15. The Bride of Christ

1. The Bride of Christ is mentioned particularly in the book of Revelation. “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready” (Rev.19:7). “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a Bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Rev. 21:2). An earthly bride makes detailed plans for her wedding day. She wants to be very beautiful for her bridegroom; likewise we, as the espoused of the Lord, must let God’s Holy Spirit prepare us to be all beautiful within.

2. A heart completely dedicated to the Lord is necessary to enter the race of this “heavenly calling” (Heb. 3:1) with the hope of becoming a member of the Bride of Christ (Rev. 21:9). Those who seek to be joint-heirs with Christ must give up their right to their own wills and become totally devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ as His disciple. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, ‘If any man will come after me, let him deny self, take up his cross, and follow me’” (Matt. 16:24).

3. When we become Jesus’ disciple, we enter into a sanctified position in Christ, receiving God’s Holy Spirit and a new birth. (Read Rom. 15:16; Rom. 12: 1. 2; Phil. 2:5.) Phil. 1:6 tells us that we should be “... confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” If we allow that work of God to progress, bringing “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5), we become co-workers with God in the glorious goal of being “conformed to (Jesus’) image” (Rom. 8:29).

4. In Romans 9:21 we are told that God is the Potter and we are the clay. We must be pliable in His Hands and let His Holy Spirit take control of our lives, so that one day we might be presented “a pure virgin to Him” (2 Cor. 11:2), our Heavenly Bridegroom.

5. Just how is this accomplished? We read in Eph. 4:22-24, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

6. The Holy Spirit will renew our minds as we trust the Lord and are obedient to His will. Jesus left us the perfect example in His life and stated it well when He said, “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). When we allow the Holy Spirit to control our lives completely, we will be able to say these same words that Jesus said to His Father, for we will be emptied of self, having given over our wills entirely, that we might be filled with the Holy Spirit. Then we will have the same meek and humble mind that was in Christ Jesus.

7. In 1 John 3:9 we read, “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” Also in 2 Cor. 5:17 we read, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Our old habits and ways must be cast aside and replaced with new godly ones based on righteousness and love.

8. Consider what Col. 3: 1-10 tells us must happen in us because we have become new creatures in Christ. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is beingrenewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” These are some of the ways this Bride makes herself ready. We need to understand clearly that this cannot be done by self-effort. The Apostle Paul warns of this in Galatians 3:3. The only way to victory is to allow the power of God’s Holy Spirit to work in your life, through faith. If you do this, the work in you will be accomplished by the Lord. There is a saying, “Nature abhors a vacuum.” This is also true in our spiritual life. Something must be there to fill our hearts and minds. One thing will displace another. If we are to get rid of the things mentioned above, it is best done by replacing them with something else or the old ways will quickly return. God has provided everything we need to become a member of this beautiful Bride, completely prepared for His Son, but we must choose to let Him bring these things into our mind and heart. If we do, there will be no room for the old carnal things to come back and reside there. See Romans 8:31, 32.

1. We displace the old things of our former lives by coming into the Vine. Read John 15. Thus, abiding in Jesus (the Vine) we are able to bear the “fruit of the Spirit” listed in Gal. 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” There are nine traits mentioned in this text. Have you ever wondered why they were not called “fruits” (plural) instead of “fruit” (singular)? It is because “love” is the principle character trait, and all these other traits are a part of the fruit of Love. If we have true agape (self-disinterested) love in our hearts, then all the other components of love fall into place and are exercised. This fruitage of the Holy Spirit is essential if we are to be a part of this Bride, prepared for her Beloved Bridegroom.

2. Satan will do everything he can to prevent those who have this goal of being a part of the Bride of Christ from becoming prepared to meet Him when He returns to take her to be with Him. We read of this beautiful promise in John 14:2-3, “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” Jesus was referring to the Jewish custom when the bridegroom, after his espousal to his bride, returns home to prepare a place for them to live in after the Wedding, by building additional rooms onto his father’s house. If we are familiar with God’s Word, as our Lord Jesus was, then we will also be able to resist Satan in times of temptation, by saying, “IT IS WRITTEN” (Matt. 4:4-10). Our Lord also resisted Satan by meditating on the written Word and spending long hours in prayer with His Father. We need God’s Grace continually!

