Qualities of the Bride of Christ
One thing that many preachers today fail to teach their members, especially those in the Born Again groups, is the fact that there are different kinds and different levels of relationships that a Christian may have with the Lord Jesus Christ.First, between Christians and the Lord Jesus Christ, there exists a lord-servant relationship. Christ is our lord or master, and we, Christians, are His servants.
John 13:16 (KJV) says,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
A servant is not greater than his lord, or master. That being the case, he is expected to follow his lord’s every command, without any question. As servants of Christ, we must submit ourselves to the authority of our Lord and we should render Him our utmost obedience.
As it is written in Luke 9:23 (KJV),
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
We also have to be ready to deny ourselves and endure all hardships that go with fulfilling our tasks and obligations. Our primary obligation is not doing what we want but doing what the Lord wants us to do. And once we are found and proven to be faithful and obedient servants, our relationship with Christ could progress to a higher level.
John 15:15 (KJV) says,
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
He may regard us as His friends, and not servants anymore, like what the apostles and the early Christians experienced. Time came when Christ no longer treated them as servants but as friends. And this could happen to us, too. The lord-servant relationship could eventually turn into friendship, which is a higher and better kind of a relationship.
Aside from being a friend, the Lord Jesus Christ can also be an older brother to Christians.
As it is written in Romans 8:29 (KJV),
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
As the firstborn among many brethren, He can be regarded as the older brother of Christians.
Yet, still, there is another kind of relationship which is much greater and much deeper than the ones we have mentioned — we can be His fiancée.
All of us Christians can consider ourselves as engaged to be married to Christ. We are His fiancée; He is our fiancé. This is a relationship that we need to protect and cherish.
2 Corinthians 11:2 (KJV) says,
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
At present, the Church is in the process of preparing for the wedding which will take place in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 19:7, KJV). This is going to be a meticulous preparation because as the would-be bride of Christ, Christians must be presented to the groom, the Lord Jesus Christ, like a chaste virgin.
How is that possible?
Ephesians 5:26-27 (KJV) says,
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
While the wedding day is yet to come, the Church is being cleansed and sanctified. That is, the brethren in the Church are continuously being taught the doctrines of Christ, as well as the rightful way of living and conducting themselves as Christians. And this cleansing and sanctification process begins in baptism. After accepting the holy baptism, we are expected to start leading a new life — a kind of life that is lived in accordance with the laws and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:4 (KJV) says,
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
We will cease to be what we used to be: If we were former evildoers, we will now stop doing evil things; if we used to be indulged in vices, we ought to get them out of our system abruptly; and if we used to be inconsiderate, selfish, and disrespectful even to the members of our own family, now we need to nurture the virtues of selflessness, compassion, magnanimity, and love.
This cleansing and sanctification process prepares Christians for a closer relationship with Christ. And that is to be in union with Him. We will be of one body with Him.
Ephesians 5:30-32 (KJV) says,
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
It will reach a point that we will be one with Christ, the same way that Adam and Eve were one when they became husband and wife. But unlike Adam and Eve who had a union of the flesh, the Church and Christ will have a union of the spirit.
As it is written in 1 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV),
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Those who have fellowship with Christ are one with Him in spirit, in the flesh, and in everything.
But while awaiting for that union in heaven, we Christians must continue working on our cleansing and sanctification until we become spotless, wrinkle-free, holy, and without blemish. — These are the qualities of the bride with whom Christ is to be wedded — the Church.
This was never taught to us when i was in born again movement. Thanks be to God for allowing me to see the truth in MCGI. 😍 #ForeverGratefulToGod
ReplyDeleteA million thanks to God!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting Blog!
ReplyDeleteTo God be the Glory!
The happiness of the people around us should not be our first priority but what can make Jesus Christ happy. If we do good things to our family, friends and loved ones and if we help the needy without showing and letting other people know it, we do it to God. As his servants we should carry our cross with peace, hope, faith and do it with love. Thanks be to God! and God bless Bro.Eli and Bro Daniel.
ReplyDeleteThis is very beautiful. Thanks be to God.
ReplyDeleteAside from being a friend,..
ReplyDelete"Thanks be to God!"
Thanks be to God for this wonderful wisdom that we need to appreciate if we want to follow Christ we need to deny himself.
ReplyDeleteThe qualities of the Church to which Our Lord Jesus Christ is to be wedded must be: sanctified, holy, spotless, and without blemish. Thanks be to God!
ReplyDeleteThanks Be To God for another Wisdom came from the Servant of God!!!💖💖💖
ReplyDeleteI pray that people will realize that need for Christ and will be transformed from darkness to light. The Holy Scripture is a love letter of God to us. We need to know what God says so that we can truly live according to His will and prepare ourselves to be the Bride of Christ.
ReplyDeleteVery very worth reading and essential to our salvation.Thanking GOD of His goodness and lovingkindness.To God be the Glory.......
ReplyDeleteAmen 🤍
ReplyDeletePure relationship is with Christ Jesus.💜💜
ReplyDeletethanks be to God
ReplyDeleteAmen, TBTG! TGBTG! forever!
ReplyDeleteSpiritual beautiful bride 😊
ReplyDelete"At present, the Church is in the process of preparing for the wedding which will take place in the New Jerusalem. This is going to be a meticulous preparation because as the would-be bride of Christ, Christians must be presented to the groom, the Lord Jesus Christ, like a chaste virgin."
ReplyDelete