THE BIBLE, THE BAPTISTS, AND THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
By Dr.
Thomas Cassidy
Pastor First Baptist Church 8758 Troy Street Spring Valley, CA 91977
© COPYRIGHT 1995 BY THE AUTHOR
www.baptistpillar.com
This work is copyrighted only to preserve the author's ownership of his work. Any part of this work may be used
without the author's permission. All that he asks is that proper credit be given. (All quotations are from the
Authorized Version)
One of the most controversial subjects being discussed in independent Baptist churches today is the identity of the
Bride of Christ. Unfortunately, more confusion exists as to the meaning of the term, than as to the identity of the
Bride. Much of the controversy surrounding the identity of the Bride is centered on our understanding of Revelation
19:7-9. "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. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the
fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 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 God."
There are many differing opinions as to the true identity of the Bride of Christ. Some say the Bride is Israel,
which will be reunited with its Messiah during the Millennium. The Old Testament does portray Israel as the "wife"
of the LORD, but describes her as unfaithful, divorced, and rejected.
Israel will be reunited with her estranged Husband at the time of the second coming, but according to Zechariah
12:10 and 13:9 that reunion will take place on earth, not in heaven as the events of Revelation 19 obviously do.
Some say the Bride is all the redeemed from all ages (John Gill's note on Matthew 22:2 in his New Testament
Expositor is a good example of this view). This cannot be true because, (a) Everyone that will be saved is not yet
saved at this time (tribulation saints, and those born and saved during the Millennium), (b) John the Baptist was
definitely saved, but said he was not part of "the Bride" (John 3:29).
And some say the Bride is "The Church", meaning the universal, invisible, mystical body of Christ made up of all of
the redeemed from the time of Christ until the rapture. This is by far the most prevalent view held today by most
Baptists. Those who hold this view generally interpret Ephesians 5:23-33 and 2 Corinthians 11:2 to mean the
"universal" church rather than the local church, to whom the letters were addressed. The problem with this position
is Eph. 4:4&5, "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord,
one faith, one baptism..." It is obvious here that the Bible clearly teaches there is only one body. This passage
does not indicate a numerical singleness, but a typical singleness. By this I mean there is only one type of true
New Testament church (called the body in Col. 1:18) . We must now ask ourselves a question. Which type of church is
the true New Testament church? Is it the "universal, invisible" church of liberal ecumenical protestantism, or the
local, visible church of the Independent Baptists?
There are three positions that prevail today. (1) The true church is local, and visible. (2) The true church is
universal and invisible. (3) The true church is both local and universal, both visible and invisible. The first
position is both logical and Biblical, having over 99 verses of Scriptural support.
The Second position is logical, but without any Scriptural support. The third position assumes the Bible is wrong,
not one (type of) body, but two (types of) body, which of course means, if the Bible is wrong, God is a liar!
So, what is the answer. Does the Bible specifically say, one way or the other, what the identity of the Bride of
Christ really is? I believe it does, and does so most emphatically.
I believe much of this confusion is based on two unfortunate facts. 1. A misunderstanding of the identity of the
true New Testament church. 2. A misunderstanding of what is meant by the term "Bride of Christ." If we can clarify
these two areas of confusion, we can make much progress in identifying the Bride of Christ.
The word "church" is used seventy-seven times in the New Testament. The word "churches" is used thirty-seven times.
Of these 114 references to "church" or "churches," by reading the context, you can see that 99 references are to
local churches. One reference is to the assembly of the Nation of Israel in the wilderness, and the remaining 14
are references to the "church" generically, that is, no church specifically, all churches in general.
In referring to the true New Testament church, the Bible uses three metaphors: The Body of Christ (Colossians 1:18,
24), The Bride of Christ (John 3:29; Rev. 18:23; 22:17 cf. Eph. 5:31-32; 2 Cor 11:2), and The Building of Christ (1
Cor 3:9; Eph. 2:21). I fear that many (if not most) who call themselves Baptists, misunderstand one, two, or
occasionally all three of these metaphors. Most Independent, Unaffiliated Baptists realize the church of the New
Testament is Local, Visible, Organized (having officers: Pastors and Deacons), and duly Constituted (having been
properly planted, exercising church authority, and having a membership roll). However, when we see the metaphors:
Body, Bride, and Building; we often revert to the "universal, invisible, mystical" thought patterns of protestant
teaching.
