By Dean Dwyer for
Harbinger 's Daily
What do you picture in your mind when you hear the word “wedding”? One of the first images that comes to mind for most people is a beautiful bride, adorned in white. We might also think of a woman who has kept herself pure, awaiting that blessed day when two will become one under the provisions of God’s marriage covenant.
In the Scriptures, we know that the church is the bride of Christ. But during this time when we are awaiting the upward call of our Bridegroom, how are we living? After all, every bride looks forward to her wedding day with great anticipation. In ancient Jewish weddings, while the bride-to-be was excitedly waiting for her beloved to return from building a place for them, she was being observed for moral purity.
Ephesians 5:25-27 reads: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
The Greek word for “without blemish” is “amomos” and it means that the purity obtained is of the highest quality and without any defect whatsoever. It is interesting that the same word is used in 1 Peter 1:19 where Christ is described “as of a lamb without blemish”. This is the marvel of imputed righteousness! We who were blemished, spotted, wrinkled, defiled and on our way to a Christless eternity have now been made perfect, unblemished, undefiled, spotless, sanctified and soon to be glorified, all because we have been washed clean through the blood of Jesus. But with this knowledge comes responsibility.
Just as the earthly bride was expected to remain morally pure while waiting for her bridegroom, the church is commanded to remain spiritually pure.
In 2 Peter 3 we read these words:
Notice the language –......
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Harbinger 's Daily
What do you picture in your mind when you hear the word “wedding”? One of the first images that comes to mind for most people is a beautiful bride, adorned in white. We might also think of a woman who has kept herself pure, awaiting that blessed day when two will become one under the provisions of God’s marriage covenant.
In the Scriptures, we know that the church is the bride of Christ. But during this time when we are awaiting the upward call of our Bridegroom, how are we living? After all, every bride looks forward to her wedding day with great anticipation. In ancient Jewish weddings, while the bride-to-be was excitedly waiting for her beloved to return from building a place for them, she was being observed for moral purity.
Ephesians 5:25-27 reads: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
The Greek word for “without blemish” is “amomos” and it means that the purity obtained is of the highest quality and without any defect whatsoever. It is interesting that the same word is used in 1 Peter 1:19 where Christ is described “as of a lamb without blemish”. This is the marvel of imputed righteousness! We who were blemished, spotted, wrinkled, defiled and on our way to a Christless eternity have now been made perfect, unblemished, undefiled, spotless, sanctified and soon to be glorified, all because we have been washed clean through the blood of Jesus. But with this knowledge comes responsibility.
Just as the earthly bride was expected to remain morally pure while waiting for her bridegroom, the church is commanded to remain spiritually pure.
In 2 Peter 3 we read these words:
- Verse 14: “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.“
- Verse 17: “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked.“
Notice the language –......
Continue Reading:
Has The Bride Of Christ Made Herself Ready For His Return? - Harbingers Daily
In the Scriptures, we know that the church is the bride of Christ. But during this time when we are awaiting the upward call of our Bridegroom, how are we living?
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