The Beautiful Bride of Christ
Oh the beautiful things in life that captures our attention and arrests our conscience and seemingly calm our anxieties. Like the beauty of a wife and the benefits of relationships and intimacy, which catapults one into the next world, are totally amazing. The blessings of a husband who is strong and courageous against the foes of the world, which attempt to take down the family in any way. How about the bonus of children who seek to obey when they’re asked to do this or that? The church is definitely the beautiful bride of Christ and we should look at her in that manner as we praise God for His bountiful care, comfort and concern.
Who is the beautiful bride of Christ? She is the fullness of Christ who fills all in all (Eph. 1.22-23). When we see the church, we should see Christ as well. Just as Christ went about doing good, we should go about doing good as well, thus bringing glory to God (Acts 10.38). It is for this purpose we have been created in Christ Jesus, to do good works (Eph. 2.8-10). What an honor to know when we’re doing the will of God, we are then showing forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2.5-8). So the bride is the fullness of Christ that fills all in all.
How is the beautiful bride of Christ organized? She is organized as followed. God is supreme and over all, including Christ (1 Cor. 11.1). God made Christ to be the head of the church, which is his bride, and for this reason she would be nourished and cared for by Him (Eph. 5.21ff). She is to have elders and deacons to oversee and serve her needs, physically and spiritually. She is to be taught by an evangelist with the word of truth, which is the gospel of our salvation (Eph. 4.11-16; Eph. 1.13). Elders are suppose to be in every congregation, if qualified men are present according to the Holy Spirit (Acts. 14.23; Titus 1.5). The elders are responsible for feeding, watching over, attending to and building her up in the most holy faith. What a great responsibility to uphold and stay on top of. The deacons are to perform the physical work for the church and make sure the elders are free to give great attention to the flock. Finally the evangelist is to preach the word, serve the congregation, warn the bride on how to live and at the same time be an example to the believers (1 Tim. 4.12-16).
What is the message of the beautiful bride of Christ? Her message is like none other on the face of the earth. For her message is that of love, hope, grace, forgiveness, love, mercy, wrath, judgment, destruction, repentance and redemption. Paul said the message of the cross is foolishness to those who perishing but to those who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Tim. 1.5; 1 John 5.3; 1 Cor. 1.18). The message has redemptive power because it can transform sinners into saints and the lost into being saved (Acts 2.41-47). It is this message that is exclusive to the church of Christ, for no other entity preaches the gospel in it’s fullest like the church of our Lord. No other church can claim to be the bride, she is the one who carries the Lord’s name and is solely identified with Him (Rom. 16.16). She has a message of eternal life that can only be attained through Christ and His righteousness (John 14.6). The message has at the very core, the virgin conception, the birth of Jesus, His life and scourging, His death, resurrection and very appearance (1 Cor. 15.1-8). This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is definitely a message of salvation through sanctification and belief in the truth (2 Thess. 2.13). Only the message of the cross is tolerated by the God of heaven and is truly the teachings of the bride of Christ.
What is the destination of the beautiful bride of Christ? The home of the bride is where God is. When Jesus returns to get her, she will be that bride who is without spot or wrinkle or any such thing (Eph. 5.27). The church will meet the Lord in the air and the Lord will give the kingdom back to the Father and there worship and serve Him for eternity (1 Thess. 4.11-16; 1 Cor. 15.24). You see brethren, after the bride has readied herself through discipline and determination through the righteousness of Christ, she’ll be ready to live with the Lord forever. So, this is our time to ready ourselves in the flesh as we live in the Spirit. May the Lord always bless us according to His will and way. THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDE OF CHRIST!
Article written by Mike Bonner