The Bride
In the past couple of weeks I believe our Heavenly Father has begun to
share some insights with me about marriage and its holy and spiritual nature. I
have not until recently really fully understood what marriage was a symbol of. It
is my current understanding that marriage between a man and woman actually
is a physical representation of the Heavenly Father in His Kingdom. Married
people are an image or pattern that should reflect the triune Godhead. Marriage
is in fact a covenant or bond between three, Man ,woman and God.
We can start to understand this concept by looking to the Gospel of
Matthew and the book of Genesis. Consider these words of Yeshua (Jesus'
Aramaic name) Some Pharisees were testing Yeshua's knowledge of the Word in
order to catch Him in a mistake and they wanted first to know if He agreed with
the concept of divorce for any reason at all. (a strictly non biblical and rabbinic
doctrine)
Matthew 19:3-6 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and
saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
(4) And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which
made them at the beginning made them male and female, (5) And said,
For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his
wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? (6) Wherefore they are no more
twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man
put asunder.
Man is forbidden to break the divine and holy covenant of marriage as to
do so separates not only man from woman but also God from them both as they
are all three united as one. Jesus further goes on to say this about divorce:
Matthew 19:7-9 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give
a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? (8) He saith unto them,
Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away
your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. (9) And I say unto you,
Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall
marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put
away doth commit adultery.
There is only one place in scripture that allows this exception and that is if
the bride in question is found not to be a virgin. If she is found not to be a virgin
1
when her groom comes into her to consummate (seal) the marriage then she is
put to death for her betrayal! (See Deuteronomy 13:13-21) If she is supposed to
be a maiden and found not to be so then by default it is sure that she has
committed fornication with some man or men and so guilty. Under this
circumstance before a man ever fully enters into the covenant of marriage may a
man put away with God's approval his wife. Now a man may choose to redeem
his bride by covering her sin as did Joseph the husband of Mary (See Matthew
1:18-21)
God takes the institution of marriage extremely serious and expects those
that are called His children to do likewise!
Let's continue on by reading what is said in Genesis:
Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the
fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (27) So God created man in
his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female
created he them.
Genesis 2:21-24 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon
Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh
instead thereof; (22) And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from
man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. (23) And Adam
said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be
called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. (24) Therefore shall a
man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and
they shall be one flesh.
It is clear from the scriptures that God placed within man His divine image
and nature when God breathed into man the breath or spirit of life. (See Genesis
2:7) Man was created both male and female after the image of God. Remember
that man was first clay that was shaped by the hand of God and then the breath
or Spirit of God was breathed into his nostrils and man became a living soul .
This one man was made up of three parts. There was in Adam his wife Eve
and also the Holy Spirit of God so from this we get three parts. God, His Spirit
and His Word are all three one even as man and woman were once literally one
being (Adam) so too God the Father and God's Word (Seed or Son) were literally
2
as one with His Spirit. God the Father and Creator has sent out His Word (Son)
to accomplish His will which was to create the heavens and Earth and all that are
in them including mankind (See John 1:1-14). Just as God has sent His Word or
seed (Son) out that it would bear fruit when united with the bride (Church) so
too man sends his seed out through being united with woman that it might fulfill
God the Father's Commandment to be fruitful and multiply. We have this divine
picture of Father, Son and Holy Spirit reflected in a man and woman and their
children!
We also are like God in one other thing. Man is ordained by God to have
dominion over all the earth! Man's dominion must start first with his wife and
children before it can extend to all of the earth.
I pray you can understand this comparison of God's revealed nature that
man is imbued with. Again it is clear that man has three parts to his God given
divine nature just as God in whose image we are created does and Holy
matrimony between one man and one woman is a literal physical picture of the
divine nature of the triune nature of the one true God! God is one with us in our
physical marriage! We are also one with God by our acceptance of His Word
(Son) into our physical minds and hearts and so since His Word is spiritual we
also must receive His Holy Spirit as God the Father, His Son and His Spirit are
all set apart or Holy so too are we. Now some would say what of those that are
unmarried or have become divorced. You do not have to marry to be holy as you
can be set apart or holy and united with God spiritually through accepting His
Holy Word (Yeshua His only begotten Son) and thus automatically receive His
equally Holy Spirit. You can also simply choose to remain celibate as Yeshua
further states in Matthew's Gospel.
