The Pure Bride is "Not From Around Here"
Tonight's lesson by Ryan (see .pdf of presentation)
"A lot of what
we have covered this year at YG was mentioned in the topic of the Youth Conference in Scotlea and tonight is going to be a little bit of a recap."
WHY A PURE BRIDE?
- the key is that the church may be presented to Christ as a glorious bride (Eph. 6:25-27)
- clean (doesn't just mean sexually, although that's what we often think of first) - holy and not marked up (brides in traditional wedding wear white and take a lot of time preparing for their presentation to the bridegroom)
- sanctified (set apart)
- Christ will present the bride to Himself -- notice this is not about the bride at that time
HOW IS THE PURE BRIDE NOT OF THIS WORLD?
- Genesis 3:6 and 1 John 2:16
- Eve saw that the fruit was good (progression of lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life)
- the world looks like it offers everything, but for the Christian it has nothing to offer us (looks pretty but is empty)
WHAT IS IT THAT CHRIST OFFERS?
1 John 3:1-4
- fellowship that leads to pure joy
- our purity leads to fellowship with Him
- fellowship with Him leads to joy
- we cultivate fellowship through obedience to Him
WHY SHOULD WE BE PURE?
- the world would tell Christians that being pure will choke our ability to have fun and that God is holding out on us (same lie as Satan told Eve in the garden is being told told today)
- our love to Him is in recognition and appreciation for the fact that He loved us and gave Himself for us
- love should lead to obedience ("if you love me, keep my commandments")
- we look forward to the future with a very certain hope (only in heaven will we know what real purity is all about)
- because of this we should want to be pure
a) upon salvation we were saved from the penalty of sin
b) daily we can be saved from the power of sin (requires a close relationship with Christ)
c) in the future (heaven) we will be saved from the presence of sin
(.pdf of lesson Keynote)
