Here Comes the Bride
TEXT: Ephesians 5:25-27
INTRODUCTION:
When I was in the 6th grade, I had a Catholic girl friend, and being curious, I decided to find out what Catholics believed. I checked out a book from the school library and read it and discovered that there were a lot of differences in our beliefs.
One thing that caught my eye and which I couldn’t quite figure out at that time was the information regarding nuns. The book said that nuns were married to Jesus Christ and even wore a type of wedding ring after taking their final vows to signify that they were taken.
Since that time I’ve noticed that the issue of nuns being married to Christ is a popular twist for TV and movie plots. How many times have I seen lovely nuns on TV or the movie screen who are torn between loyalty to Christ and the love of a handsome man. (I might add that they usually choose the man in the end.)
At that time, as a 6th grader, I thought it was rather unusual for Christ to have so many wives. Surely it must have made Christ into a polygamist for so many women to wear his ring and claim to be his wife.
Over the years, Bible study has revealed something, which casts a shadow of doubt on the whole matter of nuns being married to Christ. According to the scriptures, Christ has only one bride. This bride is HIS Church ---- HIS WHOLE CHURCH.
This means that you and I have just as much claim to being the Bride of Christ as any Catholic nun. Why? Because the Church is the Bride of Christ.
In II Corinthians 11:2, Paul is speaking to the Corinthian church and he says:
“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.”
There are some things about the relationship of the church to Christ, which could be paralleled in a man’s relationship to his wife. Ephesians 5 talks about this similarity. There are also similarities between a normal wedding ceremony and Christ’s wedding to the Church.
We will examine 3 areas where normal weddings are similar to Christ and his church. These are:
I. The Wedding Gown
II. The Wedding Ring
III. The Wedding Vows
I. THE WEDDING GOWN
When a girl starts thinking about marriage and her wedding ceremony, her thoughts turn first to how she will look in her beautiful wedding gown. Let’s face it, the wedding day is the brides day to shine.
ILLUSTRATION:
When I was a janitor at O.B.C. there were two or three times I had the opportunity to clean the floors in the girls dorms. One thing that astounded me as I went from room to room was the large pin-up pictures and posters of brides on the walls. Some of these girls had pictures taken from “BRIDE” magazine all over their walls. I might add that some of these girls didn’t even have boy friends yet.
It didn’t seem to matter whether marriage was imminent or not, the idea of being a bride and wearing a beautiful white gown with a veil was the biggest dream on some of these girl’s minds.
The Bride of Christ will wear a gown of pure white on that wedding day, too. Revelation 19: 7-8 says:
“Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife has 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 the saints.”
We all know that the wearing of white signifies something. If a bride is a pure virgin, she wears white. Most brides who have been married before customarily wear some color other than white. As we look at the church today, some people are going to be inclined to wonder how the church can get away with wearing white. As we look at the horrible things that have been done in the name of the church (such as the Spanish Inquisition and the Crusades in the middle ages) we might tend to think that red would be a more appropriate color.
It would be wise to point out two important facts here:
First: NOT everyone who claims to be a part of the Church (The Bride of Christ) is really a part of Christ’s church.
Matthew 7:21-23 says:
“Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven, but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your
name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many
wonderful works?
And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, you who
work iniquity.”
Second: The church will be able to wear white on her wedding day because Christ has done the work to purify her (and all of us who are a part of her). The church is made up of imperfect people, but our purification by Christ’s blood and his righteousness will cause us all to stand before God wearing white, spotless garments on that day. (To dwell above with saints we love, Oh, that will be glory, but to dwell below with saints we know, well, that’s a different story.)
Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 5: 25-27, which is our main text:
“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.”
II. THE WEDDING RING
The second item found in a wedding is the wedding ring. Someone defined the ring as a “small gold band worn on the left finger designed to cut off circulation.”
When people see a wedding ring on your or my finger, what does it tell them? It tells them that “I’m taken” -- “not available”. So the wedding ring is a symbol of status; it says, “I’m married, committed to one person.”
There is a similar symbol for the Christian to indicate his commitment to Christ. That symbol is Baptism. In baptism we are saying to the world, “I am Christ’s property.” “My life is no longer mine to control.”
In the Old Testament, circumcision was a sign of God’s covenant with man. A man simply could not enter into God’s covenant without circumcision.
