A Picture of Christ and His Church
Paul’s instructions to the church in Ephesus 5:22-33
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of
the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the
church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love
your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and
cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought
men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever
yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are
members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and
mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I
speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife
even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
Wives are to submit to their own husbands as unto the Lord, just as the church is subject to Christ.
This means that the wife supports her husband in his decisions.
The husband is the head of the household.
The husband must sacrifice and deny himself for the sake of his wife, loving her even as Christ loved
the church and gave Himself for it.
The love the husband is to have for his wife should cleanse her from the stains of everyday life. This
means to be patient, gentle, and kind.
The marriage union is so tight that for husbands to love their wives they love themselves.
Wives are to reverence their husbands.
In His letter to the Ephesians Paul wrote that the marriage union is a picture of Christ and His church.
“We are members of His body; of His flesh and of His bones.” There are some who believe that when
a person is born again that they immediately enter the Nissuin (marriage union) with Christ. That they
belong to Him from that moment on and that He will never divorce them, irrespective of their
unfaithfulness.
But we are in a betrothal stage as the Apostle wrote, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy:
for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (2
Corinthians 11:2)
The betrothal in the Jewish culture was a ceremony called Br'it (Covenant). During this solemn event
the bridegroom would pour a cup of wine for his prospective bride, as the proposal, which if she drank
from, the Kiddush (Sanctification) cup, she agreed to enter into the union with him before the witnesses
which were present.
Jesus in the same way, “Took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say
unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with
you in my Father's kingdom.” (Matthew 26:27-29)
We, like the bride who has willingly entered into betrothal, seal our union with Him by drinking His
cup. The bride by drinking wine from the Kiddush was agreeing to the terms of the Ketubah. This
Ketubah (Marriage contract), was presented to the potential bride and her father. This consisted of the
provisions and conditions of the covenant. Jesus said, “Put your sword into its sheath. Shall I not
drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”
In relations to Christ and His church, He loved us and gave Himself for us and we are to reverently
submit to His will.
It is clear that one of the conditions in this new covenant is that we “Love one another; as I have loved
you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34) This ordinance He gave during the Passover
before His betrayal.
The whole duty and honor of every Christian is to be found faithful when He comes, purifying oneself
just as He is pure. (1 John 3:3)
The Mohar (Bridal price) was also in the ketubah. Peter said, “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, such as silver and gold… But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19) It appears the words silver and gold were referring to the price a
groom would pay for his bride, and with our agreement Christ has purchased us by shedding His blood.
Through our union with Him we have gone from worthless to priceless!
There is a glorious day coming when we shall no longer be called the bride of Christ, but the Lamb’s
wife. (Revelation 21:9)
In the New Testament Jesus is referred to as the Bridegroom and His church the bride. This means
that He may put us away for spiritual adultery because our union has not been consummated.
(Matthew 19:9) Our chief reason for being on planet earth after our regeneration is to prove our
faithfulness to the One we say we love.
There is a sect of Christianity that teaches if you are truly born again you will never be unfaithful, but if
you happen to be at some point your conversion was not genuine. However the apostle said:
“My little children… love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the
world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust
of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away,
and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever (1 John 2:15-17).”
John would not warn the children of God to not love the world if it were not possible to do so.
However the grace, life, and Nature in the new creation are working to accomplish His will in us and
make us pleasing to God.
The interval between betrothal and marriage could last for several years. During this time the
bridegroom was to prepare a place for his bride and it had to be better than where she was raised.
The father of the groom determined when the building was ready so that the groom could bring his
bride back to this special place. Jesus said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the
angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36)
It is sickening, the atrocious teachings I have heard, such as when you sow financially into certain
ministries, that Jesus converts it into material which He then uses to prepare a place for you. Jesus
went to prepare a place for us in heaven by going to the cross to shed His blood! He said, “I will build
My church; and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) I do not believe that He
is in heaven as a Carpenter but that He is seated on His throne, King of kings and Lord of lords! Jesus
did say that He would build His church. Perhaps the Father determines this project is ready when the
saints are perfected and their number fulfilled? Upon the return of Christ, according to Paul, He is
coming back for a church, “Not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and
without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:27) This must be before the Father sends His Son to take us home!
Jesus is the Vine, the Father is the Vine Dresser, and we are the branches united to the Vine. If we are
in Him then He is in us, and we will bear fruit. Those who bear fruit the Father prunes that they may
produce more fruit. Those who do not produce are cut off and thrown into the fire and they are
burned. (John 15:1-8)
We are betrothed to Christ but not yet married. Knowing therefore, that He may put us away for
spiritual adultery we quickly repent because we want to be with Him. Loving this world makes you an
adulterer. (James 4:4) Jesus said to them, “You have left your first love. Remember therefore from
where you have fallen; repent and do the first works or else I will come unto you quickly and remove
your candlestick from its place-unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:4-5)
The Nissuin (Marriage ceremony) finalized the promises and vows and they would again say a blessing
over a cup of wine and drink. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit
of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.” Matthew 26:29)
This would then be followed by a marriage supper which was the apex of this joyful celebration. I do
not deem that the Lord will put us away after this long awaited event except that upon arrival we come
without a wedding garment. “And he saith unto him, ‘Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a
wedding garment?’ And he was speechless (Silenced with shame). Then said the king to the servants,
‘Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:12-14) Therefore let
all of us who profess we’re betrothed or ‘saved’ anticipate His return and execute our vows of purity
awaiting His arrival. Let us not be like Demas who loved this present world more than the Lord. (2
Timothy 4:10)
[Food for thought: The first step to the Jewish marriage was the Shiddukhin. This is when a father
selects a bride for his son. In Genesis 24:1-4 Abraham chose Rebekah for his son Isaac. Could it be
that in similar way the Father selects a bride for His Son? Jesus said, “No man can come to Me except
the Father which hath sent Me draw him.” (John 6:44)]
The understanding of the marriage union is vital to the Christian faith. To truly understand how the
Lord sees us in regards to our eternal union with Him, we must understand how He sees the marriage
covenant. When we comprehend how He views marriage, then in a sense, a veil begins to be lifted and
we see how holy He really is. When His holiness is being revealed to us we see our urgent need to
prepare ourselves for Him. It is as if our purity and pursuit of it, is in direct proportion to how holy we
perceive He is. Therefore, “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
How we perceive that He sees us is determined by His Word, “For the word of God is quick, and
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and
spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither
is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes
of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)
If His word is not breathed into the four corners of our hearts day and night we could be deluded; and
if deluded, fail to understand His love for us and discern His reprimand.
We grow in the grace to be pure as He is pure, as we grow in His knowledge of the marriage union.
Apart from this revelation I see no hope in God’s word for us being a pristine bride.
[Food for thought: “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of
heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God
Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.” (Revelation 21:2, 22) This is a great mystery for me but
these two passages remind me of Jesus’ prayer, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given
them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made
perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, even as thou
hast loved me.” (John 17:22-23) My senses cannot grasp this.]
But concerning the immutability of marriage it is certain: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in
earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) I see no divorce after that Great Supper, and there is to be
no aberration for us concerning our marriages.