1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Bride of Christ

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by tony2tall, Jan 6, 2011.

  1. tony2tall

    tony2tall New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2010
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Will all believers be included in the Bride of Christ?

    Will it just include the members of the local visible true churches?
     
  2. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2004
    Messages:
    10,295
    Likes Received:
    0
    The bride of Christ are those who are in the New testiment church. Not everyone who is on the earthly role is part of the church. (Matt. 7:21)
     
  3. tony2tall

    tony2tall New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2010
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Today's Charles Stanley Devotional - Thursday, January 6, 2011

    Read | Ephesians 1:18-23

    The church is that group of people called to stand apart from the world because of their relationship with Jesus Christ. All believers in heaven and on earth make up one body—the universal church. There are many denominations and approaches to theology, but the local fellowships that comprise the body of Christ are united by a common message, mission, and motive.

    I disagree with Dr Stanley.
     
  4. zrs6v4

    zrs6v4 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2007
    Messages:
    988
    Likes Received:
    2
    Why do you disagree?
     
  5. Zenas

    Zenas Active Member

    Joined:
    May 7, 2007
    Messages:
    2,703
    Likes Received:
    20
    Only Baptists. Ever heard of the Baptist Bride? :laugh:
     
  6. Zenas

    Zenas Active Member

    Joined:
    May 7, 2007
    Messages:
    2,703
    Likes Received:
    20
    If they are "united by a common message, mission and motive," why don't they fellowship with one another?
     
  7. Grace&Truth

    Grace&Truth New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2009
    Messages:
    180
    Likes Received:
    0
    It will include the members of the local visible true chruch. In heaven there will only be one local visible true church which will be made up of all those who are in Christ.
     
  8. Aaron

    Aaron Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2000
    Messages:
    20,253
    Likes Received:
    1,381
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Where do you guys get this drivel? The bride of Christ is the church, and the church are all believers from Abel to the end of the world.
     
  9. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2004
    Messages:
    10,295
    Likes Received:
    0
    No the church is NOT all believers from Abel to the end of the world. The church has its own seperate time period and will end at the rapture. In dealing with the marriage supper one can see that there is a distnction between the church and the OT saints.

    There were three major parts of these customs of marriage. First, a marriage contract was consummated between the parents of the bride and the bridegroom, and the parents of the bride would pay a dowry to the bridegroom or his parents. This was called the betrothal period, what we would today call the engagement. This period was the one Joseph and Mary were in when she was found to be with child (Matthew 1:18; Luke 2:5).

    The second step usually occurred a year later, when the bridegroom, accompanied by his male friends, went to the house of the bride at midnight with a torchlight parade through the streets. The bride would know this was going to take place, and so would be ready with her maidens, and they would join the parade that would end up at the bridegroom's home. This was illustrated in the parable of the virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. The third phase was the marriage supper itself, which might go on for days as illustrated by the wedding at Cana in John 2:1-2.

    What John’s vision in Revelation pictures is the wedding feast of the Lamb (Jesus Christ) and His bride (the Church) in its third phase, the implication being that the first two phases have already taken place. The first phase was consummated on earth when each individual member of the Church, the body of Christ made up of believers, placed his or her faith and trust in Christ as Savior. The dowry paid to the Bridegroom’s Parent (God the Father) would be the shed blood of Christ on the cross on the Bride’s behalf. Now the Church would belong to Christ in the sense of betrothal and, like the wise virgins in the parable, all would be watching and waiting for the appearance of the Bridegroom (the Second Coming). The second phase symbolizes the Rapture of the Church when Christ comes to claim His bride and take her to the Father's house. The marriage supper then follows as the third and final step.

    The wedding feast to which the saints are invited includes not only the Church as the bride of Christ, but others as well. The "others" include Old Testament saints who are going to be raised at the Second Coming, as well as the martyred dead of the Tribulation who form the multitude. As the angel told John to write: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). http://www.gotquestions.org/marriage-supper-Lamb.html

    Rev19:9-10 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of Cod. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
    Following the praise to the Lord and the announcement of the marriage of the Lamb by the multitude, John is now instructed to write that those who are invited to the marriage supper are truly blessed. In this verse, as in verses 7 and 8, the wife of the Lamb is distinguished from the attendants at the wedding, the wife apparently being the church, and the attendants at the wedding the saints of past and future ages.
     
