By

Shelby G. Floyd

 

Good morning church. We thank God for a beautiful fall and refreshing rain last night. It is good to live in Indiana and enjoy this beautiful time of the year! I am thankful Jim has recuperated from his illness and is able to lead the singing again.

About three weeks ago I spoke to you on the subject “Can a Bride Forget Her Attire?” (Jeremiah 2:32). Today, I am speaking on “The Bride of Christ.” Someone might say, “I didn’t know Christ was married!” I believe you will know that Christ is married after this lesson today. I have made a fresh study on the subject, and I have learned a lot about this topic. The Bride of Christ is actually a metaphor in figurative language with Christ as the bridegroom and the church pictured as the bride.

OUTLINE OF A BIBLICAL WEDDING

 

Our weddings today follow to some extent the biblical weddings. But they were more expanded than our weddings today. Here is a brief schedule of how weddings were carried out in the days of Jesus Christ:

1. The fathers of the bridegroom and bride would come together and they would plan the wedding. This involved when it would take place and everything that would happen. So they would produce an outline of the wedding.

2. Next, the bridegroom would agree to pay the “bride price,” or bride gift! (cf. Genesis 24:12). Jacob agreed with his uncle Laban to work seven years for his daughter Rachel. He did so, and then Laban gave him her not so pretty sister! Paul told the Corinthians that the church was bought at a price, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). The church was purchased with the blood of Christ – the bride price!

3. Then the groom and bride would sign the marriage covenant or contract. This was called the betrothal, or as we would call it today, “the engagement.” (Compare Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24:58-60).

4. But after the betrothal they did not come together. The groom would depart to his father’s house to prepare a home for his bride. Sometimes it would be a year or more before they came together. That is exactly what the bridegroom of the church did. He ascended to heaven and the angel said he would come back to take his bride home. (Compare Acts 1:9-10). That is the way it will happen when Jesus comes to take his bride to the heavenly home.

5. While Jesus the bridegroom is a way, his friends wait to escort him to the new home. But they must keep their lamps shining and not let them go out. (Compare Matthew 25:5-6). The bridegroom will come at a time when he is least expected!

6. Suddenly, the groom returns for his bride and escorts her to their new house. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

7. And then finally, there is a great celebration called, “the marriage supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:7-9). So those are the steps in biblical weddings and in the wedding of Christ and the church!

CHRIST IS THE BRIDEGROOM

 

Jesus was questioned about fasting one time. They asked him why the disciples of John and the Pharisees fasted, but his disciples did not fast. Then Jesus gave them his answer. He asked them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them?” (Mark 2:18-19). In Matthew’s account he says almost the same thing: “Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast” (Matthew 9:14-15). Pay attention to the words, “the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them.”

John the Baptist was the friend of the bridegroom Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled” (John 3:29). So John the Baptist came on the scene before Christ. And he was very happy that he was the friend of the bridegroom. And he rejoiced among the people. He prepared and pointed the people to the bridegroom!
So while the bridegroom was with them, the people rejoiced in eating, feasting, and drinking with Christ. “Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days” (Luke 5:33-35)? The emphasis is that the bridegroom will be taken away from them. And then they will be able to fast because they are sad!

JOHN THE BAPTIST – THE FRIEND OF THE BRIDEGROOM

 

 

That brings us to the fact that John the Baptist was the friend of the bridegroom. And today we would call that person “the best man.” So John was the best man to the groom Jesus Christ. “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled” (John 3:29). I must decrease! He must increase! So the work of John the Baptist was to point people to Christ the bridegroom! And then when his work was done he was to decrease. And he did decrease. Herod had his head cut off and delivered on a platter! But John did a good job pointing the people to Christ!

Now is it right for the church to accept Christ in marriage and tell him we are honored to be his wife, to love him, and serve him? But then say to him, that we will wear the name of the best man, John the Baptist! Yet, that is what a lot of churches have done through history. We love Christ, we honor Christ, but we are going to wear the name of John the Baptist! That is not good.

It is encouraging that some churches today that have honored John are dropping that denominational name from their church signs. Some churches now have a sign that says, “the Pine Valley church” etc. It is a good thing that is happening and I would encourage churches to get rid of the denominational names, documents, centralized church governing bodies, and just take the Bible alone as the guide to heaven!

Let me illustrate this concept. Let us suppose that Jimmy Jones married Sally Smith. Billy Beck is at the wedding as the best man or friend of the bridegroom. After the wedding Sally Smith says to Jimmy Jones, “I love you dearly, but I will wear the name of Billy Beck. I will be known as Sally Beck.” Jimmy Jones says I will not have it! Scratch out my name and add Billy Beck. We are done with this marriage! No one would put up with such foolishness!

And what do you think if the bride of Christ wears some name that does not honor the bridegroom Christ? The Bible teaches that the church – the bride of Christ should wear the name that honors him! “Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you” ( Romans 16:16). Why should the church honor Christ and wear his name? Because Christ is married to the church!

CHRIST IS MARRIED TO THE CHURCH

 

To the church at Rome, Paul laid down the principle of marriage according to the Bible. First, the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives. “Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives” (Romans 7:1).

