“But you, dearly beloved, build each other up on the foundation of your most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life”
Jude 20-21
Build each other up in the love of God
God is Creator and Father, who made all things out of nothing, and who created Mankind in his own image and likeness. One of the greatest challenges and heresy facing the early church focused on the controversy surrounding the true nature of Jesus Christ, whom the Apostle Paul called the New Adam, and the mystery of the incarnation of the only begotten Son of God who took on human flesh through a virgin birth and became Man for our sake to redeem and restore us to the fullness of the image and likeness of God.
We see a summary of God’s intention for the human race when he created the first parents and made them male and female:
This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.
Genesis 5:1-2
Challenge of today’s amoral culture
A very great challenge and unfolding disaster today is the redefining of sexual identity and marriage, and the undermining of parental authority to raise children in Judeo-Christian norms and godly character. The dire warning of the prophet Isaiah rings loud and clear for those who have ears to hear
Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine
Isaiah 5:20-23
and champions at mixing drinks,
who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
but deny justice to the innocent.
Highlights in this Issue
This issue continues the theme on God’s design for men and women – married couples, families, and singles sharing life together in community as God’s people.
Don’t miss Gregory Floyd’s article – an unforgettable personal reflection on the blessings and challenges of marriage and family life rooted in the Scriptures, life in the Holy Spirit, and life-together in the body of Christ.
Bob Tedesco, in his series on God’s Design: Part 2 – Embracing the Wisdom of the Divine Architect,, examines the roles of men and woman from a biblical perspective, especially in regards to marriage and family life. He contrasts it with the secular worldviews of today. The rapid decline in marriages and increasing damage to many children in broken homes, especially in western nations, speak volumes for the bad fruit of worldly wisdom and practices that disregard and oppose God’s plan for life-long stability in marriage and inter-generational family life as well.
Steve Clark’s article, Genesis 2: Flesh of My Flesh, focuses on the unity in the husband and wife relationship and the good fruit that comes as a result.
Jeanne Kun, Companions to Eternity: Friendship and Sisterhood in Community, and Barry Danylak, Jesus’ Teaching on Singleness, share the good fruit of singles following Christ’s path of discipleship and shared life with others in Christian community.
God wants to renew all of his people in the power and grace of the Holy Spirit so that we may glorify God together and build up his kingdom of peace, joy, and righteousness in the Holy Spirit.
Sincerely in Christ,
editor
Top photo credit: image of a large crowd of Christians standing together in the midst of the cross of Christ, from Bigstock.com, © bestdesign36, stock photo ID: 402883985. Used with permission.
Don Schwager is the editor of Living Bulwark and author of the Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation website. He is a lay religious brother and life-time member of the Servants of the Word.