    #9 freeatlast, Jan 7, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 7, 2011
  10. tony2tall

    tony2tall New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2010
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    I don't believe in a Universal Church here on earth.
     
  11. tony2tall

    tony2tall New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2010
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    Amen :thumbsup:
     
  12. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2005
    Messages:
    9,031
    Likes Received:
    2
    The Bride in the New Testament is to be understood only in a prospective sense. That's when all believers shall make up the great General Assembly in Heaven. All denominational distinctions will be erased, since we will all know the truth. That's when it will be proper to call it the Universal Church. It will be one body.

    Until then, there is only one kind of church--the local assembly.

    There is a sense in which the church is referred to generically or institutionally--in the same way we refer to the family. But there are only real families, just as there are only real assemblies. By definition, churches assemble.

    Jesus gave the Great Commission to an assembled group (the eleven). This is the same assembly he established during his earthly ministry. He committed the ordinances to a real assembly, not some invisible entity.

    The so-called universal church is a fantasy. And its "members" are fractured, with many of them believing error at best and heresy at worst. The universal church sends no missionaries, contributes no money, baptizes no one. And, it never assembles, which is a continuing disobedience to God's command. (Heb 10:25).

    And finally, the local congregation is the only entity spoken of as having been purchased by the blood of Christ. (Acts 20:28)
     
    #12 Tom Butler, Jan 7, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 7, 2011
  13. Jarthur001

    Jarthur001 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2005
    Messages:
    5,701
    Likes Received:
    0
    hello Freeatlast,

    Give me your take on Eph 2 and 3 as it relates to the church. :)
     
  14. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2005
    Messages:
    20,080
    Likes Received:
    3,490
    Faith:
    Baptist
    The three words, "building," "body," and "bride" are metaphors to teach church truth. To try to make them "walk on all fours" is a serious error.

    Remember the three rules of bible interpretation:

    1. Context.
    2. Context.
    3. Context.
     
  15. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2004
    Messages:
    10,295
    Likes Received:
    0
    That is a lot to respond to, but I will try and keep it short. My guess is that you are leaning hard on the last verse of the 3rd chapter which reads '
    Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

    One could make the argument that all ages past, present and future are considered the church based on that passage, however in dealing with other passages Rev. for example in like manner one could just as easily see the Eph passage as saying that church throughout all ages will praise the Lord for what He has done by the church, and the passage is not holding that all people who are saved are in fact considered as the church, but they in fact have a different places in the kingdom
     
  16. Jarthur001

    Jarthur001 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2005
    Messages:
    5,701
    Likes Received:
    0
    No..not just that one verse, which only tells us that Paul is talking about the church. What does he SAY about the church in chapters 2-3?
     
  17. Jarthur001

    Jarthur001 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2005
    Messages:
    5,701
    Likes Received:
    0
    Really?

    What does he say in chapter 2 of Eph?
     
  18. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2004
    Messages:
    10,295
    Likes Received:
    0
    You will have ot be more clear. I am not sure of what you are referencing in those passages
    .
     
  19. Jarthur001

    Jarthur001 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2005
    Messages:
    5,701
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ephesians 2

    WE ALL COME FROM THE DARK KIGDOM.....



    Salvation to the Kingdom of light...


    FOR WHO???


    The book was writen to Gentiles...
    NOTICE THE WORD COVENANTS

    They did not have the covenants in the dark kingdom.


    BUT NOW THEY DO HAVE THEM.

    FAR OFF...not only from the commonwealth of Israel...but think of the temple how it was divided.
    BROKEN DOWN THE WALL....again the temple.




    ABOLISHING ordinances. Not the LAW....but the ordinaces.

    ...they are DONE ..its over with. No more.

    FOR WHO?

    OF THE TWO......For both the Jews and Greeks, For the people of the Kingdom of light.


    WHAT ARE YOU SAYING PAUL???


    This passage.. :)
     
  20. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2004
    Messages:
    10,295
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yes and I think this makes my point. Those under the law are of a different place in the kingdom. Just like the tribes will inherit things that me as a gentile will not. The church age is totally set a part in service and standing then other ages. We the church are the bride, the OT saints will be the guests to the wedding, but will not be included as the bride.
     
Loading...