Who is The Bride of Christ?

Welcome to Truth Time, where you'll get a shot of the truth with no chaser.
And now your Truth Time host, Trey Searcy.
And welcome to another Truth Time transmission.
Today we're addressing a listener comment. Sean called in and left us a voice message. We thank you, Sean.
Sean thinks that we, who are saved members of the church today, are the bride of Christ being spoken of in the scripture.
So today we're going to try to clear up the confusion and find out just who the Bible declares to be the bride of Christ.
Today, we're addressing a Truth Time listener comment.
A caller who thinks the church, the body of Christ, is also the bride of Christ.
So just how is it that this listener, like some others, perhaps even you, came to believe that he is the bride of Christ?
Well, he probably heard it taught from the pulpit. Either his favorite TV, radio, or local church pastor told him that he was the bride of Christ.
Now the question is, what did he do?
Did he put that theory to the test?
Did he open the Bible and study this out for himself?
How about this?
Let's not only read, but let's actually believe the Bible.
Can we do that?
How about we just let the bride of Christ be who the Bible declares the bride of Christ to be?
We start with Revelation chapter 19 verses 7 through 9.
Here we see John speaking of the marriage of the lamb, the wife that gets herself ready, and we're even told that she will be arrayed in clean white vine linen.
Paul in Ephesians 4:16 tells us that the whole body is fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth.
And in Ephesians chapter 5 verse 30 we find out that we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Think about that.
What need would we have for a marriage?
We have no need for the. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join..."
To join who?
Jesus Christ with his body?
Jesus is never apart from his body.
We just read we're already members of his flesh and of his bones.
And if that weren't enough, the body of Christ is masculine, not feminine.
We're God's husband, not his wife.
However, Israel is referred to over and over throughout the Bible as female.
In the book of Lamentations chapter 1 verses 1 through 7, Israel is spoken of in every single verse as she or her.
But you and I, members of the church of the body of Christ, we're called the one new man.
Every single passage in the Bible that refers to this marriage between the bride and the bridegroom is never referring to us.
It's referring to Israel and not the church, the body of Christ.
Are you saved?
If so, you can thank God that you're already joined with Christ.
Instead of comparing preacher with preacher, instead of comparing commentary with commentary, let's just let God in his Bible answer our questions.
Let's just examine the evidence and let the evidence speak.
Ephesians chapter 2 verse 15.
Here we're told that Christ has "...abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;"
Now don't miss this.
Listen closely.
"...for to make in himself of twain one new man..."
Did you get that? The body of Christ is, and I quote, one new man.
Not a woman, not a bride.
Look at 1 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 9.
It reads as follows.
"For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry,..."
Husbandry, not his wife, but his husbandry.
We have no reason to be married to someone that we're already joined to.
However, Israel did.
Jeremiah 31:32 will bear that out.
There we find that God was the husband to Israel.
They divorced in Jeremiah 3:8, but Hosea chapter 2 declares there's going to be a future remarriage. It'll be between Jesus and Israel.
As the evidence continues to mount, let's look at Matthew chapter 9 verse 15.
"And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast."
Here's our solution.
Just let the bride of Christ be who the Bible says it is.
It's important that we be who we are, standing Colossians 2:10 complete in Christ.
Now that's logical, isn't it?
I mean, I'm no expert, but the hook has to go through the worm, does it not?
In Revelations chapter 21 verse 9, Jesus tells John that he's going to show him the bride.
And in verse 10, he shows John a great city, the holy Jerusalem that descends out of heaven.
And in verse 12, we see that in this city, there are 12 gates, 12 angels, and the 12 tribes of the children of Israel.
There's 12 tribes.
These tribes have names.
What tribe do you belong to?
Now this is fascinating.
Your church has you believing that this is you.
However, that same church will also preach on Galatians chapter 3 verse 28.
There we find out that in Christ, there's neither Jew nor Greek.
But in Revelation chapter 21 verses 9 to 11, we just read about the 12 tribes of the children of Israel, with their 12 gates and their holy city of Jerusalem.
So, while Paul tells us members of the church, the body of Christ, there's no more distinction between Jew and Gentile, Revelation chapter 21 does make a distinction.
This bride of Christ is the holy city of Jerusalem, with its 12 gates, 12 tribes, and the children of Israel.
That's a clear distinction.
You see, none of this fits with who you are.
None of this fits with you, who are the Ephesians 2:15, one new man, and the 2 Corinthians 5:17, new creature.
You're a member of the church, the body of Christ.
You see, the 21st chapter of the book of Revelation should not be hard to understand if you've studied Matthew chapter 19.
In Matthew 19 verse 28, we read this, "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
I don't see you there, nor do you.
That's just plain old tradition.
You've tried to fit yourself in here, but you just don't fit.
But my, isn't it clear when we just rightly divide the word of truth.
You see, in Christ, there's neither Jew nor Gentile.
So, the bride cannot be you.