In a similar way, baptism is the sign of our marriage to God. From that point on we die to self and live for God. A young couple might love one another deeply. They might want to get married, even plan to get married, but they can’t consider themselves to be man and wife until the ceremony takes place, the rings and vows are exchanged and the minister pronounces them man and wife.
(*talk about the look on their faces when I pronounce them man and wife)
In the same way, I may love Christ deeply. I may want to live for him, but the act of commitment and obedience comes at baptism and this is the point when and where I put on Christ. Galatians 3:27 says:
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Many young couples are trying to avoid the marriage ceremony today, just as many people are trying to call themselves Christians without obeying Christ in baptism. These couples argue that a piece of paper means nothing to them and should make no difference as long as they consider themselves to be married. In the same way, some people argue that getting wet in water means nothing to them and should make no difference so long as they consider themselves to belong to Christ.
But all objective Bible students admit that Christ commanded baptism ----
John 3, Matthew 28, Mark 16, and Acts 2 all record these commands. In
Mark 16: 16 Jesus is speaking and says:
“He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.”
Christ asks an important question today to any who refuse baptism knowing that Christ commanded it, Luke 6:46:
“Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
John 14:15:
“If you love me, keep my commandments”
Just as the wedding ring is a symbol of love and commitment to your spouse, even so, baptism signifies to all men that you are loyal and obedient to Christ Jesus.
III. THE WEDDING VOWS:
How many of you who are married can remember the vows which you made to your spouse on your wedding day? How many of you have kept your vows? The wedding vows are perhaps the most important port of the wedding ceremony. They are the basis of the whole marriage relationship.
The words, “till death do us part” are gravely important and sobering. Let’s face it, that can be a long time!
ILLUSTRATION:
So far “till death do us part” has meant ______ years for ________________
___________________________________________. That’s a long time for a vow to remain binding. We’ll all be looking forward to the possibility of their ________ wedding anniversary.
Christ has already made some vows to his bride. He gave his solemn vows 2000 years ago while he was on earth. Would you like to hear the vows he made to his bride?
Here is the first part of his vows to his bride, found in John 14:1-3:
“Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me. In my
Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I
go to prepare a place for you. and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be
also.”
Listen to more of his marriage vows, John 14:13-14’
“And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may
be glorified in the son. If you shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.”
in verse 18 he adds:
“I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you.”
Concluding his vows to the bride He says in Matthew 28:20:
“Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
For what better vows could any bride ask? Christ promises his Bride a mansion which he himself will prepare. He promises to do what ever the bride asks in his name. He promises to comfort her and ends his vows with something even better than ’till death do us part’. He says, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.“
No other groom could promise that much. But Christ promises even more (and this is just par of his vows to the bride), and to top it all off, Christ always keeps his vows.
CONCLUSION:
What vows are asked of the bride? In most wedding ceremonies, the bride and groom repeat similar or identical vows. But in the case of Christ and the Church, the bride has her own set of vows. These are questions, which are asked of the bride to which she must either respond “I will” or “I won’t”.
As I give the Bride’s vows to you, ask yourself, “Would I be willing to say “I will” to these vows?”
* Will you seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness? (Mt.6:33)
* Will you give you body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable which is your reasonable service? (Romans 12:1)
* Will you not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God? (Romans 12:2)
* Will you put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lists thereof? (Romans 13:14)
* Will you submit yourself to God and resist the devil so that he will flee from you? Will you draw near to God so that He can draw near to you?
(James 4:7-8)
* Will you be faithful unto death so Christ may give you a crown of life?
(Rev. 2:10)
If you can say to yourself, “I WILL”, then keep these vows!
What of those who claim to be a part of the Bride of Christ and refuse to keep these vows?
[Optional: Close with poem “Ye call me Lord, yet serve me not”]
Ye call me Master and obey Me not,
Ye call Me Way and walk Me not,
Ye call Me Wise and follow Me not,
Ye call Me Rich and ask Me not,
Ye call Me Gracious and trust Me not,
Ye call Me Noble and serve Me not,
Ye call Me Light and see Me not,
Ye call Me Life and desire Me not,
Ye call Me Fair and love Me not,
Ye call Me Eternal and seek Me not,
Ye call Me Mighty and honor Me not,
Ye call Me Just and fear Me not.
If I Condemn Ye, Blame Me Not.
