The Bride of Christ
A Glorious Church Without Spot or Wrinkle
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The Bride of Christ
Narrated by:
Virtual Voice
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Narrated by:
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Virtual Voice
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By:
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Don Pirozok
This title uses virtual voice narration
Virtual voice is computer-generated narration for audiobooks.
About this listen
The foundation of this truth is laid in Ephesians 5:25-27, which states, "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." Christ’s love for the Church is sacrificial, purifying, and perfecting. He laid down His life for her so that she might be made holy and prepared for the day of union with Him. This preparation is an ongoing process, as believers are sanctified through the Word and the work of the Holy Spirit.
The concept of the Church as the Bride is rooted in the Old Testament, where Israel was often depicted as the wife of God. Isaiah 54:5 declares, "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." This imagery signifies the deep covenantal bond between God and His people. However, Israel’s unfaithfulness led to judgment, as seen in passages like Jeremiah 3:20: "Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord." The failure of Israel as an unfaithful wife foreshadowed the need for a new covenant, fulfilled in the Church.
The Church, unlike Israel, is called to be a faithful bride, fully devoted to Christ. This devotion is seen in Revelation 19:7-8: "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." The marriage supper of the Lamb signifies the culmination of God’s plan, where the Church is fully prepared and joined with Christ in eternal glory. The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of the saints, showing that the bride must be clothed in holiness.
This preparation requires purity, as emphasized in 2 Corinthians 11:2: "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." The Church is betrothed to Christ, and this betrothal demands faithfulness. Just as a bride prepares herself for her wedding day, the Church must live in righteousness, keeping herself unspotted from the world. James 1:27 exhorts, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 further illustrates the necessity of readiness. Jesus describes ten virgins awaiting the bridegroom, but only five had oil in their lamps when He arrived. The oil represents the Holy Spirit, signifying that only those who are filled and prepared will enter the wedding feast. Matthew 25:10 states, "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." This warning underscores the need for continual vigilance and spiritual preparation.
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