While all men can profit from
the truth found in the scriptures in a practical and natural sense,
one would be mistaken to consider that the purpose of the scriptures
is to provide instruction to men in general, to offer them
remedies for their various maladies, or to lay out a course which
they can follow in order to gain favor in God's sight. Rather,
the truth is that the Scriptures are primarily given to the sons
of God for their particular benefit. Since the Scriptures found in
the Bible are the very breath of God, their true meaning cannot
be received except by spiritual revelation, and such is hidden
from the understanding of the natural man, as Paul tells the
Corinthians. But the natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness
unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned. Paul mentions this very fact
to Timothy when he describes both the application and purpose
of the written word. All scripture is given by inspiration
of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness. that the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Now while Paul tells
Timothy that the scriptures are given for this stated purpose,
he does not tell Timothy that this is the only reason that
the scriptures are given, nor that this particular purpose
is the main or sole purpose for which they are given. The Bible
is given to the sons of God primarily as the testimony of Jesus Christ. He is the eternal word, and he
would testify unto those whom he gives ears to hear of his
majesty, glory, and total dominion over heaven, earth, and hell.
This is a book by him, about him, and ultimately for him,
since he is the possessor of all things, and the absolute
sovereign who does according to his will. in the army of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth. Throughout its pages
he does manifest his determined intention to show mercy to the
fallen sons of Adam according to his sovereign prerogative.
The declaration of the gospel stretches from the beginning
of the book to its very end. In that pronouncement he would
demonstrate his purpose to redeem sinners and to call them from
the darkness and into the light. The sending of Jesus Christ into
the world as the Redeemer of His people is the culmination
of that light. In the unfolding of that redemption,
He has shown that He has not only made provision for His people
for the ages to come, but He has given them such things as
they stand in need of in the present time as they make their
sojourn through this world of sin and sorrow. One of those
provisions was in the institution of marriage between the man and
the woman. In this union they were blessed
first by the natural benefits which each could supply to the
other, and also the means whereby they could produce children after
their own kind to populate the earth, and thus in time to see
the heir of all things, and their deliverer brought forth from
the womb of his virgin mother. Yet an even greater blessing
is manifested to those whom he has given faith. thus revealing
himself to be the Savior of all those who believe. While mankind
in general has benefited greatly from the institution of marriage
between men and women, an even greater blessing is set forth
when we are given to see the actual purpose of marriage, which
is revealed by His Spirit as an illustration of the relationship
which He has with His Bride, the Church, which is His elect,
His beloved, the object of His everlasting love. As such, she
is precious to him, and all that he has done as the Redeemer and
Savior has been for her benefit alone. Jesus Christ is the husband
of one wife. To her only is given his love. For her only did he suffer, bleed,
and die on Calvary's cross. It is impossible to rightly teach
the purpose of his redemptive work apart from teaching the
particular nature of that work. Christ came into the world not
to attempt the salvation of all men, but rather to accomplish
the full and free redemption of that bride which He loved
from before the foundation of the world.