Matthew 19:10-12 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so
with his wife, it is not good to marry. (11) But he said unto them, All men
cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. (12) For there
are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and
there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be
eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of
heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.
If you are divorced then it is best you reconcile with your mate or remain
single if that is not possible. The only other way for you to remarry would be if
your former spouse has died then and only then are you free to marry again. You
could also have come to faith in Yeshua but your spouse has not. What then?
Paul speaks much on this subject in both natural and spiritual terms in Romans
7 as well as 1st Corinthians 7. Please read these chapters very carefully and with
much prayer that you might gain a much clearer understanding in the name of
3
Yeshua may you heed this request from me.
Let us continue on with Paul's writings found in Ephesians chapter 5 for a
greater and further understanding of who the Bride of Christ is now that we all
hopefully understand better the true divine nature and significance of marriage.
Please turn in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 5.
Ephesians 5:17-33 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what
the will of the Lord is. (18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is
excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart
to the Lord; (20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (21) Submitting yourselves
one to another in the fear of God. (22) Wives, submit yourselves unto
your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (23) 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. (24) Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the
wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (25) Husbands, love your
wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26)
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the
word, (27) 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. (28) So ought men to love their wives as their own
bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. (29) For no man ever yet
hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the
church: (30) For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his
bones. (31) 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. (32) This is
a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (33)
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as
himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
These verses tell us something very profound. Paul uses the comparison of
marriage to illustrate the special relationship between Yeshua and His body also
known as the Church. Let me remind you that the very first woman Eve came
from the body of the very first man Adam. Paul understood this and uses it to
show us what the will of God is.
There is a concept here in these verses I never fully understood until recently. It
is the concept of spiritual cleanliness. It seems here Paul gives us some insight.
4
We know that love fulfills the Law.
Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that
loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
In fulfilling the Law we show proof (spiritual fruit) that God's Word is in
us and it is this very Holy Word of God in us that makes us Holy and so clean
spiritually!
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto
you.
John 15:7-13 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask
what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (8) Herein is my Father
glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (9) As the
Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. (10) If
ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept
my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (11) These things have
I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy
might be full. (12) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as
I have loved you. (13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay
down his life for his friends.
Selfless giving of one's substance to others is what God calls love and is
what the Law is all about! If you have God's Word inside you then you have all of
Him which includes His Spirit for God is united or one and cannot be divided. It
is good that we study the Law so that we will be guided by it as was Yeshua and
kept from the deceptions of Satan (See Matthew and Luke 4). If we have God
inside of us we have His Word and His Spirit all of which washes us and makes
us clean or Holy (See Ephesians 5:26, John 15:3 again).
1st John 4:7-21 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and
every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (8) He that loveth
not knoweth not God; for God is love. (9) In this was manifested the love
of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the
5
world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we
loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation
(Payment) for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to
love one another. (12) No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one
another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. (13) Hereby
know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his
Spirit. (14) And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son
to be the Saviour of the world. (15) Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is
the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. (16) And we have
known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that
dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (17) Herein is our love
made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because
as he is, so are we in this world. (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect
love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not
made perfect in love. (19) We love him, because he first loved us. (20) If
a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth
not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath
not seen? (21) And this commandment have we from him, That he who
loveth God love his brother also.
Brothers and sisters we have clear evidence that God's love and His Word
and one in all aspects! God's name in fact is one with His nature and character
and if we are His children then we will be recognizably His children as we will be
reflections of His name, nature and character in all we say and do but most
especially in our marriages. Our marriages are a reflection of God united with
man... or not!
If there is controversy ongoing in your marriage it is because one or both
of you are not walking as Yeshua walked. If your children do not behave in the
manner that they should being obedient and subject to you it is because you
have failed to be the godly parents and example to them you were meant to be.