When we see the term "Body of Christ", we often forget this term is a metaphor used to illustrate truth concerning
the true New Testament church. The term "Body" when referring to the church is never used in a mystical fashion,
but is used simply as an identifier. Here at First Baptist Church, we have a day school ministry called Spring
Valley Baptist Academy. Our Academy has a "student body", this body is not mystical, or universal, or invisible,
but merely identifies our students as a group of young people belonging to Spring Valley Baptist Academy. The
"Body" of Christ is said to be "fitly joined together" in Eph 4:16. That word "joined" is the same root word we use
for "joint", as in the "elbow joint", the "knee joint", and so forth, indicating our body is all one piece, joined
together in one place, visible, and organized (the arm bones are connected at the elbow, if one arm bone and one
leg bone were joined at the elbow, we would not be very well organized!), and the "Body of Christ" is joined
together, in a local, visible, organized body. In like manner, "the Body of Christ" is a metaphor of identity, a
group of people, joined together, belonging to Jesus Christ!
There is nothing mystical about it. The term "Body of Christ" is simply a way to illustrate the relationship
between Jesus Christ and His local, New Testament churches. The "Body" metaphor illustrates the church's service to
the Lord. That service is Pastoral (caring for established churches), and Missionary (establishing new churches).
Every person in a true New Testament church ought to be involved in one of these areas of service. Deacons assist
the Pastor in caring for the people in the church. The Sunday School teachers help teach the people in the church.
The nursery workers help greatly in assisting the Pastor by providing safe and loving care for infants and toddlers
during the services. The members of the church assist the Pastor, and the Missionaries, by the regular giving of
their tithes and offerings. The term "Body of Christ" illustrates the relationship of Christ to His church in the
area of service.
Likewise the metaphor "Building" is simply a reference to that which Christ has built, namely His true New
Testament church (Matt, 16:18). In Eph. 2:21, the "Building" is said to be "fitly framed together." Together means
"all in one place", or local, and if local, then also visible, and organized (not a pile of wood, but a framed
together building). The term "Building" refers to the relationship between Christ and His church in the area of His
guarding, keeping, and protecting the church. As a building is a place of shelter and safety during a storm, so
also is the true New Testament church a place where we will be kept safe and sheltered from the storms of daily
life, and be protected from the onslaughts of the world, the flesh, and the devil. The "Building" or Temple of God
also speaks of our worship of Him as a "Royal Priesthood," offering Spiritual Sacrifices to Him who is our keeper
and protector. Now we come to the "Bride." Each true New Testament church is pictured as a bride, with Christ as
the Bridegroom. This metaphor is used to illustrate the love relationship of Christ for His churches, and the
obligation for the Lord's churches to be faithful, in contrast to the false churches that are pictured as a harlot
in Revelation chapter 17. "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me,
saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:"
This false church is (a) unfaithful [a great whore] (b) condemned [under judgment] (c) universal [sitteth upon many
waters]. This chapter goes on to say, "With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the
inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication," which identifies this false church
as a state church ("with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication"), formalistic ("And the woman was
arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in
her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:"), and persecutes the true New Testament church of
Jesus Christ ("And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of
Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration."). So we see that the term "Bride" refers to the
relationship of Christ to His churches in the area of purity (separation), and possession (the Bride belongs to the
Bridegroom), in contrast to the false, unfaithful "church" called a "harlot".
There are two passages of Scripture to search in order to properly identify the Bride. In Genesis chapter 24 we see
a beautiful picture of the Bride. Abraham (type of God the Father), sends his servant (type of the Holy Spirit),
into a far country to call out a bride for his son Isaac (type of the Lord Jesus Christ). In reading this passage
there are some very important things to notice. (1) The servant (the type of the Holy Spirit) was sent (in verse 4)
"unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac." The servant was sent only to the country
(kingdom) of the Father, to call out a wife only from the kindred (family) of the Father. In the New Testament the
Kingdom of God is clearly identified as consisting of all of the redeemed (Matt 8:11; Luke 13:28-29), and the
family of God (Eph. 3:15) is identified as also including all of the redeemed. It is from this kingdom, and from
this family, that the servant is instructed to call out a bride for the son. The bride is to come out of the
kingdom of the father, and out of the family of the father. You will notice that Isaac did not marry the whole
family, but only one part of the family, Rebekah (the one who was faithful in doing all that the servant asked of
her). All of the redeemed will not be part of the Bride, but only those members of the family of God who have
proved their love for the Lord through true obedience to His Word, by being faithful to His true New Testament
church, and all that church membership entails.
