-By Dr.Sumeet Manakan J

In this series of “Understanding Church”, Part 1 covered the topic of the Church built on the foundation of Christ, the Rock. In Part 2, we explored the Church as the Body of Christ. In this blog, under Part 3, we will focus on the Church as the Bride of Christ.

Part 3 – The Church is the Bride of Christ

Previously, in Part 2, we saw the metaphor of the human body used to explain the relationship between Christ and the Church. Another prominent metaphor that illustrates this relationship is that of the Bridegroom, the Bride, and Marriage.

In the biblical context, marriage refers to “union.” The Church is in union with Christ as the “Bride-to-be.” It is betrothed to Christ, and this betrothal is guaranteed by Christ through the seal of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1). This means that Christ will one day return to receive the Church at His second coming. This blessed union is described in Scripture as the “Marriage of the Lamb.”

The establishment of the Church is ancient. God had this union in mind from the very beginning in the Garden of Eden. Eve’s creation and her marriage to Adam were a symbolic picture of the future marriage between Christ and His Church. Therefore, the Church carries great significance.

Scripture portions for better understanding:

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. – Genesis 2:21–24

Paul, in his Epistle to the Ephesians, refers to this union of man and woman as a picture of the great mystery between Christ and the Church:

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. – Ephesians 5:30–32

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ. – Ephesians 3:8–9

Therefore, the Church has always been the Bride of Christ. (References: Isaiah 62:4–5; Hosea 2:19–20; Matthew 9:15; Matthew 22:2; Matthew 25:1–13; John 3:29; Romans 7:4; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25–27, 31–32).