Throughout the Bible, the language of marriage is used to describe the relationship between God and His people. In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel was metaphorically identified as God’s bride or wife (Isaiah 54:6; Jeremiah 2:2; 3:20; Ezekiel 16:8). In the New Testament, the church is metaphorically referred to as Christ’s bride or wife (Romans 7:1-4; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:22-27; Revelation 19:7). What impact should our identity as Christ’s bride have on the way we live?
EPHESIANS 5:22-27
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”