To Be One in Christ: the Parable of Bride

To Be One in Christ: the Parable of Bride

The relationship between husband and wife is "the two will become one flesh." . This relationship is used to illustrate the relationship between Christ and the believers which should be “the believers to be one in Christ”; it is also used to illustrate the relationship between Christ and the church. And the church “to be one in Christ” is the macroscopic appearance of the believers “to be one in Christ”. Christ’s Spirit are in every Christian; and the believers and the church are in Christ. If the believers unite themselves with Christ and are one with Him in spirit, the church which are composed of the believers will be one in Christ. The mystery of the believers and the church being united with Christ to be one in Christ, could only be understood a little bit from the relationship between husband and wife.

“For it is said, "The two will become one flesh." But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. ” ( 1 CORINTHIANS 6:16-17)

“for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. ” ( EPHESIANS 5:30-32)

The believers and LORD are one in spirit just like the wife and husband are united to be one. “For we are members of his(Christ’s) body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” (Eph 5:30) (KJV), like Eve is created from part of Adam (Gen 2:22-23). Initially, wife is part of the husband, now get back together to be one and be united with husband. We are from God, now get back to God through being one in Christ. Because of this, the relationship between the believers, the church and Christ is the same as the relationship between wife and husband. The believers must commune with God closely so that to be united to be one in life. The relationship between the believers and Christ will be the relationship between the church and Christ.

In the New Testament, Christ is often described as the bridegroom, the believers (1Co 6:15-17) and the church (Eph 5:23-32) as the bride (see Mat 9:15; Joh 3:29; Rom 7:4; Rev 19:7-9; 21:2).

In ISIAH (Isa 62), same as in REVELATION (Rev 21), takes the Holy City of Jerusalem as the bride; actually, it refers to the holy people of God and the church:

“As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. ” ( ISAIAH 62:5)

The entire book of SONG OF SONGS actually give a symbolic description about such a husband-wife relationship in Christ:

“My lover is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies. ” ( SONG OF SONGS 2:16)

“Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. ” ( SONG OF SONGS 3:5)

We believers love LORD, and we should be like a pure virgin to one husband, be pure and self-controlled. We should have LORD in our mind only, and should not be contaminated by other ones and things; we should desire LORD only and should not love any other ones or things outside Christ:

“I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. ” ( 2 CORINTHIANS 11:2)

For those who love the world, what filled up in their mind are money and richness, power, fame and social status, all kinds of own ungodly desires, idols, self-pride and all kinds of wickedness, they are described as the adulteress. In HOSEA (16, 23), using the parable of an adulteress to point out the sins of Jerusalem; in the entire book of HOSEA, the marriage and love of prophet Hosea to an adulteress symbolizes the mercy, kindness, love and salvation of LORD; in REVELATION (17, 18, 19), it shows the judgment and final destiny of the great prostitute -- the judgment and final destiny of those guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD, that is, eternal punishment and death in the lake of fire:

“When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, "Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD ." ” ( HOSEA 1:2 )

“The LORD said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes." ” ( HOSEA 3:1 )

“This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. ” (REVELATION 17:5)

“Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, 'I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.' Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. ” (REVELATION 18:7-8)

“for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants." And again they shouted: "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever." ” (REVELATION 19:2-3)

This is a message enlightened and guided by Holy Spirit. All thanks, praises and glories be to God!