Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, June 22, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

JESUS DIED TO GET A BRIDE FOR HIS SIDE

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Genesis 2:18-25

Text: Genesis 2:22

Genesis 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

Introduction: As Bible-believing fundamentalists, we hold to the literal account of creation, including the creation of Adam and Eve. We do not believe Adam and Eve evolved through a mystical process of “natural selection”; we believe that they were CREATED. God made the first man of the dust of the ground (Gen. 2:7), and He made the first woman from the first man’s rib. I want to remind you that Jesus told the religious people of the day:

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

After the resurrection of Christ we find our Savior talking to two of His discouraged disciples:

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

I believe one of the earlier things in the writings of Moses concerning Jesus is our scripture reading. You see, the creation of Eve is a historical fact. But it is more than that. It is also a beautiful picture of the love of the Lord for mankind, especially His bride, the church.

We know that Adam is a picture, figure, or “type” of the Lord Jesus Christ, for

1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Jesus is the “last Adam.”

We also know that the creation of Eve for Adam is a picture of the Lord dying for the church from the New Testament: (Read Ephesians 5:25-32)

God put Adam to sleep, opened His side, and made his bride. Likewise, and this is the title for the morning message:

JESUS DIED TO GET A BRIDE FROM HIS SIDE

Look with me at four aspects of the creation of Adam’s wife that point to Christ sacrificing Himself for the church:

I. THE SOLITUDE OF THE MAN

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

A. He desired a companion

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone …

B. He desired a coworker

- Genesis 2:18b … I will make him an help meet for him.

1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

II. THE STATEMENT OF INTENT

Genesis 2:18b … I will make him an help meet for him.

Do you know that one of the main purposes of God in this day is to make a bride for Jesus Christ? To call out a people for His name?

Acts 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

A. The church was foreordained in eternity past

B. The church was foreshadowed throughout the Old Testament

C. The church’s foundation is in the Gospels – CHRIST Himself

D. The church’s formation is in the book of Acts

E. The church’s functions are in the epistles

F. The church’s future is in Revelation

III. THE SURGERY THAT FOLLOWED

Genesis 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

A. Adam slept

Death is referred to as a “sleep” of the body in the Bible.

B. Adam’s side was opened

Christ’s side was pierced

God did not make the woman from Adam’s skull to rule him, nor from his foot to be trodden under by him, but from his side to be cherished and protected by him.

C. Adam shed his blood

D. Adam sacrificed part of himself to get his bride

IV. THE SUCCESS THAT RESULTED

Genesis 2:22-24 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

A. His name was her identification

Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Eve was called Woman because she was taken from Man. We’re called Christians because we came from CHRIST! Amen!

She is so closely identified with her husband in her name that the Bible says: Genesis 5:2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

B. His nature was her transformation

Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

C. His needs were her occupation

She was the HELP that was MEET for the man.

The church should occupy ourselves helping the Lord, doing His work, as He commands, guides, and works through us!

God brought the woman to the man! She did not come on her own. This reminds us of how God draws the church to Christ:

A. In conviction, conversion and regeneration

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

B. At the coming of Christ and the Rapture

1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

We’ll be CAUGHT up!