Have you ever seen a fish walking around in your neighborhood or anywhere else on this earth, living its normal life? I’m sure your answer would be a resounding “No,” because fish cannot survive on dry land. Their very nature requires them to live in water, where they use gills to breathe, unlike humans who have lungs. A fish’s proper habitat is in the water. What would you think if you saw a fish on the ground? It’s obvious—it’s dead! If a fish wanted to live on dry land, it would need to be completely recreated, at the very least with lungs, so it could continue breathing and survive.

Similarly, a born-again Christian is someone whom God has recreated, enabling them to live in the spiritual kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ, while still on this earth. This person lives as a new creation, as the Word of God declares: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV). Paul also writes, “He [God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14, ESV). Peter also echoes this same truth: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3, ESV).

So, when we say we are Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, we are biblically declaring that we are new creations, recreated by God in Christ Jesus. The Bible is written for those who are new creations, living in this world but not belonging to it. Jesus expressed this in His prayer to the Father for those recreated in Him: “I [Jesus] have given them [those recreated by God in Christ] your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:14, ESV).

Why did evil people kill Jesus? Primarily because He was everything they were not. Jesus was completely different from them—while they were evil, He was good. Similarly, Christians are in this world but do not live as the people of this dark world do. They live in the light, in the Kingdom of Light, which is evident in the fruit of their lives. Born-again Christians, as newly recreated people, live in a way that is completely different from the people of this world. They “eat and drink” a different food that sustains them for the glory of the God who recreated them through Jesus Christ. As Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4, ESV).

If you’re like me, you might respond to the verse above by saying, “But there are millions of people who live on bread alone. They don’t read the Bible, yet they seem to live well. In fact, some are famous and blessed with the treasures of this world, like money and success.” That’s true, but God’s Word does not describe such a life as true life—it calls it death. These people live for the lusts of their sinful flesh and for the glory of evil, the devil (Ephesians 2:2). So, their so-called “life” is actually death, and it will end in eternal death, being separated from God’s presence forever.

Born-again Christians, as new creations in Christ, “eat and drink” the Word of God so that God may be glorified in their lives. As they seek to live according to God’s Word, the Author of the Bible, their lives bring glory to Him (Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31). What they feed on spiritually is reflected in their lifestyle, attitude, character, and the words they speak. The fruit of their lives reveals whether they belong to this world or the world to come (Matthew 7:15-20).

These new creations are also temples of the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of God dwells within them. Paul writes, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, ESV). This means that Christians live in fellowship with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14). That is why Paul writes to the Christians in Ephesus, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only what is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:29-30, ESV).

The Holy Spirit grieves when a Christian chooses to sin against God because He is in constant fellowship with the believer, 24/7. When the Holy Spirit grieves, He convicts the Christian of their sin (John 16:8). This means that a key characteristic of the Christian life is this ongoing struggle with sin, along with continuous confession and repentance. In fact, this very struggle with sin affirms that they are truly new creations, born-again Christians.

These are some of the foundational teachings of Christianity. If we don’t grasp these truths correctly, it will be difficult for us to understand the biblical teachings on marriage or any other subject. (By the way, this is a continuation of the series “Marriage is Spiritual,” which we started a few weeks ago. I hope and pray you’re following this series closely, because as the topic delves deeper, staying engaged will help prevent any confusion.)

You see, these are just a few of the many reasons why marriage—the union of one man and one woman—is more spiritual than physical. Marriage is God’s idea, not man’s. It was created by God for the benefit of humanity and for His glory. These two primary purposes of marriage can only be realized if both the husband and wife are spiritual people.

“Spiritual people” are not those who simply talk about God frequently, swear in His name, or claim to be spiritual. Instead, “spiritual people” are those who have been recreated by God to follow Jesus Christ. These individuals believe in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and they approach God not through their own righteous deeds, but through the righteousness of Christ. Whether married or single, spiritual people strive to live according to God’s Word, giving it the highest priority in their lives.

If this is not the case, the God-designed institution of marriage—created for His glory and humanity’s good—can become a source of pain, heartache, and grief. This happens when the couple lives according to their personal likes, dislikes, emotions, and feelings. If they have children, those children are likely to mirror their parents, living for the fleeting pleasures of this dark world, seeking worldly accolades, and valuing temporary things like beauty, money, and material possessions. While living a self-centered and ultimately meaningless life, they may proudly declare, “We’re living our dream life!”

Marriage can only truly benefit both husband and wife when the institution is built and guided by two spiritual individuals. . . . cont’d ///