Now if any of you feel any conviction at this point believe me when I say I feel it
6
as much if not more. I want you all to know that I have been out of line with the
will of God but now thankfully He has brought me to the top of His Holy
mountain that I might see and understand the truth of His Word and receive the
holy anointing to be the husband, father and man He always meant me to be. I
now understand what great value repentance has in that recognizing ones faults,
confessing them in your heart and with your mouth will bring about forgiveness
from the LORD our God and Heavenly Father. Repentance makes us clean and
without spot or blemish! Praise Yahweh!
No matter what all we have to do is simply acknowledge that we are
sinners turn from saying and doing what is wrong in the sight of God and He will
purge us from our sin debts and wipe the slate clean once and for all. The Lord
speaking through His prophet Ezekiel has this to say.
Ezekiel 18:21-22 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath
committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right,
he shall surely live, he shall not die. (22) All his transgressions that he
hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his
righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
Let's put things together and understand just who the bride is and how she
has become the bride.
Many preachers speak about the bride of Christ and many more will say it is
their church or denomination that is the biblical bride of Christ. Is there any
truth in what they are saying? For one thing all churches cannot be the bride
since there is only one bride. I at one time was a member of a denomination
called 'The Church of God of Prophecy' that still maintains that it is the bride
exclusive of all other church denominations. This is a typical attitude found
throughout the religious world. Everyone believes that their faith is the only true
faith. Their doctrines the only true doctrines. Muslims, Jews, Christians and
many others all believe that they have the all the truth.
Let's look at what the Bible has to say about the bride. The concept of a bride
being married to God is only one way in which God shows human minds all
about relationship. There are other examples to be found in scripture. An
example is found in Exodus 4:22 where God calls the people of Israel
(descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) MY SON. In Jeremiah 31:32 we read
where God calls Israel His bride by saying that He was a husband to Israel.
God relates to man by using common examples of family relationship. God
7
is our father so we are His sons and daughters. God is our husband so we are His
bride. All these and other examples are a way God chooses to explain the
relationship He desires and expects to have with man.
What are the characteristics of the bride of Christ? She is to be:
1. Without spot or blemish (Ephesians 5:27) = virgin = one that has repented
= one who has made herself ready for her bridegroom.
2. She willingly submits to the groom and accepts His seed or God's Word
within her body.
3. The seed = The Word of God = The Laws and Commandments (Luke 8:11)
4. The Seed or Word of God within bears fruit because the Law or Word is
spiritual (Romans 7:14, see also John 15)
All this and more is the simple truth about God and His desired
relationship with mankind. Through the headship of His Son who is the express
or exact image of the Father (Hebrews 1) we as His willing and pure bride will
become one with Him in Spiritual matrimony for all eternity! We, united and
holy, will bear much fruit because His Spirit and Word are inside us just as a
bride willingly and loving accepts her husbands seed will conceive and bear him
children so too will we bear spiritual fruit as His spiritual bride when we become
one with His Word or Son Yeshua who Himself is the example we are to follow
(He is the Head or Groom of the bride). Yeshua says of Himself that He is the
way, the truth and the life (John 14:6) so to be one with Him is to be as He is an
exact image of God.
Who is the bride? She is everyone that has every heard and received the
Word of God willingly or with a circumcised heart! She has made herself through
humbling herself and repentance from sins a virgin or without spot or blemish!
Thus she has made herself ready for the groom Yeshua our Messiah the Son of
the everlasting God and our Father Yahweh!
Let us pray together and for one another that the Heavenly Father will
reveal to each of us areas in our lives where we are unclean through lack of
repentance that we might be of the bride ready for the groom when He returns.
If we are prideful may it be that He teaches us to be humble. If we are
resentful and unforgiving of others especially our spouses may He teach us to
forgive even as we ourselves are forgiven for Yeshua our bridegroom's sake. Let
us all come together in the unity of the faith that is contained exclusively in the
bond of Heavenly matrimony we have in and with Yeshua our Lord and
redeemer who has taken away our reproach through the gift of His love towards
us.
8
Finally I'll close with a repeat of these Holy Spirit inspired words of Paul.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and
gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word, (27) 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. (28) So ought men to love their
wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
9