The Bible uses the metaphor of the church as the bride of Christ to illustrate the intimate relationship between Christ and his people. This metaphor emphasizes several important truths:
Christ’s love for the church
The love between a husband and wife in marriage is intended to be a picture of the love Christ has for his church. Ephesians 5:25 says “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Christ demonstrated his love by sacrificing himself to redeem the church. Just as a groom cherishes and cares for his bride, Christ cherishes and cares for his church.
The church’s devotion to Christ
As the bride, the church is called to lovingly submit to Christ as head and devotedly pursue an intimate relationship with him. Revelation 19:7-8 describes the church as the bride who has made herself ready for her husband. The church is purified and presented to Christ, devoted and set apart exclusively for him. As a bride is committed solely to her groom, the church’s first loyalty and highest affection is for Christ alone.
A unified relationship
A marriage relationship unites two people as one. This pictures the unity between Christ and his church. In marriage, the bride takes the groom’s name, leaves her father and mother, and becomes one with her husband. This illustrates how the church is united to Christ, taking his name (Christian), leaving worldly allegiances behind, and becoming one with him as the body of Christ (Ephesians 5:30-32). Believers are identified with Christ as the bride is identified with the groom.
An eternal relationship
Human marriages end at death, but the relationship between Christ and his church lasts for eternity. The consummation of this relationship is seen in Revelation 19:7-9, where the marriage supper of the Lamb signifies the glorified and perfected union between Christ and his bride. As human marriage relationships are eternal in purpose, the union between Christ and his church brings eternal blessings and fellowship.
A purifying love
As a groom cares for his bride and desires to see her holy and blameless, Christ works to purify and cleanse his church through his sacrificial and ongoing work (Ephesians 5:25-27). Through discipline, teaching and empowering by the Spirit, Christ progressively nurtures his church toward greater holiness and conformity to himself as the perfect bridegroom.
An exclusive relationship
As the wife of a groom forsakes all others, the church is to be wholly committed and faithful to Christ alone. 2 Corinthians 11:2 expresses concern that the church may be led astray just as Eve was deceived. As a bride is to forsake all others for her husband, the church must guard against idolatry and compromise with the world, remaining faithful to Christ alone.
A fruitful union
Marriage relationships bear fruit as children are born and a family created. The union of Christ and the church also bears abundant fruit as his life and likeness are manifested in the world through the church. As a bride and groom partner together in creating a family legacy, Christ and the church partner in multiplying disciples and expanding God’s kingdom work on earth (Matthew 28:18-20).
An intimate partnership
A bride and groom pursue an intimate personal relationship, growing in understanding, support and love for one another. As the bride of Christ, the church also grows in intimacy with him through worship, prayer, studying the Scriptures, walking in obedience to his commands and depending on his enabling grace (Philippians 3:8-10). This deepening relationship brings increasing joy.
A public declaration
A wedding is a public celebration and declaration of devotion and commitment between bride and groom. The church also publicly identifies with and testifies about her beloved bridegroom, Jesus. Jesus taught that what is spoken in secret will be shouted from the rooftops (Luke 12:3). The church boldly proclaims Christ to the world through evangelism, disciple-making and public worship.
The awaiting wedding feast
In biblical times, a wedding feast followed the ceremony and could last a week as the bride and groom celebrated with friends and family. At Christ’s second coming, there will also be a great wedding feast – the marriage supper of the Lamb – as Christ celebrates the consummation of his kingdom with his purified bride, the church (Revelation 19:7-9). What an amazing day that will be!
A relationship requiring preparation
A bride prepares and makes herself ready for her wedding day. The church must also continually be preparing herself and remaining spiritually pure as she awaits the return of her groom, Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:7). We prepare by putting sin to death, pursuing holiness, forsaking worldliness and remaining steadfast in love and devotion to Christ.
A proven faithfulness
As a wedding marks a new beginning, it comes after a period of courtship where commitment and faithfulness are proven. The church also proves her faithfulness as she awaits her wedding day. Through times of trial and temptation, hardship and persecution, the true bride perseveres in loyalty to Christ. Even when oppressed by the enemies of the gospel, she continues to walk in purity as a faithful bride.
A relationship of grace
Despite her shortcomings, the bride is still accepted and loved by the Groom. Despite the church’s continuing imperfections and repeated sins, Christ nevertheless showers his bride with grace. He sees the church as righteous through his redemption, not our own merit. The church’s failures do not threaten Christ’s faithful love and patience toward us as he transforms us into his pure and spotless bride.
In summary, the metaphor of the church as the bride of Christ is a beautiful and important image that conveys Christ’s love, sacrifice, purity, intimacy and partnership with his treasured people. This analogy highlights the exclusiveness of relationship required of the believer and the preparation needed. When seen rightly, this metaphor draws us to love and adore Christ more, pursue greater faithfulness to him, proclaim his glory to the world, and eagerly await that coming wedding day!
