Adulterous Wife to Spotless Bride: How Christ Purifies His People from Spiritual Adultery

Sermon + discussion
When you think about sin, you probably think about breaking God's rules -- missing the mark -- falling short of God's perfect standard of righteousness. But what does God think about sin? How does he view it? God uses colorful language in the Old Testament to describe the sin of his covenant people, Israel. Perhaps the most frequent picture he gives is that of an adulterous wife. That's right, when Israel turns to the creation for what only God can give them -- when they worship idols of wood or the desires of their eyes -- God calls it spiritual adultery. Interestingly, God does NOT use this language of the idolatrous worship of the pagan nations surrounding his people. Why not? Because they are not in covenant relationship with him. God has not betrothed himself to the pagan nations. Israel alone is his treasured possession. Therefore, Israel's sin is FAR more offensive to God than that of other nations.
And if that's the case with Israel. How much more so with the church? How much more those who are members of the New Covenant, enacted on better promises than the old, recipients of greater grace, possessors of a far greater spiritual light than the nation of Israel? Is not all our sin spiritual adultery, and is it not a FAR greater offense to Christ, our Bridegroom!?
Yet while the Old Testament is FILLED with language of spiritual adultery -- God calls Israel names like harlot, brazen prostitute, whore -- we only find the language of "adulterous wife" in one New Testament text (James 4:4). Why is that? In fact, in Song of Solomon 4, Christ says of his bride, "You are altogether beautiful my love. There is no flaw in you!"
How can this be!?
Listen to this message to better understand the significance of Christ's work of redemption and how he saves the spiritually adulterous.

[@AlvinHazelton]

This is good!