The Purpose for the Passion

By Lawrence Grott

Have you ever asked yourself why God created marriage with its biblical definition? Growing up, I've just accepted the fact it's a natural part of life for most adults. Through a combination of communication and observation over the years, I've learned it's a preferential environment to raise children. Coming from a Catholic background prior to getting saved, I was taught that you needed to get married to have sex and it not be a sin. Being saved, I obviously still agree with these things. However, being in agreement with something doesn't tell me why it's the way it is. Is there a deeper meaning to our day-to-day view of marriage? The answer to that question is a resounding yes! This question put me on the path of discovery through the study of scripture. Finding the Gospel of Christ tucked away within biblical marriages and noticing the specific roles given to husbands and wives are revelatory concerning the relationship between Jesus and the church. The biblical marriages we read about in our Bibles speak to every aspect of Christ. You'll be surprised to discover modern Christian marriages speak of Christ the same way. This book isn't a counselor's guide to teach you how to walk out your marriage. Although I'm not married, I desire to and will be one day. It's a revelation of our husband, Jesus Christ, from a perspective we normally don't have. That we realize our Christian marriages are prophetic of Christ's Second Coming and marriage to the church and take our responsibilities more seriously. This book is for the single person as much as it's for those who are already married because we're all Christ's bride. By reading this book, I'm positive it'll have a profound effect on your life and walk with Jesus Christ! If you would like to learn more or have Lawrence come and speak at your church, conference, or seminar please visit him @ https://spiritandtruthministries.life/

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644585511

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The Purpose for the Passion

Lawrence Grott

Copyright © 2019 by Lawrence Grott

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter One What Are God’s Thoughts

Chapter Two The Template

Chapter Three Where It All Began

Chapter Four The Holy Spirit at Work

Chapter Five The Kinsman Redeemer

Chapter Six The Jewish Bride

Chapter Seven While We Were Still Yet Sinners

Chapter Eight What’s Love Got To Do with It

Chapter Nine Where Did We Go Wrong

Chapter Ten What’s in a Name

Chapter Eleven A Line in the Sand

Chapter Twelve Sounding the Alarm

Special Thanks

I wrote this book while going through a year-and-a-half recovery from a car accident that resulted in a lower-back surgery and a lot of physical therapy both prior and post, being unable to go to work during this time. Because of these circumstances, I would like to give a very special thanks to all of my friends. This book would have never been completed if not for all of you. As I struggled in my mind and emotions throughout this time, your consistent encouragement kept me motivated to continue writing when I wanted to give up on multiple occasion. I will forever be grateful!

Introduction

Purpose (noun): The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists; (verb): Have as one’s intention or objective.

When we look at the word purpose, as a noun, we see that it has a similar meaning to words like motive, motivation, cause, reason, justification, intention, good, value, profit, and role. There are other words that can be used, but these say so much and are such a great fit for our conversation. When it’s used as a verb, it’s very similar to words like intend, mean, plan, design, resolve, and determine. Again, there are other words, but these go a long way to giving us a more complete picture as to our topic. The other word I would like to define is the word passion.

Passion (noun): 1 Strong and barely controllable emotion.

2 The suffering death of Jesus.

Some other words that carry a similar meaning are crucifixion, suffering, agony, and martyrdom. Hmmm, to be honest with you, I was a little surprised to find that these words are synonyms for passion. Sure, we’ve probably all heard of the Passion of the Christ (not necessarily the movie) or Christ’s passion. But to tell you the truth, I’m not positive I have ever actually looked up the definition. I’m guessing you, along with me, are a little shocked to see that it’s more associated with suffering than strong emotions of a more enjoyable nature.

These two words, which comprise the meat in the title of this book, are going to be the basis for and the heart of the conversation we are about to engage in. These words may not be mentioned on every page, but they form the foundation of the message and conversation I believe God motivated me to share with you. We are going to be talking about marriage. But don’t think this is another marriage book and that, I’ve read enough of them already! We’re not going to be focused on how to navigate a successful marriage, but because this is about God and His Word, it will certainly help and be beneficial for that very thing. To be honest with you, at the writing of this book, I am not nor have I ever been married. Am I qualified to give such instruction for navigating your marriage? No! This is a book that will show you the creator of the universe had a plan to redeem mankind from the very beginning and how He uses the institution of marriage to teach us this truth. He had a plan before Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree. God had a plan for salvation from the very beginning in case Adam failed. It was not a knee-jerk reaction to his sin.

Through different marriages in the Bible, we will hopefully discover together that God has a blueprint, that He uses these biblical marriages prophetically to convey different aspects of Christ’s marriage to His church. When Jesus returns, there will be what is called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7, 9). By studying these biblical marriages in depth, we will be able to see that upon the return of Christ for His church, Jesus is the ONLY one that meets ALL the prerequisites outlined in the Word of God to be the prophesized Savior and husband to His bride, the church.

