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     One of the interesting features of the New Testament is how the relationship of the saved (Christians) to one another and to God are described using various metaphors.  We have considered, citizens of the Jesus kingdom, Christian (belonging to Christ), church (called from a sinful world to Christ), the body (interdependency among Christians) and the family (growing up together into the likeness of Christ and supporting one another as siblings).  Another description of the Christian relationship is that of intimacy to Jesus – marriage.

     The Old Testament reveals the uniqueness of the covenant relationship between God and ancient Israel.  The covenant was one of marriage – “‘Return, O backsliding children,’ says the Lord; ‘for I am married to you’” (Jeremiah 3:14).  It is also revealed when Israel’s idolatry is called adultery.  “You are an adulterous wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband” (Ezekiel 16:32).  “For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands.  They have committed adultery with their idols, and even sacrificed their sons whom they bore to Me, passing them through the fire, to devour them.” (Ezekiel 23:37).  Ezekiel declared this in the POW camp as the reason the Jews were removed from their homeland.  About the same time Jeremiah prophesied in Jerusalem, “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire?  Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number” (Jeremiah 2:32).  Israel was God’s wife!

     The believer’s relationship is the same when they are baptized into Christ.  The essence of this submission is the vow to be faithful to Christ and baptism, the wedding ring.  Baptism is the visible symbol of this most sacred and eternal vow.  However, as in a true marriage, the vow the a person makes in his baptism is a commitment from the depth of one’s spirit.  The apostle Paul used the relationship between Christ and Christians to teach the ideal of the human marriage relationship.  The Christian’s relationship to Christ is simply that intimate.

     However, becoming a Christian, that is the bride of Christ, does not mean that all Christians will remain faithful to Jesus.  James, the Lord’s brother admonished Christians who loved the world – “Adulterers and adulteresses!  Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).  Note unfaithful Christians are guilty of adultery, implying they are the unfaithful wife married to Christ!

     In the last day, Jesus (the lamb of God) will present His faithful bride to throne of God in heaven.  “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife’” (Revelation 21:9).  A Christian is the wife of Jesus.

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