“Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number” (Jeremiah 2:32).  A bride on her wedding day would never forget her makeup or her dress.  She is looking in the mirror all day making sure she is perfect for her wedding.  For a bride to go up the aisle and realize she had not changed into her dress would be unthinkable.  Yet, this sort of incredible occurrence happened in the spiritual realm with the nation of Judah that was in spiritual decline during the days of Jeremiah.  God says He had been forgotten.  How could they do such a thing?

God remembered the honeymoon He had with His nation (Jeremiah 2:2-3).  The people followed Him out into the wilderness before they were ever given the blessings of the land they now inhabited.  Much like a young couple that is so much in love that it doesn’t matter if they don’t have money, they have each other, so God’s relationship was with His people.  It seems odd for God to condescend to this imagery of a young couple in love to illustrate His relationship to His people.  It is an image that does not evoke a concept of God’s supreme majesty.  But it does bring to our minds an image of what our sin does to God.  Divorce is such a painful experience.  There are many that have gone through such an experience.  There are many that have been close friends to those who have gone through such turmoil and can only imagine what it is like.  Those who have experienced a spouse being unfaithful to them know what it is like to open themselves up to someone in marriage and make themselves vulnerable only for their spouse to walk out on them.  This is the pain we cause God when we sin.  When we put other efforts, people, or things in His place, whatever it may be, we betray Him who wants to be our one, true love.

None of the replacements we have for God make us complete.  Just as Judah had false gods that could not deliver them, people today try to make themselves complete with things that can never make them complete.  You see God is the ornaments and the attire of the bride (Jeremiah 2:32).  Even though no bride is flawless, somehow every bride is perfect on her wedding day.  Jesus Christ gave Himself for the church, His bride (Ephesians 5:23-25).  He came to earth and died for the church, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:26-27). Jesus is God; He was already perfect before the world ever began (John 1:1-3; 17:24).  He did not come to the world because He had any sin or defect (Matthew 3:14-15; John 8:46).  The reason He came to live as a man on earth and die for us was to make us perfect.  Through baptism, “the washing of water,” we come in contact with this cleansing blood that can make us pure white before God (Ephesians 5:26; cf. Revelation 1:5; 7:14).  When we’re baptized we put on Christ Jesus just as bride puts on her dress (Galatians 3:27).  Each day we must continue to put Him on by pursuing Him instead of sin (Romans 13:14). Have you forgotten your dress that makes you complete?  Don’t walk out on Jesus for something else that can never make you complete.

-Mark Day

To the church of Corinth, the inspired apostle Paul explained, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10).  The sorrow of the world does not lead to a changed attitude toward sin.  It is a grief over the predicaments in which sin leads. Feeling sorry for oneself leads to a sinful selfishness not a cessation of sin.

Cain murdered his brother, but the only sorrow he expressed in the Biblical account is a lament over how great his punishment was, how miserable his life as a vagabond would be, and how vengeful people would seek to murder him (Genesis 4:13-14).  Esau was upset over the loss of his birthright and blessing; however, it was because he was a profane person—treating that which was to be highly regarded as if it were nothing—that he agreed to sell his birthright  (Hebrews 12:16-17).  His feeling sorry for himself led him to comfort himself by plotting to murder Jacob (Genesis 27:42).  Judas wanted to return the money he made in betraying Christ, but his sorrow led him to hang himself instead of seeking Christ’s forgiveness (Matthew 27:3-5; cf. John 17:12).

The repentance of Peter stands in stark contrast to the case of Judas.  Peter wept bitterly (Luke 22:62).  His sorrow led him to do as Jesus prayed: turn to the Lord and strengthen his brethren (Luke 22:32).  This is the proper sadness: godly sorrow that leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).  This sorrow leads to a vastly different outcome than the sorrow of the world.  The contrast between the two is seen vividly in those who were “pricked in their heart” in Acts 2:37 and those “cut to the heart” in Acts 7:54.  The former felt guilt and were moved to obey Peter’s command to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38, 41).  The latter felt bad, but lashed out at Stephen, stoning him (Acts 7:57-59).

Godly sorrow is necessary to our salvation.  It brings us to the point where we determine to change our attitude and practice in regard to sin.  If we did not have godly sorrow, our hearts would be callused.  We would be “past feeling” (Ephesians 4:19) and having our “conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2).  Be broken up over your sins.  Let the guilt you experience move you to repentance, lest you become cold-hearted and unable to respond to God’s mercy.  “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