God’s passion is for His people. Christ’s passion is to please the Father. A spouse’s passion is for one another. The believer’s passion is for Jesus Christ. While passion is absolutely necessary, it’s not enough on its own. If you will join me, I’m sure together we can discover:

The Purpose for the Passion

Chapter One What Are God’s Thoughts

Have you ever asked yourself, What’s the purpose for getting married? I mean, my parents are married. I know a lot of other adults who are married. I can look back generations and see that the ancestors in my family tree were married. Do we do it because those who came before us did? We love each other! We’re attracted to one another! Do we get married to have sex? Certainly we need to get married to have children? It seems society doesn’t look at these last two as the requirements they once were. I’m sure there is a hundred different questions just like these you could ask concerning marriage and why we do it. I’m sure the list of reasons you could posit as to the necessity of marriage, or why we engage in it, are all valid. I’m going to suggest and then explore with you that it’s a far deeper concept and purpose than we might be aware of. I want to view marriage the way God does. After all, He’s the one who invented it. So does God view things differently than we do? Let’s go straight to the source.

Isaiah 55:8–9 (NKJV)

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah is telling us that yes, God not only has different thoughts than we do, but they are loftier or higher thoughts to boot. Look at what the book of Proverbs has to say.

Proverbs 25:2 (NKJV)

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the Glory of kings is to search out a matter.

Does that apply to you and me? I mean, after all, He said kings, and I’m not a king (or priest). Well, if you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are. One of my favorite books of the Bible verifies it for us. It’s the book of Revelation. So what was it that Jesus revealed to John?

Revelation 1:4–6 (NKJV)

John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

So if all of you kings and priests will join me, let’s get started. As will be our approach in each chapter, I want us to look at things in a step-by-step chronological manner in the hopes of developing a complete picture of what marriage is really all about—to search out the matter concerning marriage, in order to gain God’s perspective, understanding, and purpose; to not only strengthen our relationships with one another, but to strengthen also our relationship with the creator of the universe Himself, Jesus Christ.

We are about to embark on a journey, and I’m so glad you decided to join me. I truly believe this is going to be a journey of revelation concerning a topic that is near and dear to God. This is a marriage book. However, this is not going to be like any other marriage book you have ever read.

This is about discovering why God instituted marriage, to demonstrate that it’s so much more than two people taking vows in order to have sex and it be acceptable in the eyes of the Lord, or a good environment to raise children. Please don’t misunderstand me. These, along with so many other reasons, are valid and important, but there is so much more! Our relationship with Jesus is the cake of marriage, and every other benefit of marriage that we could think of is akin to the frosting. Most, if not all, of the ways we tend to view marriage are from an earthly perspective. But as we read just a minute ago, God views things—yes, the very things of this earth, from a much loftier vantage point than you or me.

Psalm 40:7–8 (God’s Word)

Then I said, I have come! (It is written about me in the scroll of the book.) I am happy to do your will, O my God.

Hebrews 10–7 (God’s Word)

Then I said, I have come! (It is written of me in the scroll of the book.) I have come to do what you want, my God.

Who’s Me in the above verses? Me is Jesus Christ. If that’s the case, and I believe that it is, we should be able to connect the dots of the Word of God, that we recognize biblical marriage not only points to Jesus, but is also prophetic of, and a reflection of, His coming marriage to the church. To understand who He is and what His role concerning our future is going to be. There are three different groups of people I want to encourage in this book:

Group one. For those that are married, I hope this book gives you insight to the importance of your marital relationship and what it really means to be married, that you truly grasp the importance of the relationship with your spouse as it is a prophecy of Christ’s Second Coming and be aware that the vows you made carry much more weight than even your professed commitment to each other. From the moment you say I do, the two of you become a walking visual declaration that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back for His bride, the church. You might say, That’s kind of a heavy burden to carry around! You’re right! It is if you try to carry it on your own. But don’t get overwhelmed by this prospect. We are not called to be perfect husbands and wives because we never will be. It’s about understanding what marriage is actually about and allowing Jesus to carry our burdens for us as in any other part of life. Remember, Jesus Himself tells us in Matthew’s gospel:

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Matthew 11:30 (NKJV)

Group two. If you’re thinking about getting married, I hope it gives you a fuller understanding concerning the vows you want to take. It’s so much more than having sex in a way that God approves of or raising children in a stable environment. Don’t base it on whether or not you’re attracted to the other person. Am I saying that you shouldn’t be attracted to them? Of course not! But don’t let that be the foundation for your marriage. Believe it or not, there are a lot of people who get married due to attraction, even if they don’t want to admit it or even realize it. Yeah well, I really love her or him! That’s great! I have one question for you though: Is that a godly, biblical, selfless love, or is it born of lust, attraction, and what you’ll get out of it? None of what I’m saying is meant as a deterrent. It’s quite the opposite. Just make sure your eyes are wide open so you can make wise decisions. The last thing I desire is for you to be discouraged about getting married. I haven’t been married before. But when it happens, I want to have the best chance for success and for my marriage to be a testament to other people for God. To do that, I have to navigate all these things and so much more, as we all do.

Group three. If you are not married and or you don’t want to be, this book is for you just as well. If you don’t have a desire for marriage or sex, maybe you do but can control yourself and prefer to stay single; if you could, then you should. Paul points this out. By doing so, he is reaffirming that fornication, not just adultery, is a sin. Why is that so important for us to understand? We will see in more detail later in this book, the beginning stages of the belief that fornicating is acceptable. I’m not talking about society. They already believe it to be okay. This attitude is starting to creep into the church and is actually being promoted by a particular pastor. Sex is not acceptable outside the marital relationship and parameters established by God. The Bible gives no exception to this. The Apostle Paul addresses these issues for us.

1 Corinthians 7:1–15 (NKJV)

Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to the husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows; it is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remained unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who