Correspondence

 •  7 min. read  •  grade level: 9
 
Question: It is held by some that the Bride and the church (all Christians) are two distinct bodies of people, and that the Bride is absolutely Jewish. Is this so? or do we understand that all the Lord’s people compose the Bride? H. M.
Answer: All who are saved, believers, sealed by the Holy Spirit, from Pentecost till the coming of the Lord for His saints, both Jews and Gentiles, are the church of God, the Body and the Bride of Christ, and will be that in heavenly glory for all eternity (Eph. 3:2121Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:21)).
The Lord compares Himself to a Bridegroom to His earthly people Israel (Isa. 62:55For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. (Isaiah 62:5); Matt. 9:1515And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. (Matthew 9:15); Luke 5:34, 3534And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? 35But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. (Luke 5:34‑35); Mark 2:19, 2019And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. (Mark 2:19‑20); and in John 3:2929He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (John 3:29) John the Baptist speaks of Him in that way). Song of Solomon and other scriptures in the Old Testament are about Israel primarily. There are many types and figures of the church in the Old Testament, but it is spoken of only in the New Testament. The Lord in Matthew 16:1818And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18) says, “On this rock I will build My assembly,” showing that it was yet future. The revelation and administration of the mystery of Christ and the Church, His Body and His Bride, was committed to Paul (Rom. 16:25, 2625Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: (Romans 16:25‑26); Eph. 3:2, 32If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, (Ephesians 3:2‑3); Col. 1:2525Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; (Colossians 1:25)).
We find that it takes in all who are converted in this present period of grace to men, both Jews and Gentiles (1 Cor. 12:12, 1312For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12‑13). Eph. 2:11-1811Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Ephesians 2:11‑18)). Ephesians 5:2222Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22) to 33 describes the mystic union of Christ and the church, as His Body and His Bride. In Ephesians 1:22, 23,22And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22‑23) she is seen in heavenly glory in God’s purposes as the fullness or complement of Him who filleth all in all, as in the type (Gen. 1:2626And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26)), “Let them have dominion.”
Revelation 19:7-97Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9And 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. (Revelation 19:7‑9) is her marriage. Revelation 21:22And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (Revelation 21:2) she is seen in her pristine beauty as the object of His affection in eternity. Revelation 21:99And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. (Revelation 21:9) to 22:5 she is seen as the wife displaying the glory of Christ, and reigning with Him, and in Revelation 22:16,17,16I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:16‑17) where He announces Himself as the Root and Offspring of David, and the Bright, Morning Star, she is, in company with the Holy Spirit, saying, “Come,” and in verse 20 says, “Even so, Come, Lord Jesus.”
“Tis Thy heavenly Bride and Spirit, Jesus, Lord! that bid Thee come.”
Question: What scriptures did the Old Testament saints have about their resurrection? T. H.
Answer: The common faith of the Jews confessed a resurrection both of the just and of the unjust (Acts 24:14, 1514But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 15And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (Acts 24:14‑15)). The Sadducees—the infidels, the higher critics and modernists of those days—denied the resurrection, but Jesus proved them wrong (Matt. 22:23-3223The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27And last of all the woman died also. 28Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. (Matthew 22:23‑32) and Acts 23:6-86But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 7And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 8For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. (Acts 23:6‑8)). Things concerning the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that were to follow in resurrection, are found in Moses, the Psalms and the Prophets (Luke 24:25-27, 44-4725Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:25‑27)
44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:44‑47)).
Job looked forward to it (19:25, 26). Abraham, Isaac and Jacob looked on to it (Heb. 11:1313These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13)). To those who have eyes to see, the Old Testament blessing depends on it (Heb. 11:4040God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40)). The Psalms cannot be fulfilled without it. Psalm 2, 8, 16, 21, 22, 24, 68, 102, 110, are a few of them about Christ’s resurrection, which is the guarantee of the saints, and the world as well.
Answer: In the former it is the basis of our communion or fellowship (these are the same words). The cup is first, for the first thought is that we are redeemed. The bread next is the thought of unity—we are all members of one body by being sealed with the Holy Spirit. These give our first claim to be at the Lord’s table—redeemed by His blood, and united by the Spirit, give us communion together.
In 11:23-26, it is the supper, and here we have the remembrance of the Lord in His death and for us. Here the bread comes first, expressing the love that gave Himself for us. Then the cup reminds us of how His blood was shed, which tells of atonement made for sin, covering Israel’s sins and laying the ground for their blessing in the New Covenant; also for many, the Gentiles, and for you, bringing it to the hearts of all His own. We thus find a precious and blessed feast of love for our souls, that if entered into, takes us captive in the claims of His love, which many waters could not quench, nor the floods drown.
Question: Is there a difference in baptism of the Spirit, and being sealed by the Spirit? F.
Sealing by the Spirit of God coming to dwell in each believer, since that time, marks them out as children of God, and also unites them each into the body that was formed at Pentecost.
Answer: Paul, the Apostle, had been used of the Lord in the conversion of the Corinthian assembly (Acts 18; 1 Cor. 3:10; 4:1510According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (1 Corinthians 3:10)
15For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. (1 Corinthians 4:15)). He was therefore greatly concerned when he heard of how sadly they were behaving themselves. So out of much sorrow and anguish of heart he had written to them (2 Cor. 2:44For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. (2 Corinthians 2:4)) telling them that he had heard how they were divided from each other in heart (chap. 1:11; 3:3); of their worldliness (4:8); of fornication among them (5:1); of taking each other to law (6:1-8); of marriage (chap. 7); of eating meat offered to idols (chap. 8); of their abuse of the Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11); and of the denial of the resurrection (chap. 15:12).
After writing his first epistle out of much affliction and anguish of heart, he waited to hear from Titus the effect upon them, and rejoiced in their repentance (2 Cor. 7:6-116Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. 8For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. (2 Corinthians 7:6‑11)). The second epistle goes on to show that some among them might still be unrepentant (12:20, 21). Evil teachers had influence over them, and in 2 Corinthians 11:12-15,12But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:12‑15) he is exposing such, and in verses 3, 4. With a heart filled with earnest desire for their good, he reminds them that he had taught them that they belonged to Christ as His Body and His Bride, a blessed truth for each dear child of God to take in, to keep the heart out of the world and worldly pleasures, that if indulged in “war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:1111Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; (1 Peter 2:11)).
“Godly jealousy” means that with warm-hearted zeal and desire, he aims at keeping them true in heart for Christ; to keep them from forgetting their first love, reminding them that they were espoused to Christ, and are no longer their own. (1 Cor. 6:19, 2019What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:19‑20)).