We just examine the evidence, and it's clearly talking about a great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven, with 12 gates, 12 angels, and the 12 tribes of Israel.
In Christ, there is no distinction.
But here in the book of Revelation, there clearly is.
In Christ, the church, the body of Christ is made up of many members, and there's no distinction between Jew, Gentile, male or female, bond or free.
But in Revelation 21, and anywhere else in the Bible that speaks of the bride of Christ, there absolutely is.
There is a distinction.
Again, examine this evidence for yourself.
1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 13 says that whether we be Jews or Gentiles, by one spirit, we've all been baptized into one body.
At the moment we're saved, we are placed in Him, in Christ.
We have no need for a future marriage when we're already in Christ.
But, Israel does.
Acts chapter 3 verse 19 is proof of that.
Acts chapter 3 verse 19, repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
Now, it's easy to see that here, Peter is saying sins are yet to be blotted out.
And Peter also tells you when they will be.
When Jesus, the Lamb, returns for His bride, the holy city of Jerusalem, its 12 gates, 12 angels, and the 12 tribes of the children of Israel.
You see, I can only present the truth, but it's your responsibility not to fall prey to the religious mind conditioning.
Don't believe me.
Hey, anything I can talk you into, someone else can talk you out of.
Do your own independent research.
I'm just here to sound the alarm.
We who are saved by faith alone in His finished cross work are resting, resting in the fact that our sins have been paid for.
Our sins being completely paid for is the objective reality.
But subjectively, there are countless people that have not been able to enjoy it due to their unbelief.
As I've said before, no one in this dispensation of grace is going to go to hell because of their sins.
They'll go there for their unbelief.
Picture salvation as your brand new dream home.
Now, all the work on your home has been done.
It's complete.
The price that you could not afford has been paid.
This home has been bought.
It's fully purchased and the only thing now is for you to simply move in.
But instead, you've chosen to leave it vacant, unoccupied.
So what happens?
Well, it sits vacant.
It's yours, but you refused it.
And finally, there comes death.
And sadly, because of your unbelief, you were never able to enter in and take ownership of what was rightfully yours.
Will you receive by faith this free gift?
You can have it.
Just accept it.
Just believe it.
That is what Christ accomplished on the cross, and He done it for you on your behalf.
You've read in Romans 3:24 where it plainly says that our justification is a free gift.
Objectively, it's been fully purchased on your behalf.
But subjectively, your unbelief has not allowed you to possess it.
Imagine the sadness that this must bring God.
To think that Jesus, the God-man, came to earth, a man who knew no sin but was made to be sin for you, 2 Corinthians 5:21.
He took your wrath and punishment on the cross, yet you reject it by mixing your own self-effort with his free gift, making it of no effect.
This objective reality will never be your subjective experience apart from you taking God at his word and believing it.
The only way to heaven is by faith in the finished cross-work of Christ.
Not to be confused, or as my friend Stacy says, corn-fused, with the cross-work of Christ.
The cross-work of Christ and the finished cross-work of Christ not only sound different, they are different.
Every Christian church in every city in every state of every country all around the world believes in the cross-work of Christ.
But that number drops drastically when you search for those who believe in the finished cross-work of Christ.
Satan does not want you to get this.
Satan did not want Christ to go to the cross and reconcile all humanity unto himself.
And if he would have known that this was the purpose of the cross, he would have tried to prevent it, 1 Corinthians 2 verse 8.
But the fact of Christ dying for our reconciliation was a secret hid in God and kept from Satan.
And it was only later that this secret was revealed to Paul, Romans 16:25.
You see, there is sensical thinking and there is nonsensical thinking.
There is going with the law of non-contradiction, and there is going against the law of non-contradiction.
There is rightly dividing the word of truth, and there is wrongly dividing the word of truth.
Not long ago, I heard testimony of someone who said he was saved by asking God to save him.
News flash, asking God to save you, won't save you.
Why would you ask a man who has done everything to do anything as if he hadn't already done enough?
Listen, Christ finished, F-I-N-I-S-H-E-D, all the work necessary for your soul to be saved.
And you're going to ask him to do, what?
You're going to ask him to save you?
What's there left for him to do?
What's there left for him to do in order to complete your salvation?
Many of the religious ideas we've all learned about over the years are not even biblical.
The truth sets you free, and the devil doesn't want you free.
After all, there's no truth in him and he's nothing but a liar and the father of it, John chapter 8 verse 44.
If knowing the truth sets you free, then what will lies do to you?
Lies will only suppress and oppress, putting you under bondage.
Legalism will take you and your pride for a ride.
You'll travel down the Look at Me highway and end up at the corner of Crash and Burn Drive.
Legalism is the greatest weapon the enemy uses today.
Take off your legalistic lenses and put on your grace glasses.
And take a fresh look at what God's been trying to get you to see for your entire life.
Focusing on behavioral modifications for salvation is one of Satan's greatest weapons.
