The Bride of Christ

 


Jesus Christ…The Bridegroom

The Church…the Bride of Christ

Pastor Dan Kennedy

December 26, 2010

Scripture


Ephesians 5:15–33 (ESV)

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.


The Bride of Christ


  1. Bullet  The Struggle for Personal Understanding regarding my relationship to a Personal God

•Looking for Meaning and Reason in Life.

•Seriously evaluating Jesus Christ’s claims on my Life.

•Pursuing a Fulfilling Relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

•Choosing to Serve Jesus Christ with all of my Life.


  1. Bullet  The Substantial Effort of Practical Preparation

•Planning to Serve Christ with my Life

oPlanning to Serve Christ effectively in whatever occupation He leads me.

•Establishing a Home Honoring to Christ

oLiving and responding to life’s problems before my family, in an honoring way to God.

oTeaching my children and others to follow Christ. (2 Timothy 2:2; Deut. 6:4-9; Matt. 28:19,20)


  1. Bullet  The “Sealing”, in a Visible Commitment

•Personal Commitment (John 3:16; Rom. 10:13)

•Confession of my Faith (Rom. 10:9,10; Matt. 10:32)

•Meaningful Baptism (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 2:37,38)

oA Gracious Company of fellow Believers  

oA Great Cloud of Witnesses (Hebrews 12:1)


  1. Bullet  The Seriousness of a Permanent Relationship


•Faithfulness:  Unity of Body

Bringing our Body and Mind in Subjection to Christ

oFaithfulness: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”  (Matt. 5:8)

oLove:  from a pure heart, good conscience, and sincere faith. (1 Tim. 1:5)

oMaturing Relationship: Continuing Personal Choices of Love and Faithfulness.


•Endurance: Unity of Soul

oLove and Forgiveness (Matt. 22:37;1 John1:9)

oRespect and Unity (James 4:7-10)

            U–You,

            N–Need,

            I–Individualism,

            T–To,

            Y–Yield

  1. ✴  Gracious submission to God;

  2. ✴  Sacrificial love as Christ Loved the Church and gave Himself for it.

oCommunion with God in Prayer (Eph.6: 18)

oMeditate in God’s Word (2 Tim. 2:15; Josh.1:8,9)

oFellowship with Believers (Heb. 10:25)

oEndurance in Trial (James 1:12; 1 Pet.1:3-9)


•Worship:  Unity of Spirit

“Be not unequally yoked.” (2 Cor. 6:14)

oIn Relationship to Worship of God

  1. ✴  Understanding our need of a Savior to bear our sin (Is. 53;Jn.3:16).

  2. ✴  Honestly Seeking a Relationship with God in Spirit and Truth (John 4:23,24).

  3. ✴  Honorably Worshipping the Triune God (Ps. 96:9; Matt. 28:19).

  4. ✴  Responsibly Looking for Jesus Christ’s Return (1 John 3:1-3)


Faithfulness; Endurance; and Worship = FEW

  1. ✦  Few have a relationship stably built upon Faithfulness.

  2. ✦  Few have the Endurance that can stand the tests of time, established by Love & Forgiveness, Respect and Unity, Communion with God, Growing Fellowship with Believers, and Endurance in Trial.

  3. ✦  Few enjoy marriage with the depth of unity & fulfillment in the Worship of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Lord and King!


The Bride of Christ awaits The Savior, Lord & King!


Living Vow:


(       Your Name       ) Do you choose to make Jesus Christ your Savior, Lord and King?  (“I do!”)  Then repeat after me:


“I, _____________, choose, of my own free will, to make Jesus Christ, my Savior, Lord and King!  I am committing myself to Him to be His faithful and honorable servant; for better or for worse; whether I am rich or poor; whether I am blessed to have good health, or have poor health.  I give myself to Jesus Christ, to love, honor and serve Him, whether I live or die, committing myself to Him as my precious Savior and coming King, and I will look expectantly forward to His return.  I promise, to hereby give Him my love and my life.”



***


Life Exchange:


Believer in Christ, do you have a token of your vows to Jesus Christ?  (“Yes!”)  Then repeat after me:


“Jesus, I give You my life as the confirmation of my vows to You.  I am choosing to follow where You lead me, to do what You empower me to do, to seek to faithfully obey Your Word, and to submit to Your Will for my life.  I give You myself:  my heart, my mind and my soul!”