Ariel HaNaviy Messianic Jew and Torah Teacher with Messianic Congregation 'The Harvest'

What does it mean that the Church is the bride of Christ?

In short, the bride of Christ is none other than the Body of true believers from Jews and Gentiles (Eph 2:13-22), chosen of God to live with him in eternity (2 Cor 11:2). The bride is also associated with the New Jerusalem where God and the Lamb will dwell (Rev 21:2, 9, 10). The bride of Christ is rooted in Isra'el’s position of being “chosen,” which directly speaks to the Church’s spiritual mandate as "called-out ones," Greek=ἐκκλησία ekklesia, Hebrew=קָהַל kahal (1 Pet 2:9 which references Ex 19:6; Deut 7:6; Deut 10:15; Is 43:21 and Is 61:6).

Remnant Isra'el is the bride of Christ (Rom 9:24-27; Rom. 11:17; Eph 2:12). Jews and Gentiles in Messiah actually make up Remnant Isra'el/the bride of Christ. According to Rom 11:17-24, some unfaithful branches (unsaved Jews) are broken off to make room for wild olive branches (Gentiles in Christ), but the bride as a whole does not “replace” National Isra'el as a whole, since the bride is actually incorporated into Remnant Isra'el. God does not have two brides. And since God has not rejected his bride National Isra'el (Rom. 11:1, 2; Rom. 11:28, 29), since he is able to graft unsaved branches back in if they do not persist in unbelief (Rom. 11:23, 24), this means the very existence of the bride of Christ also provides us a glimpse into the ontological nature of God the Father and God the Son (with the bride themes overlapping to provide the connection).

Chosen National “unsaved” Isra'el
•	The bride of God (Is 54:5; Jer 3:4; Jer 31:32; Ez 16:8)

Chosen Remnant “saved” Isra'el
•	The bride of Christ (2 Cor 11:2; Rev 21:9)

We love Messiah, our Husband, but he in fact, as portrayed from “Old” to “New” Testaments, loved his bride first: (Deut 7:7-9; Eph 5:25-27).

September 21 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

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