The Church - A
Beautiful Bride - Isaiah 54:5
Basil Howlett - Carey Baptist Church - 21 January 2007
It’s not surprising that many people have strange ideas about the church because
they get their views from ‘the box’, not the Bible.
Because of this, we
are having a few sermons here at Carey in which we are trying to show what the
church really is. We have seen that it is not a building, but a company of
people. Not cranky people but Christians who have been forgiven by Christ. There
are two aspects to the church. The universal church consists of all true
Christians in all ages and all countries, but there are many local churches
consisting of Christian people meeting together in a certain place (e.g. in
Carey Street).
Last week we saw that the church is likened to a body.
Just as the parts of a body are all important and work together in harmony - so
it should be with members of the church.
The Bible also teaches in
Isaiah 54:5 that church is like a bride or wife - the bride of Christ(See also
Revelation 21:9, 22:17, Ephesians 5:22-24, John 3:29, Romans 7:2-4 and the Song
of Songs). Earlier in Isaiah, God warned the people of Judah that terrible days
were coming when they would be taken as prisoners of war to Babylon. From
chapter 40 onwards he comforts them with the news that after this time in exile
wonderful things would happen in their nation. In chapter 53 he tells them that
the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ would come and die to bare the punishment of
sin. Then in this 54th chapter God tells them that as a result of the coming of
Christ and death great blessings would come upon the people of God. They would
no longer need to be afraid or feel shame and disgrace, because they would have
an amazing relationship with the Lord. He would be a husband to them and they
would be his bride. It is poetic language. It means that just as a husband
belongs to his wife, so Christ belongs to those who make up the church, and just
as a wife belongs to her husband so those who make up the church belong to
Christ.
A. Why is it such a privilege to belong to Christ, just as a
wife belongs to her husband?
1. Because of who he is and what he’s
like (verse 5).
He is the great creator.
He is almighty.
He is holy.
He rules over the whole earth.
He is full of
love to the church
2. Because of what we were like before we
were linked to him.
Cinderella was so privileged to be married to a
prince because previously she had been a poor scullery maid. Christians are
privileged to be ‘married’ to Christ because previously they were guilty
sinners, and this is not pantomime pretence but reality. Isaiah uses a far more
graphic illustration (verse 4), he says we were like a poor woman, who as a
young person lived a wild, rebellious, riotous life with many lovers who all
treated her badly and then abandoned her. We were like that spiritually but now
belong to Christ,
3. Because of how we came to belong to Christ.
There’s no more amazing story than that of how Christians in the church
came to belong to the Lord.
He chose us to be his (Ephesians 1:4, John
15:16)
He paid a great price for us, A massive dowry (verse 5).
He wooed us
B. The vital question is: are we part of this
group of people who belong to Christ? If not, would you like to belong to him?
You can be part of the great church of God which belongs to Christ, just as
a wife belongs to her husband. Let me encourage you to think about this by
telling you some of the blessings and benefits Christians enjoy.
His
pardon (verse 4) ‘The shame of our youth’ is forgiven.
His wisdom (1
Corinthians 1:30).
His protection and care (Hebrews 13:6).
His
presence (Matthew 28:20).
His home (John 14:2).