Meditations for the Bride
We have been looking at individual facets of the Bride's story; the only way we can see the entire jewel is to catch a glimmer here and there throughout the Scriptures. However, so we won't get lost in the details and lose sight of the big picture, I want to share a few quotes from some of my favorite authors – I think they will keep us focused on our main theme and encourage us as we meet the challenges of daily life.
The Church is the 'Body of Christ' and the 'Bride of Christ.' The first of these titles tells us that she is set in the very highest place of honor; the second tells us that she is set also in the dearest and most intimate position of personal affection and relationship. To the creation of God and to the principalities and powers in heavenly places – she is made to be a great witness – the only adequate witness of the grace, glory and wisdom of God. She is a witness to the exceeding riches of grace, of the praise of glory, and of the manifold resources and secrets of wisdom.
It is not in the starry heavens above, nor on the earth beneath, nor in angels themselves . . . that the character and ways of the Father will be manifested in the ages to come. It is in the redeemed new creation in Christ – in the Church and by the Church – that the Father's manifold wisdom will be known. In the Church every perfection of light and glory and beauty shall be displayed. It is the brightest emanation of the Divine mind and a masterpiece of His handiwork. This is the destiny of His beloved glorious Bride . . . chosen from Adam's ruined and apostate race. She was not only brought into the closest and sweetest intimacy of sonship to the Father, but exalted to the highest dignity in heaven, and partaker of the indescribable glory of her glorified Head in heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. ~J.G. Bellet
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Blessed with all Spiritual blessings in Christ ...we are brought so near to Christ that everything we need, we have in Him. The Father can look on us with the same delight as on His Son because we are hidden in Him. He cannot stop the flow of His affection and delight in Christ, and so it flows on us. We are before the Father in all the completeness of Christ's work in the removal of everything He had against us. ~George Wigram
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The bride is to be led into the King's presence in a bridal dress skillfully and patiently prepared of "embroidered cloth" (Ezekiel 16). The bride's attire is not made of gold, it is embroidered with gold; which means that the gold thread is patiently woven or twisted into the fabric itself. This suggests the Spirit's continuous involvement in her experience of the crucified life in order that the glories of Christ may be displayed. This is a divine work [symbolized by gold] in which she willingly cooperates as He takes her through the process of transformation into His likeness. The Lamb's wife has made herself ready (Rev. 19:7). The King's daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is interwoven with gold. Psalm 45:13 ~ William R. Newell
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Gold, mixed with fine cloth in the Bride's dress, carries the thought of deity and humanity. Her value is heavenly [symbolized by gold], but the work of preparation is done on earth [symbolized by cloth], for it was here, as a man, that the Lord accomplished the work to make everything possible. It is through being joined to the ascended Man that our position as His Bride is secured. This is a marvelous picture of our position in Him, our redeemed state, and the fact that our Lord takes us from here, where He found us, to the His eternal abode. ~Conrad Bowman
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There is no question about there being a new position for the believer, but people limit it to its being theirs when they die. Scripture shows us that it is ours now!
But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Eph. 2:13
People say that you get to heaven when you die – no such thing. You are there now. It is not your death that entitles you to it, but the Lord Jesus' death. No person can be truly happy until he knows that he has a new place now, and it is where the Lord Jesus is.
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col. 3:2-3 ~ J.B. Stoney
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