Godly Jealousy

 Text is 2Corinthians 11:1-4

First, this text uses the language of love and marriage to describe the Christian life. It is not a military command or a sports team. Our relationship to Christ is one of a husband and wife.

Verse 2 says, "For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

This is the language of matrimony. Our future is as the bride of Christ. That's why the greatest commandment is to love God.

This is why rejecting Christ or following other gods is so hurtful. This is why the word jealousy is used. 

Second, we must examine the language of cheating in this text. The apostle uses the illustration of Eve and the serpent to highlight  this truth. The serpent beguiled Eve with his subtlety. He deceived her with his craftiness. She was thoroughly deceived until she thought that rebelling against God seemed like the right thing to do. The serpent was the original narcissist. He used unscrupulous tactics and cunning craftiness when speaking almost true words to Eve. He did not bait her with lust. He sold her on error. Eve's mind became completely corrupted, which means spoiled or rotten. Adam failed, but not as completely as Eve. The serpent cheated them out of their inheritance. He pulled a fast one on them. 

Third. let's look at the answer for us today. The answer is simplicity.

Verse 3 says "...the simplicity that is in Christ."

This is the word of chastity. By keeping our heart focused on Christ we find the power to stay pure and focused on Jesus. The word means single. It implies plainness and chastity. It is the opposite of deceitful. We must maintain a singleness of devotion and motivation. It doesn't take great pomp and circumstance to serve the Lord. It doesn't take enormous faith or epic acts of charity. It takes simply believing and not going after another religion.

Notice the word another in verse 4. Another Jesus, another Spirit, another gospel. Dance with the one who brung you. Stay where Jesus put you. Be faithful to church. Don't go looking for love in all the wrong places.