Take your eyes off yourself and look to the cross.
Today, we're addressing a Truth Time listener comment.
A caller who thinks the church, the body of Christ, is also the bride of Christ.
When searching for the truth, it's important that you do your own research.
I encourage you to do your own research, and anything that you hear me say that cannot be supported with scripture rightly divided, must be thrown out.
Now, on the subject of bridal theology.
Bridal theology is pagan in its origin.
It's a false teaching that began in the church of Rome.
It's Roman Catholicism.
Revelation chapter 21 verses 12 and 14 leave no room for guessing to whom this bride of Christ city is being built for.
Verse 12 tells us that this city had a wall great and high with 12 gates, and at the gates, 12 angels.
And the names written there are the names of the 12 tribes of the children of Israel.
You're not in a tribe.
You're not in one of the tribes of Israel.
You never have been and you never will be.
Now, verse 14 describes the wall of the city as having 12 foundations, and in them the names of the 12 apostles.
This city is not to be spiritualized by your pastor.
It's a literal physical city with real material, and according to verses 15 to 17, has three dimensions with gates located in the north, the south, and on the west sides of the city.
Now listen to me.
Right now, God and Israel are divorced.
Believing Israel is awaiting their resurrection and their Acts 3:19 time, when they'll be in the presence of the Lord and he'll blot out their sins.
They'll then be remarried and celebrate a 1,000 year honeymoon in their earthly kingdom.
Make no mistake, Christ will not marry his own body.
Those who fail to rightly divide the word of truth will fall for the bride of Christ theology.
It's this sort of teaching that will have you thinking you must do works to become without spot or wrinkle.
For the most part, Rome has been successful with spreading this bridal theology.
Now, Christianity looks like all other world religions.
Christianity now looks like a house of cards religion supported by your own self-effort.
Most are ignorant to the free gift of righteousness promised to all who would by faith take God at his word, believing that Christ died for all their sins.
Instead, they think he died for some and they're going to take care of the rest.
The scriptures are explicitly clear and nowhere do we find where Paul ever taught that the body of Christ is also his bride.
We're called the sons of God, and we're called the church, but never, not once, are we referred to as the bride of Christ.
Again, this is Roman Catholicism.
Roman Catholic priests take an oath of celibacy, and they marry the church.
This is where the term bride of Christ originally came from.
In Jeremiah 3:14, we read this, "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:"
Now who does this sound like Jeremiah's addressing?
Israel, not the church.
Those who teach the church as being the bride of Christ, do so while saying that we must make ourselves ready.
But when the word of truth is rightly divided, it becomes clear that Ephesians 5 verse 25-27 and Revelation chapter 19 verse 7 are saying different things about the same thing.
They both say different things about being ready.
Revelation chapter 19 verse 7, "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready."
Ephesians 5:25-27, here we see that Christ loved the church so much that he made us ready.
He made us ready.
He gave himself for the church.
Why?
That he might sanctify and cleanse it and present it to himself a glorious church without spot or wrinkle.
So you see, while Revelation 19:7 says the wife did the work and made herself ready, in Ephesians chapter 5 we see that Christ did the work and made us ready.
Folks, things that are different can't be the same.
We've been made righteous and without spot or blemish in our standing before God.
We don't do anything to become ready, to become righteous.
We already are.
The church is not awaiting a marriage ceremony where two then become one.
We're already one with Jesus now.
If you believe that you're the bride, you're committing spiritual fornication.
You're having an intimate relationship with the Lord prior to marriage.
There's no works for the church the body of Christ to do to get themselves ready in preparation to meet the Lord Jesus Christ.
Titus 3:5 says, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,..."
Making preparations to get ourselves ready is works.
Paul never speaks of Jesus as the Lamb of God and for good reason.
Paul's epistles reveal the revelation of the mystery, not prophecy.
In prophecy, Christ was the Lamb of God.
He was sinless and without spot or blemish.
He was described as being the victim.
He was the innocent Lamb that was led to the slaughter.
But now we have a new dispensation and Christ is no longer seen as the victim, but rather the victor.
Paul describes him in 1 Corinthians 2:8 as the Lord of glory who conquered sin through his death and resurrection.
No longer the Isaiah 53:7 oppressed, afflicted lamb that won't open his mouth.
Thank God for what Christ did for us on the cross.
The free gift of salvation that's provided to all humanity.
We take advantage of that by faith, and by faith alone.
Rightly dividing the word of truth clears away the confusion.
In your Bible, there are those who are looking to inherit the Matthew 5:5 earthly kingdom.
These kingdom saints were never given the assurance of their salvation.
Remember, they were instructed to overcome and endure to the end for their salvation, Matthew 10:22.
Not so for the church, the body of Christ.
We're eternally secure and have assurance of it.
As members of his body, we're Ephesians 1:6, accepted in the beloved and therefore complete in him, Colossians 2:10.
I'm Trey Searcy and now you know the truth.