The second passage that we must look closely at is Hebrews chapter 12:22-24. "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and
unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general
assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits
of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that
speaketh better things than [that of] Abel." Here we see a prophecy of our coming into heaven and seeing all that
is in store for us there. We see first of all (1) an innumerable company of angels, (2) the general assembly, (3)
the church of the first born, (4) God the Judge, and (5) the spirits of just men made perfect, (6) Jesus the
mediator, and (7) the blood of sprinkling.
Number
1, the angels, is self explanatory.
Number
2, the general assembly, is an interesting group. In the time of Christ the Greek nation was divided
into many independent City-States. Each City-State had its own Assembly, or governing body, that made all of the
laws for that City-State, and functioned as a general court of last appeal.
We see this City-State Assembly illustrated in Acts 19:28-41. However, all of the people living in the Greek nation
at that time did not live in one of the organized City-States, some lived in the rural areas, not under the
governing authority of any of the City-States. These un-represented people (not part of any particular assembly)
would meet together once a year in a great General Assembly and conduct the business of the rural areas of the
nation. The Bible says there will be a General Assembly in heaven, that is, a group of people who are not
represented by, or under the authority of, any of the organized specific assemblies. The Bible clearly identifies
the specific Assembly as the local New Testament church (see Scripture quotations from above paragraphs). This
heavenly "General Assembly" are clearly those folks from the gospel era who were saved, but were never baptized
into the membership of, and faithful to, any of the Lord's specific assemblies, the New Testament churches.
Number
3, the Church of the First Born, is that group of saved, baptized people who were members of, and
faithful to, the Lord's (the First Born, Col. 1:18) true New Testament churches.
Number
4, God the Judge is also self explanatory.
Number
5, the spirits of just men made perfect, is a reference to the Old Testament saints according to
Hebrews 11:32-40.
The
rest, 6 & 7, are also self explanatory.
So then, we see there will be a gathering in heaven of three distinct groups of redeemed people, (a) the General
Assembly (those saved during the Gospel era, but not members of, or under the authority of, any Special Assembly),
(b) the Church (Special Assembly) of the First Born, and (c) the spirits of just men made perfect (Old Testament
Saints). These three groups will be (a) General Assembly: the friends of the Groom (John 3:29), (b) the church: the
Bride (Eph. 5:31), (c), Old Testament Saints: the honored Guests (Rev. 19:9). We see, therefore, that the Bride of
Christ is not all of the redeemed, nor even all of the saved from the Gospel Era (Church Age), but only those
faithful members of true New Testament churches.
WAIT A MINUTE!!! It sounds to me like the writer of this article is a "Baptist Brider." That depends on what you
think a "Baptist Brider" is.
If the average Christian is asked for a definition of the "Baptist Bride" position, he would be hard pressed to
give an intelligible answer. Some would say the "Baptist Bride" position means "Only Baptists are going to Heaven."
Others would say, "Only Baptists will be raptured." Others would say only, "I don't know." If the Baptist Bride
position means only Baptists are going to heaven, then I'm not a Baptist Brider. If the Baptist Bride position
means only Baptists will be raptured (partial rapture theory), then I'm not a Baptist Brider (nowhere does the
Bible ever teach the "rapture of the Church", but it does teach the rapture of the saints, all of them: Old
Testament saints, New Testament saints, church members, and non-church members, all will be caught up to meet the
Lord in the air). But if you believe the Baptist Bride position means the Bride of Christ will be made up of those
who have been faithful to the true New Testament church of Jesus Christ, then, yep, I'm a Baptist Brider! I have to
be. You see, I believe the Bible - all of it! The Bible says the Bride is the Church. It also says the Church is
local and visible. If you have a local, visible church, then you must also have a local visible Bride, for the
Bible teaches they are one and the same thing. If you have a universal Bride, you must also have a universal
church, for they are still one and the same thing!
Why is all of this so important? If we win souls, but do not make every effort possible to baptize them into local
New Testament Baptist churches, and teach them to be faithful to the local New Testament church, we cheat those
precious souls out their full reward (2 John 1:8). A proper understanding of the true New Testament church is
absolutely necessary in order for our church members to realize it is their faithfulness to their local church that
will enable them to be called out of the family of God and placed into the Bride of Christ following the judgment
seat of Christ, at the Marriage feast of the Lamb, and receive their full reward. Every pastor must be made to
understand that his job is to: Pray, Prepare, Preach, Protect, Preserve, and Perfect the Flock. The pastor's final
task will be to Present the church, the Bride of Christ, faultless, a chaste virgin, to the Bridegroom, the Lord
Jesus Christ, at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb. Think about it.
|
