Preface
My opinion, like that of any, is of little importance, save as it might express God’s judgment of a matter. I have had upon my heart to pen “leaving the natural use” (Rom. 1:2727And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (Romans 1:27)), because I am persuaded that the misunderstanding, misplacement and misuse of nature is a paramount contributor to assemblies growing smaller and our spiritual state weakening.
I shall seek to consider, in this article, these three failures in the natural relationships associated with marriage. I write, not to reprove, but to awaken us to an awareness of the important role I believe nature has in relationship to spiritual development.
For many, our time of participation in this life is drawing to a close. What we have seen, or not seen, from the Word regarding nature, has had its effect already. I write with the desire that the younger Christians may see the principle of this subject in the Word and, by the grace and wisdom of God, benefit from this wonderful help we have in nature. “Doth not even nature itself teach you?” (1 Cor. 11:1414Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? (1 Corinthians 11:14)).
Introduction
All men, with the exception of Christ, have their first relationship with God in the realm of what Scripture calls “nature” (Rom. 1:2626For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (Romans 1:26); 1 Cor. 11:1414Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? (1 Corinthians 11:14)). In that relationship with God, man is identified as a “natural man” (1 Cor. 2:1414But 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. (1 Corinthians 2:14)). This is the kind of man the Lord God created when “the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” This was man’s original or first kind of relationship with the Lord God. Man had no existence before his creation in this manner. The earth we live on is the natural habitat of the natural man (Psa. 115:1616The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. (Psalm 115:16)). He was created “male and female” (Gen. 1:2727So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27)), both together being called “man.” “The first man is of the earth, earthy” (1 Cor. 15:4747The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:47)). Sin entered into the world by that man, and one consequence of his sinning was death, and after death, “the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). Sin and death now mar man and his natural habitat (Rom. 8:2222For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. (Romans 8:22)).
Responsibilities of Nature
As man (male and female) still on earth in this realm of nature, we have responsibilities that are proper to that condition of manhood, even though, through faith in Christ, we now belong to a new creation. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [or, there is a new creation ( JND)]” (2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)). Of the believer it is said, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.... There is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26-2826For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26‑28)). How we recognize and respond to those claims of nature affects, in a very great measure, our spiritual progress in what pertains to the new creation into which we now have been brought as children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. It is of grave consequence how we address the responsibilities of nature. They clearly have an influence on spiritual progress, both in ourselves and in those that know us. I do not speak of gaining entrance into the new creation by natural means. This cannot be done, for “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 15:5050Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (1 Corinthians 15:50)).
Marriage: A Relationship of Nature
The subject before me is vast and found repeatedly in Scripture. I would like to emphasize family relationships in the realm of nature, considering marriage first. We see that the Spirit of God requires our giving attention to this relationship with our spiritual understanding. “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:1717Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:17)). “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them [wives] according to knowledge” (1 Peter 3:77Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)). Responsibilities relating to nature will exist until the passing away of the present heavens and earth and the ushering in of the new. “I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.... For the former things are passed away” (Rev. 21:1414And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:14)).
A respected servant of Christ wrote regarding the natural relationship of marriage: “God had instituted marriage woe to him who should speak ill of it! But sin has come in, and all that is of nature, of the creature, is marred. God has introduced a power altogether above and outside nature that of the Spirit. To walk according to that power is the best thing; it is to walk outside the sphere in which sin acts. But it is rare; and positive sins are for the most part the effect of standing apart from that which God has ordained according to nature” (Synopsis, 1 Cor. 7, J. N. Darby).
Our failure to understand our roles in the realm of nature and not attending to the responsibilities proper to those roles have resulted in many sorrows in Christian lives and also hampered our spiritual progress. Once a believer marries, there are obligations pertaining to that relationship that cannot be neglected without serious consequences. When we, as believers, enter into this relationship of marriage, we are acknowledging we do not have the gift Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 7:77For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. (1 Corinthians 7:7), nor the ability to walk altogether above and outside nature. I might add, in 1 Corinthians 77For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. (1 Corinthians 7:7), the subject is chiefly a certain need men and women may have that can only be met in the marriage union. To meet that need outside of the marriage union is sin. What is before me is not confined to that particular need, but of the many needs of nature.
Nature As a Subject in Scripture
We will see that Paul himself was properly concerned about the realm of nature, and frequently addresses it, both as regards himself and as concerns all believers. It formed an important part of his ministry. We cannot live entirely above and outside the realm of nature as long as we are alive on this earth. We still bear the image of the earthy as we shall bear the image of the heavenly one (1 Cor. 15:4949And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (1 Corinthians 15:49) JND).
Even our Lord Jesus Christ as He lived here on earth, prior to His resurrection, met the needs of the natural claims of others. He said concerning Himself, not “man shall not live by bread,” but that “man shall not live by bread alone.” He hungered as a man and, because He was a man, had that natural need. But such a natural need must be fulfilled with understanding as to its proper time and place according to the Father’s will. Would to God that this might be true of ourselves also.
H. Short
(to be continued)