The relationship God has with His people is likened to a marriage. Paul writes, “For I am jealous for you with godly jealously. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to the Christ” (2 Cor. 11:2). Betrothal is similar to our engagement but was much more binding and required a divorce to end it. As expected during this period, the bridegroom is to remain a virgin. Another passage that uses this imagery is Romans 7:4. It reads, “Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another – to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.” We are married to One who has been raised from the dead. Again, Ephesians 5:22-31 reads, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and 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. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” As the bridegroom
says in the Song of Songs: “Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee” (4:7).
The most intimate of human relationships is the marriage relationship and it is fitting that God would use this to describe the relationship between the saints and Himself. The picture is a depiction of the entire body of Christ, rather than as individuals. Some might argue that this is an example of corporate identity. Certainly, this is a valid and accurate point. However, do not confuse this with efforts to institutionalize the body. To appreciate any comparisons drawn between God and His bride, consider some key truths about first-century marriages.
In ancient Israel, brides were usually chosen by the father of the bridegroom. He would send his most trusted servant to search for a bride for his son. An example of this ancient practice is seen when Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for his son Isaac (Genesis 24:2-9). Eliezer found Rebekah for Isaac. In a spiritual context, Jesus would later say, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain . . “ (John 15:16). The called-out has been chosen to be part of Christ’s bride. As is often true that the bride learns about her future husband through the servant without having ever him, so God’s servants reveal the bride’s husband before seeing him. In this sense, Paul could write, “I have betrothed you to one husband…” (2 Corinthians 11:2). The Holy Spirit has a role in this revelation, also. So, the bride chooses to love her Bridegroom sight unseen. Peter writes, “Who having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. . .” (1 Pet. 1:8). Matthew 22 gives another example of a king who prepared a marriage for his son and sent out servants to call those who had been invited to the wedding. Those invited did not come. In a spiritual context, servants of God go out into the highways and byways compelling souls to come. The point of emphasis, once again, is that the Father selects the bride for the bridgegroom.