The Bride Of Christ

“For your Maker is your husband— the LORD Almighty is His name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.” (Is 54)

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph 5)

Throughout the Old Testament God is pictured as a husband, and Israel as His bride. This theme is continued in the New Testament where Christ becomes our husband, and we, the church, His bride. If you are a Christian, you are married to Jesus!

Marriage is a covenant. When you became a Christian you didn’t just “make a decision” but you entered into a covenant with Jesus and Him with you! Although in todays society the difference in the role of the sexes isn’t great, in Bible days, the Jewish husband was very much seen as the provider, the one who would meet needs, care for and look after His bride. This is what Christ has covenanted to do with us! He has made a promise to supply all our needs, to never leave us or forsake us and to love us with an everlasting love!

Just as the in the book of Ruth, Boaz, the kinsman redeemer covered Ruth as a sign of his love, protection and provision; Jesus, our kinsman redeemer has covered us with His blood. That is our sign, that we are now His, and everything is going to be ok! The greek word for Christs love towards us, is “agape”. It means to value, to esteem, to prize, to treat as precious, to love unconditionally! This is the love Christ has for you!

On our side, we must recognise that the husband is the head of the wife. We are no longer free and single and able to do as we please. Christ must become our head, He must be the highest in authority. We must submit to Him in everything and in all our ways acknowledge Him.

When we get married to Jesus, we join His family! We have an awesome father-in-law! His name is Almighty God! He says to us “now you have married my son, you become my child!” We have the full rights of sons and become heir to all the promises of God!

Just as a bride changes her name when she becomes married, we are also given a new name! It’s the name that is higher than any other name, the name that causes the demons to tremble. And we have the right and authority to use that name!

Finally, we have been given a wedding ring, a seal, the precious Holy Spirit (Song of Songs 8v6-7, Eph 1v13-14). If you see a woman with a wedding ring, then that is the sign that she belongs to someone else. The Holy Spirit seals us in covenant relationship to God. He binds us to Jesus in an eternal covenant and is the sign that no man, no sickness, no devil and no circumstance can harm us without getting through our husband first! The Holy Spirit puts the fire within us, and makes sure that our marriage to Jesus is always exciting, always fresh and always passionate!

The first example of marriage in the Bible is of course Adam and Eve. Unlike Adam, when Eve was created, she didn’t come from the earth, but out of the side of her husband. In the same way, we as the bride of Christ have come out of the side of our heavenly bridegroom. We are not natural beings, but have been born again by the Spirit of God. As Christ died on the cross, blood and water flowed from His side. This blood and water washes and cleanses us so we become the bride without spot or wrinkle. The blood and water that flows from His side, enables us to be born agin as His bride.

When we became married to Jesus, He bought for us a wedding dress. It was the white robe of righteousness. He purchased it for us at the cost of His own life. Now in Him we become the righteousness of God.

The principle of marriage that God lays down in Genesis is this – that we “leave” our father and mother and “cleave” to our husband or wife. Friends when we enter into relationship with Jesus, there has to be a “leaving”. We have to leave behind everything of the old life. No longer do we live for ourselves, this world, our earthly desires or plans. We truely surrender all to Jesus.

Not only is there a “leaving” but there is also a “cleaving”. To cleave means “to stick fast”. It’s an attitude that says “Jesus I am not going to let you go! I will never stop loving you and serving you”. Some want to cleave but are not prepared to leave (this is hypocrosy). Some leave, but never cleave (this is religion). Friends, if we are truely in relationship with Jesus, we have to leave everything behind, but also cling to, pursue and take hold of Him.

God then makes this amazing statement about those who both leave and cleave: they will become “one flesh”. Friends when we enter into covenent with Jesus, we become one with Him! It’s Christ in me and I in Him! (John 14v20, John 17v21-23). This is a spiritual union, spirit to spirit, a deep calling unto deep! When God looks at us, He sees Jesus! When the world looks at us, they should see Jesus.

We have been baptised into Christ. We take on His appearance. We become His hands and feet. Our voice becomes His voice. It should be obvious to all that we are of Christ.

If I was hit by a truck, you would expect it to impact me in some way! Friends, if we are hit by the amazing love of Jesus, it is going to effect us, it is going to impact us, it is going to change us!