Second, the law binds a woman (wife) to her husband as long as he lives. “For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband” (Romans 7:2). When the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband! Death breaks that law.

Third, if the woman (wife) marries another man while her husband lives, she will be called an adulteress! But if her husband dies, she is no adulteress, even if she is married to another man. (Romans 7:3).

Fourth, therefore the death of Jesus put the old law to death. We are now married to Christ and the new law! We are married to him who was raised from the dead to bring forth fruit to God. “Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God” (Romans 7:4).

This section of Romans teaches that God’s people are dead to the old law of Moses! Why? Because that law is dead and was nailed to the cross of Calvary: “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). Now we are married to another, even Jesus Christ. For the church is the bride of Christ!

THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

 

 

In the book of Ephesians, Paul teaches that the church is the bride of Christ. He expounds this concept in several statements:

1. The husband—Christ, is the head of the wife—the church (Ephesians 5:23, See also 1 Corinthians 11:3).

2. The church is subject to Christ, just like a wife is subject to her husband (Ephesians 5:24).

3. The church is loved by Christ because he gave up himself for her! (Ephesians 5:25, Colossians 3:19).

4. The church was cleansed and sanctified by the washing of water. This refers to water baptism. Ephesians 5:26. For instance Paul was told to rise and wash away his sins before he became a Christian (Acts 22:16).

5. Jesus presented his glorious church—wife to himself without spot or blemish! (Ephesians 5:27, Colossians 1:22, Song of Solomon 4:7). That is the way the church will be presented to Christ.

6. Christ loved his wife, the church, as his own body that he gave up on the cross for her. (Ephesians 5:28).

7. Christ nourishes and cherishes his bride the church. (Ephesians 5:29).

8. The bride of Christ – the church of Christ is composed of the members of his spiritual body the church. (Ephesians 5:30).

9. The fact that the church is the bride of Christ is a great mystery (Ephesians 5:32). Marriage itself is a great mystery. We unfold this mystery in Genesis 1-3 and read how the origin of marriage came about. The marriage of Christ to the church is a great mystery that has been revealed to us in the Scriptures.

CHRIST PREPARES A HOME FOR HIS BRIDE

 

At the beginning of this lesson, I pointed out that the groom would leave the bride after signing the marriage covenant. He would go to his Father’s house to prepare a home for his bride. And Jesus promised then he would bring them to live with him forever!
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

1. They were not to be troubled in their heart.

2. They were to have faith in the Father and the Son.

3. There would be many mansions – suites, rooms in his father’s house!

4. He was going to prepare a place for them.

5. He would come again and receive them to be with him.

6. They would all be together in the same place.

7. They knew where and the way to heaven. But in case they had forgotten, he said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Jesus said that he would prepare a place for his bride—the church! This place is called a mansion, a suite, many rooms etc. We can only gain heaven through our Lord Jesus Christ! Christ is coming back to get his bride the church. The question is, are we going to be prepared to go with him to the place he has prepared? The truth is that some will and some will not be ready to go with him.

Do you remember the story about the ten virgins? Five were wise and five were foolish. And they were all waiting for the bridegroom. Five were wise and they realized it was uncertain when he would appear. So they bought extra oil for their lamps in case he delayed his arrival. But the foolish did not prepare. When he came their lamps went dark and they were left out. It will be like that when Christ comes again for his bride. Some will be taken and some will be left. We want everyone in this church to be ready for that notable day!

THE NEW JERUSALEM

 

In the book of Revelation, John the apostle saw the new Jerusalem and he wrote and described it in detail:

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said [b]to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:1-5).
The key word in this description of the bride’s home is “new!” The old will pass away! The old earth and old heaven will have passed away! They are replaced with a new heaven and new earth! There will be a “New Jerusalem” prepared “as a bride adorned for her husband.” We all love something new. The home of the Bride of Christ will always be NEW!

AN ANGEL SHOWS JOHN THE LAMB’S WIFE

 

Then one of the seven angels … came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal” (Revelation 21:9-11).

THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB

 

And we have a blessing pronounced upon all those who are ready to go and be with the bridegroom—our Lord Jesus Christ! “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife” (Revelation 19:7-9).

Now we are going to have a celebration—the marriage supper of the Lamb! That is usually one of the highlights of the wedding. Everyone rejoices while sharing a wedding meal together.

I remind all of us, that we the church make up the Bride of Christ! To the Corinthian church Paul wrote, “ Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:1-3).

From this we learn that Paul is worried about that church because some of them are falling short. They are not living up to what the Bride of Christ should be! Satan is crafty! He deceived Eve. The Christian life is simple when we follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Every congregation should beware of the devil. He is alive and on the job every day!

CHRIST IS COMING TO FETCH HIS BRIDE!

The apostles and prophets have betrothed the church to Christ forever. (Compare Hosea 2:19). Paul desires to present the bride of Christ perfect on the last day (Colossians 1:28). Christ is coming back to fetch his bride. May the church—the bride of Christ to be ready for that glorious day! *

Copyright © 2024 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

*Shelby G. Floyd delivered this sermon November 10, 2024, at the Heartland Church of Christ, 1693 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana 46142