We Are the Bride of Christ

What does it mean that the church is the "bride of Christ?"  Why did some in church history see the Song of Solomon as a picture of Christ and the church? 

I have heard that at the height of your relationship with God it will be like husband and wife, which some find to be blasphemy, but this concept is right out of God's word. 

There seems to be a progression of our relationship with God.  We first function toward God as slaves to a master, then as a son to a father, then as friends, and then as husband and wife.  Not in the erotic sense, but in the emotional closeness that there can be between a husband and wife.  There is no other closer relationship on earth besides one that can be in marriage between a husband and wife. :) 

Eph. 5:

"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. ²⁸ So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. ³⁰ For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.  “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

Marriage is meant to be a picture of Christ and the church.  In the last day, when Jesus returns, there will be a wedding feast when Christ is united with us, the church. 

The book of Hosea is about a man whom God commands to marry a prostitute.  She keeps running away from him and God tells her to take her back every time and to love her.  Why?  Because this is to illustrate what God did with the nation of Israel time and again and what Christ does now with us the church.  We keep running away from God and he keeps forgiving us, taking us back and loving us.  This is also the story of the prodigal son.  God's love is outrageous almost, unfathomable, unthinkable, far greater than any love that we are capable of. 

How does Eph. 5 relate to Christ and the church?  Jesus left his father in heaven, and what could be said as his mother, the Holy Spirit, to come and pursue us, the church.  He came to die for us, as a husband would be willing to die for his wife. 

We become one flesh with God now in that the Holy Spirit lives inside of us.  The church becomes one through the Holy Spirit and we become one with God due to the indwelling of his Holy Spirit. 

Also in marriage you constantly have to forgive your spouse because they constantly offend you.  This is how it is with God and the church.  We constantly need God to forgive us for things. :(

I heard a pastor say in a sermon once, "That same giddy feeling you get over a guy or a girl, you should get that same feeling when you think about Jesus."  At first I was like, "really?" lol But the point is, we are to love God with our whole heart, soul, body and mind.  We are to love him more than we love any human being on this earth.  Our heart should somewhat leap in his presence, just as it might when we are in love with someone.  We should consider it a joy to spend time with him.  We should try to pursue God as much as we try to pursue one that we love.  We should have just as much of a desire to learn more about God as we would of our spouse or the person we love. 

God said that we are not to have any idols before him, this includes other people.  However we feel about the person we most love, we need to feel just as much love or more for God. 

God is a jealous God.  If we love someone or something more than him, he just might take that thing or person away.  So be careful. :( 

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."  Fear God and love God.  Respect his position in the universe and over you.  Recognize that he more than anything else in existence deserves your love and praise and adoration.  Amen. :)  Praise God!  All the earth sing praises to Him!  (haha from Psalms) :)

God bless!