The Church Is The Bride Of Christ

-November 20, 2024-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy without blemish.”

(Ephesians 5:26-27).

The past two days we have been meditating on the church as the building and the body of Christ. Today, we consider the precious truth that the church is the bride of Christ.

Christ is our heavenly Bridegroom and we as His church are His bride. In the OT, Israel is the wife of Jehovah; in the NT, the church is the bride of Christ. The reason for this is that a bride awaits her wedding day with great joy and anticipation. The wedding is a consummation of a promise and commitment made to the bridegroom.

We belong to Christ as His precious bride. But what did He ever see in us? We were sinners, defiled, lost, condemned, and bankrupt. There was no beauty or goodness in us. Christ loved us and gave Himself for us, shed His blood to wash us, and clothe us in His righteousness. Paul describes our position in Christ as “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; holy without blemish.”

Christ sees us so differently from the world, even from how we see ourselves. We are sinners, but sinners saved by grace. Brides in ancient times wore beautiful jewels and adornments. The wedding day was her special day. Even today this is true, a bride wants to look her very best for her bridegroom. This is why they say every bride is beautiful. Some are just more beautiful than others, but to the bridegroom, she is the most beautiful in the world.

The Lord Jesus is looking forward to taking us to His home in heaven that He has prepared for us. Hymn writer Anne Ross Cousin wrote, a beautiful hymn, entitled, “Immanuel’s Land.” The fourth stanza says, “The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face; I will not gaze at glory, but on my King of grace—Not at the crown He giveth, but on His pierced hand: The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel’s land.”

Let us live as a holy bride awaiting our wedding day, which will be at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. We are dressed in white, which is the righteousness of the saints.

Have a blessed day, be safe and healthy.

Those who are made holy must live holy. Our Bridegroom is coming!

Dean