the bolded portions in the verse:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Notice that God gave the gift of salvation through Jesus to mankind, so that we would not perish. This brings the mind back to the wages of sin, and the way of escape. Pay attention to the next verse, for it describes both the wages of sin, and the means of escape from sin.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD.”-Romans 6:23
Now for the big question, does Jesus save humanity in our sin, or from our sin? The Bible gives us the answer:
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.“-Matthew 1:21
However, one may be asking, “I thought the article was going to discuss marriage and the Sabbath, what does this have to do with either of those two things?” Come now, let us reason together. (Isaiah 1:18). What is the marriage relationship a symbol of? The union of marriage was designed by God to represent our union to Him. (Romans 7:4, Ephesians 5:25) If we are to be united to Christ, we must disconnect ourselves from everything that would sever our hold on Jesus. This begs the question, “What is it that separates humanity from God?” The Bible gives the answer once more:
“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”-Isaiah 59:1-2
Now for the ultimate question, the question that concerns everyone on the face of the earth, “What is the way to be united with God?” Let us return to the Word of God, and find an answer to that pressing question.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”-John 14:6
“Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?”-Psalm 77:13
The Bible states that the sanctuary, which reveals the character and work of Christ, is the way in which we are to be united with God and that God commanded that the Sanctuary be built that way He may dwell with His people. (Exodus 25:8) Now to address, the title of this article, the Sabbath and its relation to Marriage. The law of God is forever enshrined in the Heavenly Sanctuary. (Deuteronomy 10:4-5, Hebrews 8:1-2, Revelation 11:19). This fact, along with the other aspects of the Ultimate Proof mentioned in the previous articles, is a testament to the fact that Christians are to keep the seventh-day Sabbath here on earth, and eventually in Heaven. (Isaiah 66:22-23). Prior to the creation of the Sabbath on the Seventh-Day, God created Marriage on the Sixth-Day of Creation. The Sabbath and Marriage are twin institutions, considering that:
The Sabbath and Marriage were given to mankind in the garden of Eden. (Marriage: Genesis 1:27,Genesis 2:21-25) (The Sabbath: Genesis 2:2-3, Mark 2:27-28)
The Holy Spirit inspired Moses to connect the Fifth Commandment, which implies marriage, and the Fourth Commandment, showing that they are indeed connected, in Leviticus 19:3.
While this information is vital, this present writer is certain that readers desire something practical, or something that they can apply to their daily lives. If we want to keep the Sabbath in Heaven (Isaiah 66:22-23), and partake in the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9), our married life must be a godly life.