3. All during the time of her preparation, the future bride’s beauty should be becoming more obvious to those around her. As love permeates her heart and mind, it cannot help but show itself in the doing of good works on behalf of others. True love is totally unselfish. It gives without expectation of return. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal. 6:10). Love will be considerate of others and express itself in compassionate acts of kindness just as Jesus did before them. This is God’s purpose for the Bride of His Son, for we read in Eph. 2:10, “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” It is God who is the workman, we are but the instruments of His work, and any fruitage that we show forth is to His glory and honor alone. Once again, it is necessary to keep in mind that we must be loyal and obedient to Him whatever the cost, if He is to have His way in our lives. We are always free to choose: His way or our way. Let us always choose to willingly and joyfully desire His way!

4. We read in Eph. 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.” That we were called by God is by His grace or unmerited favor towards us alone. It is our faith in the redemption value of the shed blood of our Lord Jesus on the cross that makes it possible to answer the invitation to one day become the Bride of His Beloved Son. Yes, what we are today and what we will be tomorrow will always be by God’s grace, and through faith in His Son. It is important neverto forget that we deserve no credit for the changes in our lives. This humbling thought should make our love for God and our Heavenly Bridegroom most fervent.

5. “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10). In order for the Bride of Christ to be prepared, she too must suffer as did her Bridegroom. “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for Him” (Phil.1:29). Jesus suffered much persecution and rejection. He was called a wine-bibber and even a blasphemer of the Father He so dearly loved. Fault was found with Him in His choice of associations. He was hounded by those who were continually looking for an opportunity to bring false accusations against Him. For what purpose did Jesus have these experiences? Hebrews 5:8-9 answers this question for us. “Although He was a son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, having been perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.” Through all of our Lord’s suffering, he endured faithfully, persevering to the end of life.

6. If we have similar experiences, we can find comfort in Jesus’ words in Matt. 5:10-12: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.“ Yes, there is a price to be paid for being faithful and learning obedience as a new creature in Christ, but how little it is compared to the glory to be given one day to the Bride.

7. We read of the marriage of the Bridegroom and Bride in Rev. 19:6-8: “Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints”). When Jesus returns for His Bride, it will be a glorious day. 1 John 3:2 says, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” What a day that will be! 1 Thes. 4:16-17 describes this wonderful event: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” Are you ready for that day?

8. Glory, honor, and immortality, eternal life - Romans 2:7
The Crown of life - Revelation 2:10
The hidden manna; a white stone with a new name - Rev.2:17
Authority over the nations and the Morning Star - Rev. 2:26-29
Be made a pillar in the temple of God - Revelation 3:12
Sit with Jesus on His throne - Revelation 3:21
Will Judge the world and angels - 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3

9. What is this Bride class to do after the marriage to her Bridegroom? She will have the privilege, with Him, to “bless all the families of the earth.” This is the promise spoken to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-2) pertaining to his seed which Gal. 3:16 tells us is Christ. All those who have the same faith that Abraham possessed, Gal. 3:29 tells us, will participate in that promise because we are joint-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). We read of this also in Rev. 22:17: “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” The Bridegroom and His Bride have before them the wonderful and awesome task of bringing the world of mankind back into harmony with God and His principles of righteousness. This will happen after mankind is resurrected, in the coming earthly Kingdom for which Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!” Jesus will rule as King of Kings in that day with His Bride. 1 Corinthians 15:25-27 tells us: “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he ‘has put everything under his feet.’ Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God Himself, who put everything under Christ.”

10. The call of God to seek the Bride for His Son is still open to those who are willing to “deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Him” (Jesus). If you become His devoted disciple, the Holy Spirit will give power from on high so that you can successfully overcome. Then you will be of those mentioned in Rev. 14:4: “These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb.” These, who are faithful in this life, will become the Bride of Christ with all its unimagined joy along with “glory, honor and immortality!” Just try to imagine yourself in the wonderful scene of 1 John 3:2 described by the Apostle John: “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” Try as we might, this will be beyond our wildest imagination. This is the great desire that our great Bridegroom has for each member of His Bride. Let us never forget that this is part of the Heavenly Father’s Plan and the praise and glory are His and His Son’s if we are successful in our quest to be of the Bride of Christ Jesus who is also our Lord and Savior.