Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 7 May 2023
Marriage is...
Scripture References: Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:15-25, Psalms 18:1-29, Ephesians 5:21-33
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CloseWhat is marriage? It is an important question because it concerns the definition of what was, until very, very recently, the chief and central union of commitment in our world. Now, as our society debates the changes it wants to make to definitions of sex and gender, we find that marriage is being redefined (even by public vote). But we cannot know what is happening if we don’t know what marriage is—and then we can understand the implications. Put simply, marriage is the union of one man and one woman, in committed and binding promises, for life. It is created by, designed by, God for the service of him. It projects his image into the world, it fills the world with his image-bearers, and it is the living-breathing example in everyday life of the love of God, in Jesus, for his people, the one love that makes them whole again and fulfils their humanity. Now, what happens if we lose/change marriage?
Scripture References: Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:15-25, Psalms 18:1-29, Ephesians 5:21-33
Related Topics: Sex | More Messages from Bernard Gabbott | Download Audio
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What is greatness? In particular, what is greatness in the kingdom of God? That is the question addressed in the passage from Matthew today. Jesus is approached by two different groups. First, the family of Zebedee: James and John and their mother. Second, two blind men. Jesus asks both groups the same question “What do you want me to do for you?” What they request is quite revealing. And so is Jesus’ response to their requests. The Zebedees request position, status, reward for effort. The blind men request mercy, for their eyes to be open. Which request lines up with Jesus’ teaching previously? Which request do we tend to go to ourselves?
The Department of Home Affairs has an Australian Values Statement on its website. Visa applicants for residency/citizenship must sign this. And one of its key principles is that we are a ‘fair-go’ country. We would all agree with that. I suspect, too, that we would summarise our ‘fair go’ culture by stating that ‘you get what you deserve/what you work for’. In fact, many of us have established our relational, social and work ethics on this very principle. But is that what the ‘kingdom of heaven is like’? What is its value statement? What is the hallmark of such a kingdom, and its ruler, even its citizenship? Today, after Jesus has assured his disciples that the dependent will be provided for by their king, he now uses the same ideas to issue with them a warning not to abuse, misuse, ignore or become entitled in the face of the kingdom of heaven hallmark—which is grace.
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