The Bride of Christ (2)

"Do you promise to love, honor, obey, and, absolutely forsaking all others, keep thyself only to him and be to him in all things a faithful and true wife, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, ‘til death do you part?"

For most of us, these words bring to mind the relationship between a husband and a wife, perhaps even your own relationship with your spouse. But these words could just as easily bring to mind the church’s relationship with Christ. There are a number of passages in the Bible that depict the church as the bride of Christ. Paul wrote, "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" (II Corinthians 11:2).

In addition to love, one obvious parallel that can be drawn between our marriage relationships and the church’s relationship as the bride of Christ is that, just as a bride is to honor her husband, the church is to honor Christ. To honor means to offer recognition and respect.

We are to recognize Christ for who he is. Christ is a member of the Godhead (John 1:1, John 8:24, Hebrews 1:8). While Christ was on earth, he possessed all the traits of deity in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). John wrote that whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ is a liar – I John 2:22.

We are to recognize Christ for what he has done. The church came about because Christ built it – Matthew 16:18. Christ laid down his life for us in order that we might one day live with him in heaven – John 10:14-18. Christ shed his blood for us in order that we might be forgiven of our sins – Acts 20:28.

When two people are married, the bride honors her husband by wearing his name. One way we honor Christ is by wearing his name. We are to wear the name Christian because it gives honor to Christ – Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, I Peter 4:16.