The New Testament Church as the bride of Christ

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH #3

(As the Bride of Christ)

INTRODUCTION: The relationship of the church to Christ in this dispensation and in eternity is illustrated in the Scriptures by the relationship of a bride and groom.

I.      John the Baptist with reference to Jesus and His called-out disciples (His church) said, “He

that hath the bride is the bridegroom.”

A.   John called Jesus the Bridegroom and His church the Bride, John 3:29.

B.   John referred to himself as the friend of the Bridegroom.

1.     Jesus affirmed this statement when He said, “… Among them that are born of

women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist,” Matthew 11:11.

2.     Jesus also said that John was “more than a prophet,” Matthew 11:9.

3.     According to Hebrew wedding custom, the father would send his most trusted ser-

vant and friend to select a bride for his son. John said he was that friend.

C.   John heard Jesus teaching His Bride and rejoiced greatly, saying his joy was fulfilled.

1.     John had completed the mission God had chosen him to do.

2.     “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” Luke 1:17.

II.    The scribes and the Pharisees asked Jesus and His disciples why they did not fast since it
         was practiced by the disciples of John and the Pharisees, Mark 2:18.

A.   Jesus said His disciples would not fast while the Bridegroom was with them.

1.     Jesus called His church the “children of the bridechamber” because it is a special

place reserved for them, Mark 2:19,20.

2.     The bridechamber is a unit of rooms in the father’s house that the bride and groom

will occupy after the wedding and accommodates them during the wedding celebration. (Hebrew wedding custom)

3.     The Pharisees knew Jesus was referring to His church as His Bride.

B.   Without question Jesus had already entered into engagement with His church, (His
        Bride).

III. Christ loved His Bride so much that He died for her, Ephesians 5:25.

A.   Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, said they were engaged to Christ, II Corinthians
        11:2.

B.   Paul, writing to the church in Rome, said they were free from the law so they could
        marry Christ, Romans 7:4.

C.   The church, (His Bride), must be without spot or blemish, Ephesians 5:27.

1.     This is not saying the members of the church are perfect, for they also are sinners

saved by grace.

2.     However, they stand perfect in the will of God both in doctrine and practice.

D.   The Bride had made herself ready for the wedding by being faithful to all His com-
        mandments, Revelation 19:7.

E.   She is seen dressed in white, symbolizing her righteous works, Revelation 19:8.

IV.    God showed John the future home of the Bride, Revelation 21:2.

A.    Jesus told His church while He was yet with her that He was going away to prepare a

home for her, John 14:2,3.

B.    The home Jesus prepared for His Bride is the New Jerusalem, Revelation 21:10.

1.     The city had a great high wall surrounding it with twelve gates, Revelation 21:12.

2.     Under the walls stood twelve foundations, Revelation 21:14.

3.     The walls were of jasper, and the city was pure gold with all manner of precious

stones in the foundations, Revelation 21:18,19.

4.     Each of the twelve gates was a pearl, and the street was transparent gold, Revela-

tion 21:21.

5.     God and the Lamb are the temple of it, and the glory of God is the light of the city,

Revelation 21:22,23.

6.     All the nations of the saved, though they do not live in the city, live in the light of it,

Revelation 21:24.

7.     The Kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it, Revelation

21:26.

8.     Inside the city flows a river of life and a tree of life which bears twelve kinds of

fruit; (the leaves of the tree are for the blessings of the nations), Revelation 22:1,2. 9. Notice that it is the Bride who is dwelling in the city, and she is seen serving her
        King, Revelation 22:3,4.

a.  This is the Bride, the Lamb’s wife, Revelation 21:9.

b.  The Bride wears His name in her forehead, Revelation 3:12.

10.  Christ and His Bride shall reign forever, Revelation 22:5.

C.    Christ’s Bride also continues to give Him glory in the final Kingdom age, Ephesians

3:21.