MAN AND WOMAN - CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
In the Natural - A man and a woman
In the Spirit - Christ and the Church
EPHESIANS5:28-33
V30 Bone of his bone
V32 GENESIS2:21-25
Christ our covering - protection
Covenant
V9 - washed us with water - cleansing
- our blood - our sin
- anointed with oil - Holy Spirit
V10 clothed us - robes of righteousness
V11 Chains - authority
V12 Jewels - grace, goodness
Jesus rejoices over his bride. He likes her. He loves her.
His love covers the bride. She is spotless.
V1 The brides go to meet the bridegroom
The character of the brides (churches) are different but they all make up the bride ie: the church
V6 The bridegroom came for his bride
V23 Christ is the head ie: the authority. He decides where the body goes and what the body does and when.
Without a head, the body is useless, no direction, no purpose.
The body is to serve the head and its will.
V25 Christ gave himself for the body to care for it and preserve it.
The head and body are a union. Each needs the other.
The friend in the natural is the best man - his friend.In the spirit, the best spirit - the Holy Spirit.
Bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh.
The bride loves the bridegroom.
"Mine ... His'"- Assurance of indissoluble union ie: they are one flesh.
She is for him, he is for her.
"He feedeth among the lilies""e;Chapter 6:3 As the roe comes to rest in the lilies, so Christ comes to rest in the Church.
"Until the day break""e; The roe comes at night to enjoy the rest. Jesus comes at midnight to enjoy his rest in the Church. Midnight = End of the age.
Bride feels her unworthiness
. 'Black' like the black tents of Kedar (Bedouin) a 'black beauty' not fair.
God the Father watches over the woman (church) that she is chaste and given only
to Jesus his son. God's father heart comes to bear over the church (woman) to see
if she is good for his son.
Jewels of divine grace
. Spiritual adornment of grace and goodness etc.
. Love, purity, chaste, modest
. Ornament of meek and quiet Spirit
Purified and dressed in spotless robes
. fine linen - righteous or right standing of the saints of God.
The bride says come 'evangelism' - invitations
Shadow picture of 'Marriage Supper of the Lamb'
. V2 The marriage arranged by the father
. V4 great cost is made for the wedding
John 3:16 God gave all 'His Son' for the bride 'us'
Jesus the servant (oxen) became the sacrifice (fatlings) to make all
things ready (price paid)
. V5-10 - Invitations made but were rejected.
A great honour to be invited.
. V11-13 Wedding garment is robe of righteousness
. V11 'A Man' is antichrist
. V13 'Cast him' is 'Judgement'.
Revelation 22:17
'Whosoever will' may do so
'Water of Life' = Eternal life