The Bride of Christ (3)

"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 and honor, 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 obey her husband, the church is to obey Christ.

The apostle Paul wrote to Titus that the aged women are to teach the younger women "To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed" (Titus 2:5). The wife is to obey the husband because the husband is the head of the wife (Ephesians 5:23). The wife is to be subject to the husband (Ephesians 5:24, I Peter 3:1).

We, as the bride of Christ, are to obey Christ because all authority belongs to him (Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 5:23-24). Jesus asked, "Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say" (Luke 6:46). A person who truly loves Christ will demonstrate his love for Christ by obeying his commandments. Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Jesus went on to say, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14).

Our obedience must not consist of mere outward actions, but must originate in our hearts (Romans 6:17).