-Mark Day

1. It is God’s “ekklesia” (the called out), those sanctified (set apart). II Thessalonians 2:14; I Corinthians 1:2; I Peter 2:10.
2. Is the aggregate of those cleansed/redeemed/saved from their sins by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 1:5.
3. Was in the eternal purpose of God. Ephesians 3:10-11; II Timothy 1:8-11; Titus 1:2-3.
4. The subject of prophecy: mountain of the Lord’s house; kingdom never to be destroyed. Isaiah 2:2-3; Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14.
5. Prepared for by John the Baptist and Jesus. Matthew 3:1-2; 4:17; Mark 1:14-15.
6. Pictured/described by many parables. Matthew 13:1-52; John 15:1-8; et al.
7. Not of this world (not a political entity). John 18:36.
8. Established by Christ. Matthew 16:18.
9. Deity of Christ the foundation. Matthew 16:18; cf. I Corinthians 3:11; I Peter 2:6.
10. Cannot be shaken. Hebrews 12:28.
11. Established in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost following Christ’s resurrection. Mark 9:1; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4.
12. All the saved added to it. Acts 2:41, 47.
13. Purchased with the blood of Christ. Acts 20:28.
14. Christ’s spiritual body. Colossians 1:18, 24.
15. Christ the head. Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18.
16. Only one body; therefore, only one true church. Ephesians 4:4.
17. Is pre-denominational, undenominational, anti-denominational; division among followers of Christ is sinful. John 17:20-21; I Corinthians 1:10-13; Romans 16:17.
18. Not all churches are the true church; departures from the “one faith” have occurred. Matthew 7:15; 15:8-9; Acts 20:29-30; I Timothy 4:1-3; II John 9.
19. Christ the savior of the church. Ephesians 5:23.
20. The bride of Christ. Romans 7:2-4; Ephesians 5:25-33.
21. Where reconciliation to God takes place. Ephesians 2:13-16.
22. The temple of God. Ephesians 2:19-22.
23. The manifestation and fruition of the manifold (multi-faceted) wisdom of God. Ephesians 3:10.
24. Place where God is glorified. Ephesians 3:20-21.
25. House/household/family of God. I Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 3:5-6.
26. Pillar and ground of the truth. I Timothy 3:15; cf. John 17:17.
27. A spiritual house made up of living stones. I Peter 2:5.
28. A chosen generation, royal priesthood, God’s own special people. I Peter 2:9; Titus 2:14.
29. Comes into existence where gospel is preached, believed, and obeyed. Luke 8:11; I Peter 1:22-25; Romans 1:16; 6:16-18.
30. Are to preach it. Acts 8:12.
31. Must be born again to enter it. John. 3:3-5.
32. Must enter it as a little child. Matthew 18:3; 19:14.
33. Manifested in autonomous congregations/local churches. Acts 8:1; 13:1; I Corinthians 1:2; Acts 14:23; Philippians 1:1; I Peter 5:1-4.
34. Appropriate to talk about “going to church” (i.e., the assembly). I Corinthians 11:18, 20, 33; 14:19, 23, 34-35.
35. Has no exclusive, patented name; various descriptors. Romans 16:16; II Thessalonians 1:4; Hebrews 12:22-24.
36. Guided solely by the word of God. Acts 2:42; Colossians 3:17; II Timothy 3:16-17.
37. Worships according to God’s divine standard. John 4:24; 17:17.
38. Has a three-fold mission: evangelism, edification, benevolence. Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-16; Galatians. 6:10; James 1:27.
39. Must have top priority in our lives. Matthew 6:33.
40. Will ultimately be delivered to God the Father. I Corinthians 15:24.

• Hugh Fulford, From: Hugh’s News & Views as submitted by Jerry Sturgill

With an intense interest in the spiritual welfare of the Christians at Philippi, Paul exhorted them to be of the same mind.  There were two women who were very influential in the church at Philippi who apparently were at odds.  He mentions them specifically in Philippians 4:2, “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.” He wrote to all the Christians in Philippi that he desired to hear,
“that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).  He encouraged them to make this desire a reality, saying, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:2).

Now Paul was not saying that each member of the congregation had to be a clone of the others.   There will always be differences in matters of opinion among different individuals.  If there were not these little differences, then we would cease to be individuals.  He was saying that in the important issues, in matters of faith, there should be no division.  Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17).  God’s word settles the issue whatever it may be.  Paul exhorted, “let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing” (Philippian 3:16).  Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord is the uniting truth of Christians.  It means that the Lord’s ways are to be followed rather than our own ways.  To become a Christian one confesses belief in the foundational truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Matthew 16:16; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10).  To have faith in this statement means that Jesus calls the shots.

A mature Christian is not about promoting self.  On the priority list, mature Christians will place self-interests below the spiritual needs of others.  They do this because they are imitating Jesus (Philippians 2:5).  Jesus is the epitome of selflessness in that He gave up the glory of heaven to come to earth and die for the sins of the world (Philippians 2:6-8).

Those who are earthly-minded are unable to be like Christ for they are only focused on the here and now.  The enemies of Christ are described this way by Paul, as those, “whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things” (Philippians 3:19).  Heaven is far too great to forfeit by pursuing petty rivalries with other children of God.  If our focus is on going to heaven and helping others go there as well, then we will be united with the mind of Christ.

-Mark Day