The Bible clearly uses the metaphor of a wedding/marriage to describe aspects of our relationship to God.

Jesus is pictured as the bridegroom.

In the Biblical context and use of this metaphor, how far should we take the metaphor? Is it biblical to attempt to answer the question, “Who is the bride?” Or “Who are the parents of the bride?” How far does the Bible take this metaphor?

Secondly, once that is established, fill in the blanks.

In Scripture the metaphore is used a couple times and the boundaries of the metaphor seem to be: the bridegroom, the bride, the wedding guests.

Matthew 9:15 – wedding guests

Matthew 25:1 – wedding attendants

John 3:29 – John is attendant

2 Corinthians 11:1-2 – church is bride, Paul is father of the bride (this is an exception to the normal use of the metaphor)

Ephesians 5:22-33 – church is bride, loose metaphor, mixed metaphors, focus is on unity, marriage meant to be a reflection of deeper truths

Revelation 19:6-9 – bride wears white representing the righteous deeds of the saints (cannot be an individual then), the wedding guests are blessed to be in attendance

Revelation 21:2,9-14 – New Jerusalem is the bride, literal city? Representative of church? Of kingdom of heaven?

Elsewhere heavenly Jerusalem is pictured at our mother (Galatians4:26) and as a literal city (Hebrews 12:22)

The kingdom of heaven, capitol city Jerusalem, is the bride. We are citizens of the kingdom, children of the heavenly Jerusalem

The kingdom is larger even than the church, but includes the angelic host, and the renewed creation

The church is pictured in a loose way as a bride being prepared for her coming wedding. The metaphor is loose and should not be taken literally. An attempt should not be made to find significance for wedding details in the life of the church.

The point of the metaphor is Christ’s authority over his church, as the husband has authority over the wife, and more importantly, Jesus’ unity with his church as the husband and wife are considered one after marriage. This permanent unity with Christ has not yet happened for the church, it is part of the “hope of glory.” Future, permanent union with Christ.

Individual believers are never pictured as the bride, but always as wedding guests or attendants. Therefore we should never view ourselves in romantic relationship with Christ. He is not our lover and husband!

This is the extent to which this metaphor is used in Scripture, though it is often overused in today’s church culture (at least in America).

The church is also pictured in other metaphors as a family (1 Timothy 5:1-2), branches on a vine (John 15:5), an olive tree (Romans 11:17-24), a field of crops (1 Corinthians 3:6-9), a building (1 Corinthians 3:9), a harvest (Matthew 13:1-30), a new temple (1 Peter 2:4-8), a new group of priests (1 Peter 2:5), God’s house (Hebrews 3:3), the pillar and bulwark of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15), a body (1 Corinthians 12:16-17), and the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:15-16).

 

The wide range of metaphors used for the church in the New Testament should remind us not to focus exclusively on any one.

Each of the metaphors used for the church can help us to appreciate more of the richness of privilege that God has given us by incorporating us into the church. The fact that the church is like a family should increase our love and fellowship with one another. The thought that the church is like the bride of Christ should stimulate us to strive for greater purity and holiness, and also greater love for Christ and submission to him. The image of the church as branches in a vine should cause us to rest in him more fully. The idea of an agricultural crop should encourage us to continue growing in the Christian life and obtaining for ourselves and others the proper spiritual nutrients to grow. The picture of the church as God’s new temple should increase our awareness of God’s very presence dwelling in our midst as we meet. The concept of the church as a priesthood should help us to see more clearly the delight God has in the sacrifices of praise and good deeds that we offer to him. The metaphor of the church as the body of Christ should increase our interdependence on one another and our appreciation of the diversity of gifts within the body. Many other applications could be drawn from these and other metaphors for the church listed in Scripture. ¹

1. Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Zondervan, 1994) p. 859

A: The Bible primarily teaches what man must believe about God and what God requires of man.

Read the following Scriptures

The Bible teaches the Gospel. What God requires of us is that we repent and believe the Gospel.

Can you live a right life while holding a wrong faith? The Christian life with wrong doctrine?

No! Since right living is completely based on faith, you could not have a life right with God if your faith was not right. Apart from faith it is impossible to please God. I’m not talking about minor doctrines here. I’m talking about the big ones. You must understand who God is (Christ). You must understand your need for a savior, and the good news of the Gospel. Beyond that, the more Biblically faithful your doctrine, the more pleasing to God your practice will be.

Must obedience follow faith? Can a person be justified and not sanctified?

No! Faith without works is dead and does not save. (James 2)

There is no such thing as true faith unless it also results in right practice.

What is the Gospel?

God is the holy creator of the universe. All men have disobeyed him and are guilty and deserving of death. Jesus is the Son of God and came to earth, lived the perfect life we should have lived, died the death we should have died, appeased the wrath of a holy God, making a way for us to be reconciled to God, through Jesus alone.

What kind of thing is the Gospel?

According to John Piper, the Gospel is six things.

1. A plan (God’s plan from all eternity)
2. An event in history (the death of Jesus on the cross)
3. An accomplishment (the paying of the debt owed because of sin, on the cross, by Jesus)
4. A free offer (of forgiveness of sins)
5. Application (of the achievement to me, justification)
6. The means of bringing us to God (which is the entire purpose)

A: Man’s primary purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

Read the following Scriptures

If you’ve ever wondered what the purpose of life is, here’s the ultimate answer. This is the reason you were created, and ultimately your joy can only be complete if this is the driving purpose of your life.

Man’s purpose cannot be found in man, but must be found in our creator. God created us in his image. In his image we were God-centered. When Adam sinned he became man(self)-centered.

…you will be like God… (Genesis 3:5)

What are some things people center their lives around other than God?

How are all these things man-centered? Do you see how this is idolatry?

What does it mean “to glorify God?”

It does not mean to make God glorious, He is already glorious, we can’t add to his inherent glory.

It does mean to reflect God’s glory – Ps19.1 – magnify (bring into view)

Creation cannot help but reflect God’s glory.

Jesus did it for us (the life we should have lived) – John 17.4

All men glorify God in the end, by life or death – Romans 9.21-23

We glorify God by doing what is right in his sight at all times and in all places: School, work, play, rest, church, home, etc.

Coram Deo is a Latin phrase that means “before the face of God.” This is how we live our lives. If you could be aware of this at all times, how would it change your behavior?

Which is more to the glory of God: a man who preaches, or one who works in a factory? Neither job carries with it more ability to magnify God’s glory. It is the attitude of the heart, the work ethic, the way the job is done that magnifies God’s glory.

The love of God is not God’s making much of us, but God’s saving us from self-centeredness so that we can enjoy making much of him forever. And our love to others is not our making much of them, but helping them to find satisfaction in making much of God. True love aims at satisfying people in the glory of God. Any love that terminates on man is eventually destructive. It does not lead people to the only lasting joy, namely, God. Love must be God-centered, or it is not true love; it leaves people without their final hope of joy. – John Piper ¹

1. John Piper - The Goal of God’s Love May Not Be What You Think It Is