The church is the Virgin bride of Messiah: Our three-stage marriage to Messiah! Part 10

The imagery of all these ancient marriage customs is the foundation of our salvation in Messiah.

The church is the virgin bride of Messiah: Our three-stage marriage to Messiah! 

1. The imagery of all these ancient marriage customs is the foundation of our salvation in Messiah. Only when you understand the wedding customs of the Bible can you begin to appreciate the rich imagery of our salvation in Messiah and our marriage to Messiah as his virgin bride. 

   Messiah supplies His saving blood as a substitute for our own virgin blood that we lack (because we were spiritual harlots) on our wedding night. Before we were saved, we were worthless "harlots" who had lost our virginity. A woman found not to be a virgin on her wedding night was put to death. The blood of Messiah makes us into spiritual virgins on our consummation night (second coming) and keeps us from being stoned. Messiah allows us to experience a kind of "virginity recaptured" through his blood. 

   There are three stages to our marriage to Messiah, exactly like a real marriage. 

   STAGE 1: The legal contract of when we became Christians by faith, repentance, confession and baptism by immersion into the Body of Messiah. At this moment of water baptism, we are born again and married (betrothed) to Messiah. This contract binds each to what they agreed to do: Christians must be obedient to Messiah and he will save us! 

   “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners [spiritual harlots who have lost their virginity], Messiah died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood [stage 1: initial salvation], we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Romans 5:8–10) 

   “Husbands, love your wives, just as Messiah also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:25–27) 

   STAGE 2: The consummation is the second coming when we, the bride waits to hear the shout of Jesus and his companions. At this time, the faithful will be found to be "pure virgins": 

   "For I (Paul) am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed [stage 1: married when born again] you to one husband, so that to Messiah I might present you as a pure virgin [stage 2: second coming].” (2 Corinthians 11:2) 

   “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28–29) 

   STAGE 3: The Wedding feast 

   ““Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”” (Revelation 19:7–9) 

   The three C's Marriage in the Bible: 

   Bible Marriage culture 

   Church is the bride of Messiah 

   Contract 

   Genesis 34:12 bride price and dowry gift 

   1 Cor 7:38 the father controlled the marriage of the daughter, even though she would tell him who she wanted to marry. 

   Rebekah: Gen 24:33; 51-53; 57-58 

   Leah: Gen 29:15-19 

   Rachel: Gen 29:27 

   Initial salvation 

   We come into contract and covenant with Messiah when are saved. 

   Mk 16:16 believe and be baptized to be saved 

   Romans 5:8-10 While we were worthless sinners the blood of Messiah made us pure virgins. 

   Ephesians 5:25–27 Messiah offered a dowry for the bride in that He died for her and shed his blood. 

   Consummation 

   Mt 25:1- parable of ten virgins 

   John 3:29 voice of bridegroom outside consummation bedroom 

   Rebekah: Gen 24:64-67 

   Leah: Gen 29:21-26 

   Rachel: Gen 29:30 

   Second Coming 

   Jesus returns for his virgin bride after preparing a place for us to live together in heaven. 

   2 Corinthians 11:2 the virgin blood we lack is supplied by the blood of Messiah. Our proof of virginity is the blood of Messiah. 

   John 3:29 Joyful voice of Messiah at second coming 

   John 5:28-29 voice of Jesus 

   Celebration 

   John 2:1-11 Wedding feast at Cana 

   Mt 22:1-14 Parable of the wedding feast 

   Leah and Rachel: Gen 29:27-28 

   Heaven 

   Revelation 19:7-9 wedding feast in heaven 

   What we see in the Bible is the Jewish custom of ARRANGED MARRIAGES. Today, we combine all three customs into one day: 

   Contract is the signing of the marriage license the Wedding feast is the reception. Consummation happens in the bridal suite that night in the hotel. 

   Next Time: Bible marriage vs. modern marriage 

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Preparing the Bride to make herself ready,

-  Tov

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