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- The Nature of
Jesus' Church - His Beautiful Bride
Wellington H. Smith, Jr. (ISBS Student Writer)
Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines nature
as: "The essential qualities or characteristics by which
something is recognized." The fact that Israel was God's
bride under the Old Testament is clearly taught in Jeremiah 3:14.
God's intention for Israel was that she should, 1) glorify God
among the nations, and 2) be a channel of blessing to every nation.
It was through the "qualities or characteristics" of
Israel that God would be recognized. However, Israel was an unfaithful
bride. In her unfaithfulness, she committed two basic sins; "For
my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the
fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken
cisterns, that can hold no water" (Jer. 2:13). Israel forsook
God and worshipped idols. Nevertheless, God pleaded with His bride
to repent:
"Go and proclaim these words toward the north,
and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and
I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful,
saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge
thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy
God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every
green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. Turn,
O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto
you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and
I will bring you to Zion" (Jer. 3:12-14 KJV).
Israel rejected the mercy of God.
There came a time though when the Jews were free
to remarry. The Jews, so long as the law of Moses was in existence
was married to that law as their husband. Notice Paul's argument
in Romans 7:1-4. If during its continuation they were to be married
to another law, they would have been guilty of adultery. However,
if the first law were blotted out, or done away, then they are
loosed from that law and are not adulterers, though they be married
to another law. Paul therefore said, "Wherefore, my brethren,
ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that
ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from
the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God" (Rom.
7:4). They were married to whom? Unto "him," but what
"him?" The answer is, "even to him who is raised
from the dead." Thus a marriage was consummated between Christ
and His church at His resurrection from the dead. What is the
objective of this marriage? Paul teaches them they are married
unto Him who is raised from the dead. Paul affirms one of the
purposes of this marriage is "that we should bring forth
fruit unto God."
The church of Christ, having become married to
Christ, has the right to take upon herself the name of the husband.
Also, the children who result from this union have the right to
take on the name of the husband. The children formed in this union
have become beneficiaries of the Son of God, and are members of
the body (Eph. 5:20). It is our highest privilege to become and
to be members of the body of Christ. It is a great honor to be
a part of the beautiful bride of Christ.
Christ and His Bride
All need to know and appreciate the very close
relationship, and the wonderful parallel between a husband and
a wife, and Christ and His church. Isaiah predicted that God's
people would have a new name, better than that of a son or daughter
a name that would suggest Divine unification (Isa. 56:5; 62:1,2;
65:15). In these verses we learn: 1) A new name was to be given
in God's house, one better than that of a son or daughter; 2)
The name was to be an everlasting name that would never change;
3) It was to be given to both Jew and Gentile; and, 4) It would
be a name given by God Himself. This new name was to be "Christian"
(Acts 11:26).
This new name would be given to any who would
become married to Christ through their obedience to the Gospel.
There is One Bride, thus there is One Church. The word "church"
comes from ekklhsia meaning the "called out." The church
is composed of those who have been "called out" of darkness
and into the light of Jesus Christ. Such a called out group of
people are called the church in whatever location they find themselves;
1) The church at Corinth (1 Cor. 1:2); 2) The church at Thessalonica
(1 Thess. 1:1); and, 3) The church at Galatia (Gal. 1:2).
There is only one church described in the New
Testament, as is seen in the following truths:
One: the church is the bride of Christ
John the baptizer said, "He that hath the
bride is the bridegroom" (John 3:29). Paul told the brethren
composing the church at Rome they had "become dead to the
law" and that they "should be married to another, even
him who is raised from the dead." To the church at Ephesus,
"For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ
is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body"
(Eph. 5:23). Thus we understand Christ is the husband and the
church is His bride. There is just one husband and there is just
one bride. Christ does not have more than one wife.
Two: Christ owns the church
According to Matthew 16:18 Jesus built one church.
"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon
this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it." He died for one church (Ephesians
5:25).
Three: the church is the body of Christ
The New Testament plainly teaches that the church
is the body of Christ:
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave
him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his
body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all (Eph. 1:22-23).
And he is the head of the body, the church: who
is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things
he might have the preeminence (Col. 1:18).
Ephesians 4:4 and 1 Corinthians 12:20 informs
us that there is one body, thus there is but one church.
Consider the Great Parallel Between Adam and Eve,
and Christ and His Church.
In the beginning God brought Adam into existence.
God made a helpmate for him. Adam was put to sleep, a rib taken,
and a woman made. Adam and Eve were then commanded to multiply,
replenishing the earth. Just as Eve was brought into existence
by the process just described, in later centuries, when the fullness
of time had come (Galatians 4:4), the church was formed. Just
as a deep sleep came over Adam, Jesus was crucified. While He
slept the sleep of death, a Roman soldier pierced the side of
our Lord and out came the blood that purchased the church. "Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church
of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts
20:28). "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with
corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation
received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious
blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot"
(1 Pet. 1:18,19 KJV).
Thus, the spiritual bride, the church, was purchased
by the blood of Christ, and brought into existence in like manner
as Eve, Adam's bride.
The Church, as the Bride of Christ, Must Be Pure
to Remain Beautiful.
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ
also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might
sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
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." (Eph. 5:25-27 KJV).
Every Christian, and therefore, the entire church
must "....adorn the doctrine of God our savior in all things"
(Tit. 2:10). Titus 2:1, "But speak thou the things which
become sound doctrine." The bride of Christ, the church,
must be kept beautiful. We must maintain proper priorities (Matt.
6:33). We must practice the highest moral standards (Jas. 4:4).
Preventative and corrective discipline must be practiced in the
home and in the church;
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left
to himself bringeth his mother to shame. When the wicked are multiplied,
transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.
Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give
delight unto thy soul (Prov. 29:15-17 KJV).
A man that is an heretick after the first and
second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted,
and sinneth, being condemned of himself (Titus 3:10,11 KJV).
We must train our children properly (Ephesians
6:1-4). Christians must be cooperative (1 Cor. 3:9). We must know,
teach and defend sound doctrine (Galatians 1:6-9). The bride must
remember her wedding day and ever be faithful to it. "Can
a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people
have forgotten me days without number" (Jer. 2:32). The church
is the beautiful bride of Christ.