Today, we closed out our study of 2 Corinthians, making our way through chapters 11, 12, and 13. Most of our study time dealt with the body of Christ, all believers of this Dispensation of the grace of God aka The Mystery, also being the espoused / betrothed to Christ,  One day we will go through the purification ceremony of the Bema judgment seat of Christ, receiving our rewards for our devotion and service to Christ, burning away the wood, hay, and stubble of service from a wrong motive, and be adorned with the gold, silver, and precious stones, and pure white raiment.  Only then will the marriage supper of the Lamb take place.  

We are given many scriptures that paint this picture of the marriage relationship, using husbands and wives as the comparison.  Ephesians 5:22-33 is the penultimate scripture comparing the human marriage with the spiritual relationship of Christ and the Church. 

Romans 7:4: Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.    

We are given many examples of the comparison, using relationships in the Old Testament as a picture of our spiritual relationship.  Rebecca and Isaac in Genesis 24, Ruth and Boaz in Ruth 4, and the one mentioned in 2 Corinthians 11:3 – the beguiling of Eve. Paul warns us against being corrupted from the simplicity (singleness of devotion) that is in Christ, Eve was beguiled / deceived by the serpent in three areas, found in Genesis 3:

1. He questioned God's word – Yea, hath God said?
2. He denied God's word – You shall not surely die.
3. He substituted his own lie – You shall be as gods knowing good and evil.

There are many false teachers (v.4, 12-15) that preach another gospel and another Jesus, transforming themselves into the ministers of righteousness. Satan himself has transformed himself in an angel of light.  We must always keep our armor on and be on guard to resist the lies and false teaching that is rampant today.  

Jesus did not come to this earth, being born of virgin, living a pure and holy life without sin, die on the cross as the propitiation for humanity's sin, go into that grave, and resurrect the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) so that we could be healthy and wealthy!  He came to restore in us the image that Adam lost when he ate that fruit (Romans 5:12, Colossians 3:10). He came to make dead men alive (Ephesians 2:1).

We briefly covered chapters 12 & 13 finishing with the stark warning found in 13:5: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?    

Please watch the video of our class today, to give you a clear understanding of all that we covered.  

Remember – THERE WILL BE NO BIBLE STUDY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26TH!

Please take the next two weeks and read a chapter of Galatians a day in preparation for our overview of this great book concerning the false doctrine of grace and works.  We will meet back on January 2nd!  Merry Christmas, my dear CBC family and friends!