Lesson #18
The Chaste Bride Of Christ
Christians, who make up the Lord’s one true church, are the bride of Christ. Paul told the church at Corinth, "For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:2). When we are baptized for the remission of our sins so we can be saved it is then that "the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47). It is then that we were cleansed from all our past sins and purified. "Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:25-27). "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth" (1 Peter 1:22), we must continue to keep ourselves pure. Jesus says, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). Only if we stay pure will we get to be with God in Heaven.
Because of our hope of Heaven, "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:3). We are to "neither be partaker of other men's sins; keep yourself pure" ((1 Timothy 5:22). We must put away all sinful practices out of our lives. "But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting which are not fitting, but rather giving thanks" (Ephesians 5:3-4). But we must "keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27). We are to "Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11). We are to "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth" (Ephesians 4:29). We are not to let any sin corrupt our lives.
To be pleasing to our Lord we are not to, "be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2). So we can go to heaven, "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). We must be pure and acceptable to our Lord as His bride. "But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct" (1 Peter 1:15).
As the bride of Christ we must be obedient to Christ. We must follow only the doctrine of Christ, which is found only in the Bible. We are to hold "the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience" (1 Timothy 3:9). We are to "not be carried about with various and strange doctrines" (Hebrews 13:9) of men, "because there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ" (Galatians 1:7). Those who follow the doctrines of men are following the "doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1), and not Christ.
What is Christ going to do with His chaste bride, which is His one church? Ephesians 5:23 says, "Christ is the head of the church and He is the Saviour of the body". Christ is only the Saviour of His one church. Christ only gave Himself for His church "which He purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28). Christ only died for His one church.
Questions Lesson #18
The
Chaste Bride Of Christ
(Click on the button of the answer
of your choice)
1) (Ephesians 5:25-27) How is the church cleansed?
It isn't cleansed.
With the washing of water by the word.
It doesn't need to be cleansed.
2) (2 Corinthians 11:2) The Lord's church is the chaste bride of Christ.
3) (Matthew 5:8) Who will see God?
Most people.
No one will see Him.
The pure in heart.
4) (1 Timothy 5:2) It is alright to be a partaker of other men's sins.
5) (1 John 3:3) Because of our hope of Heaven, what should we do?
Keep ourselves pure.
Live like the world.
It is alright to sin some.
6) (James 1:27) We must keep ourselves unspotted from the world.
7) (1 Peter 2:11) What do the lusts of the flesh do?
Gives us much pleasure.
War against the soul.
Sometimes it is alright to enjoy the lusts of the flesh.
8) (Ephesians 4:29) It is alright to let corrupt communication to proceed out of our mouth.
9) (Romans 12:2) How are we transformed from the sins of this world?
By renewing our minds with the word of God.
By conforming to this world.
By accepting the world in its sins.
10) (1 Peter 1:15) Because God who called us is holy, we are to be holy.
11) (2 Corinthians 7:1) Of what are we to cleanse ourselves?
The dirt on our skin.
Our dirty clothes.
All filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
12) (1 Timothy 3:9) We are to hold the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
13) (Hebrews 13:9) With what are we not to be carried away with?
An automobile that is need of repair.
Various and strange doctrines of men.
The wind.
14) (Galatians 1:7) There are some people who want to pervert the gospel of Christ.