Who is the Bride of Christ? 7 Characteristics
The Bible describes Jesus as the bridegroom, and the Church as his bride. But is every professing Christian the Bride of Christ?
“He that hath the bride is the bridegroom” Prophet John referring to Jesus in John 3:29
God is also referred to severally in the Old Testament as the husband of his chosen people:
“For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” Isaiah 62:5
“For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.” Isaiah 54:5
“So I will betroth you (take you to be my wife) to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in loving devotion and compassion.” Hosea 2:19
7 Characteristics of the Bride of Christ
In this article, we are going to look at bible passages in the New Testament where the church is called the Bride or wife of Christ. We will also look at 7 characteristics of the bride revealed in these passages of scripture.
1. Bride of Christ is holy and without blemish
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 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. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 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.” Ephesians 5:22-28
The relationship between Christ and his Bride, the Church, is likened to the relationship between a man and his wife. It is a great mystery and is one of the reasons why God honors marriage and calls us to honor it as well. Apostle Paul in the passage above says that the husband must love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. He did this to sanctify and cleanse her with the washing by his word.
The ultimate goal of Christ is to present the church (his bride) to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle in her garment, meaning holy and without blemish. The church here refers to all of us collectively as the body of Christ. The church can also refer to us individually because the whole is made up of its members.
The bride of Christ is subject to and seeks to please Christ her bridegroom in all matters. The bride is holy and without blemish.
2. The Bride of Christ is one with the Lord
“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. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:31-32
Just as a man becomes one with his wife when they are joined together in marriage, the bride of Christ is also one with the Lord in the union of salvation. The covenant of salvation is likened to marriage. The bride and Christ are now one flesh. Jesus takes his covenant of union to his bride seriously, and his bride should too. “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” 1 Corinthians 6:17
The implications of this oneness are immense. It means that all the Lord has is ours as his bride. It also means that the Lord will take care of us as a human husband likewise is commanded to care for his wife.
3. The Bride of Christ shall be married to him in the marriage of the Lamb
“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Revelation 19:6-8
The marriage of the lamb was shown to the Apostle John in his revelation. This is the actual wedding celebration God has prepared for Jesus and his bride, the church, on the final day. Jesus referred to it when he took the Last Supper with his disciples. He said, “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s Kingdom (Matthew 26:29 ).”
I believe Jesus was referring to the coming marriage supper of the lamb. What a glorious day that will be. Apostle John mentioned that Jesus’ wife had made herself ready. She was arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, which is the righteousness of the saints. The Lord’s bride is righteous.
4. The Bride of Christ is wise and filled with the Holy Spirit
“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him…And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” Matthew 25:1-6, 10-12
In the parable of the 10 virgins, Jesus likened all professing believers to 10 virgins. He said that five were wise and five were foolish. When the bridegroom came the five foolish virgins were locked out of the marriage feast. The reason was that they did not have oil in their lamps, whereas the wise did. The oil here represents the Holy Spirit.
Every true follower of Christ should be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our teacher that helps us obey and please Jesus. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is the seal of God upon his chosen ones (Ephesians 1:13). We are also told that those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). And we know we have the Holy Spirit because we do what pleases the Lord. When filled with him we produce his fruit of righteousness in us (Galatians 5:22-23).
5. The Bride of Christ is faithful and devoted to him only
“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.” 2 Corinthians 11:2
Apostle Paul told the Corinthian church that he had espoused them as a chaste virgin to one husband. He mentioned this because the Corinthians had been entertaining false preachers who were preaching a false Jesus to them. Just as Paul said that he was jealous over them with godly jealousy, so does the bible tell us that God is a jealous God. His name is Jealous (Exodus 34:14). Jesus cannot share his bride with another. His wife must be devoted to him and him only.
Paul in another passage terms adulterous those who want to be friends with the world and friends of Christ at the same time. “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God.” (James 4:4)
The true bride of Christ will be faithful to him as a true wife is faithful to her husband.
6. The Bride of Christ looks forward to the return of Christ, her bridegroom
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17
The bride of Christ longs for her bridegroom’s return. She longs for the day Christ shall finally come to get her and looks forward to the marriage supper of the lamb. What bride, even earthly, does not long for her bridegroom when physically separated from him? You can know you are the bride of Christ because you will long for Jesus to return. “The Spirit and the bride say, Come!”
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20
7. The Bride of Christ is the New Jerusalem
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband…And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” Revelation 21:2,9,10
The Apostle John was shown the new Jerusalem, the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. The angel that showed that great city to him, called city the bride, the Lamb’s wife. I believe this is a beautiful mystery that reveals that the new Jerusalem and the bride of Christ are one. I believe that the glory and beauty of the new Jerusalem is the glory and beauty of the Lord’s bride/wife.
Would you like to be the bride of Christ?
The way to become the bride of Christ is to accept Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for your sins and believe in him as your Lord and Savior. When you do this Jesus becomes one with you and his life becomes yours. Apostle John said, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” 1 John 4:15
Receive him today! Repent of your sins, and ask him to fill you with the Holy Spirit.
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