Christ and His Church

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” – Isaiah 61:10, NKJV

Image from ssnet.org

When I read this verse, I imagine Jesus standing ready with a beautiful robe which He can’t wait to put on each of the redeemed. No wonder, we will rejoice and be joyful. There’s cause to celebrate. Jesus has clothed us in the costly garments of salvation which were purchased with His precious blood which was shed on the cross. He covers us with robes of His righteousness.

Just like it is a wedding is a momentous occasion for the bridegroom and the bride who are decked out in their best clothes, we, the church arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright. The fine linen represents the righteous acts of God’s holy people, those who have the spotless character of Christ. These are those “who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14, NIV).

A bridegroom usually loves his bride, doesn’t he? Isn’t that why he’s marrying her in the first place. She’s the one and that’s why he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. Jesus loves the church and wants to spend eternity with her. He is making preparations for when we will be with Him. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3, NKJV).

Jesus’ relationship with the church is also likened to that of a marriage. Husbands are exhorted to love their wives as He loves the church because, “He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault (Ephesians 5:25-27, NLT).  

A wedding is a very special occasion. It is a celebration of two lives coming together for a lifetime. Nothing should separate two people who have committed to spending the rest of their lives together (Mark 10:7-9). Likewise nothing should ever separate Christ and us. True and faithful believers are the bride of Christ and we anxiously await the day when we will be joined to Him forever.

Sources: 4Truth; Got Questions