A Bride Prepared
Jesus Warns the Church
Over and over in the
Scriptures, Jesus warns His Bride to be prepared. Do we recognize that
the warnings are for us – and not for somebody else? Jesus gives
us the parable of the person who came to the marriage supper not having
the proper wedding garment. The proper wedding garment is symbolic of
the preparedness and righteousness of the saints. The person who shows
up unprepared is cast into outer darkness where there is
weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 22:2-14). Christ shows that some
people will think that they are righteous – when they are not. That is
a warning for us today, as much as Jesus’ message to the
Laodiceans is a forewarning to those of us in these last days to
zealously repent (Revelation 3:19).
“The Kingdom of Heaven is
like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for His Son.”
(Matthew 22:2) When Jesus, speaking of His own marriage to His Bride
ends the parable with the warning in verse 14, “Many are called,
but few are chosen” – that should shock us out of our
complacency, spur us into action, and wake us up. Jesus issues these
warnings to us because He knows that our generation possesses an
inherent weakness – a proclivity to excuse ourselves. It seems that
most of the brethren would rather think of themselves as faultless
Philadelphians, rather than heed what the Spirit says to all the
churches – especially the Laodiceans.
Without a doubt, many brethren in the last day will go into the tribulation because of their
half-hearted approach to their faith. Though they have been the
recipients of bountiful peace, copious fellowship, and a wealth of
doctrinal truth, they do not yet possess the full spirit of unity and
brotherly love that Jesus requires of His Bride (Revelation 3:17).
“Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
(Ephesians 4:3).
It is crucial that we make good use of the short time that remains. God has
mercifully given us this present time to go on to perfection. Will we use the time
wisely? The continuingly divided nature of many groups of brethren
suggests otherwise. Those who are wise will qualify for the place of
safety and escape the time of Jacob’s trouble. “Alas! for that day
is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's
trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” (Jeremiah
30:7)
During the Tribulation when Satan goes to make war with the remnant, there will be an
additional number of brethren who will stand-up, be counted, lay down
their lives, and come out of the Tribulation. “These are they who
came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14, 12:17)
They will also be the Bride of Christ in the first resurrection because
they really lived their interactive faith – loving God, and
interrelating on a spiritual plane with the brethren.
Who among the brethren will have the fortitude to openly stand against the policies of the
Beast Power? It will be the hardest thing they have ever been
called upon to do. Those who have believed themselves to be
“pillars in the Church,” who have been used to enjoying the advantages
and privileges of the elite, will have the most difficult challenge.
How many will respond negatively – caving in – as so many brethren and ministers
did in going right along with the false teachings of the apostasy? At the end, Jesus
said that the very elect would be deceived, if possible. “For there
shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great
signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall
deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:24) Are we so brash as to
suppose that it could not possibly happen to us?
The Pretentious Church of God
The
Bride-to-be should be taking the responsibility to prepare herself,
seriously – and not just for show. After all, we answer to Jesus Christ
– and no one else. When it comes to doctrine and Biblical
understanding, we have been given more than any people in history. It
would be easy to get puffed up and superior-minded when thinking, “We
have so much more than others.” But, that is not an appropriate
response for the great blessings we have been afforded. Jesus said,
“Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”
(Luke 12:48) Think
about how much God is going to hold us accountable because we have the
whole Word of God; we know and understand the plan of God; we have the
freedom and means to celebrate the Holy Days; we have the privilege to
be able to keep the weekly Sabbath and the annual Passover; and we are
fed continually with good literature and sermons expounding on the
Scriptures.
The Church of God is
puffed up, and has not humbled itself and become unified – not even to
fulfill the last request of Jesus – Father that they may be one.
(John 17) We will give an answer to Christ if we fail to do everything
possible to achieve unity with all true Christians. “These things,
brethren, I have, for your sakes… written, that no one of you be puffed
up one against another.” (1 Corinthians 4:6) Paul wrote that verse
because there existed an arrogance among the membership that said, "Our
group is best, and we cannot be bothered to help a brother from another
faction into the Kingdom of God."
Eight times
the Scriptures tell us that God is no respecter of persons.
“There is no respect of persons with God.” (Romans
2:11) Neither can we be respecters of persons. This is
another dangerous trait of the Church of God that the Bride must avoid.
It manifests itself in those who have the viewpoint that God has
selected only them to be the “very elect.” After all, they reason
that they made the right decision at the right time to go with the right
group. And, since they are so certain of their exclusive tie to
God, they make it a priority to convince others to join with them – and
they reject or loathe those who will not join them.
Those people
who think that God loves them alone because of some unique understanding
they possess do not see their own weakness and pride. Let us pray to
understand the mercy and the mind of Christ.
The Bride Judges Rightly
We are
warned not to be judgmental with insensitive feelings toward the inept,
neither those who lack influence, nor those who are less educated than
others. We are also not to have respect of persons by giving
preferential treatment to those who are rich, articulate, politically
savvy, and more socially adept, while dishonoring the less well-to-do.
The latter are the potential Bride of Christ in the Kingdom of God (1
Corinthians 1:27).
“My brethren, do not have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of
glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your
assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in
also a poor man in work clothes, and you give preferential treatment
to him that wears the fine clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in
a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under
my footstool: Are ye not then divisive in yourselves, and are
become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not
God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the
Kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have
despised the poor.” (James 2:1-6)
As clear as this Scriptural teaching is, people still justify their separation from
other brethren – and it is plain and simple – division in the Church.
“Is Christ divided?” (1 Corinthians 1:13) Absolutely not!
He is not divided – that is the point – and yet, there are holdouts
today that would prevent brethren from reaching across artificial church lines to
other brethren. Make no mistake about it – Jesus Christ is not going to
return to a scattered bunch of churches. Jesus Christ will have only
one Bride – made up of all the brethren who are being led by God’s
Holy Spirit.
This one single point of God’s instructions – do not give preferential
treatment – is widely ignored, and could disqualify us from being
the Bride of Christ. James shows that we are not to put a dividing line
between the brethren. “If ye fulfill the royal law according to the
Scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: But if
ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convicted of
the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole
law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James
2:8-10)
We must admit that this church party spirit we see all around us is wrong.
Party spirit is the divisive factions within the church that do not
respect the fact that God is calling together a broad spectrum of
humanity to be His sons and daughters. What are we to do about the
problem? The answer is that we must be instrumental in healing the
breach. Take a stand! Recognize your brothers and sisters
who are in other groups all around the world – who have a right relationship with God
– and build an association with them.
Reestablish a fellowship with all your brethren. Jesus Christ will be pleased. The
Bible reveals that there are many false ministers that the brethren are
to be careful of – they are not rooted and founded in Jesus Christ.
Have the courage to do what God requires of us. Our task is not to find
the single corporate organization that Christ is fully pleased with –
because it does not exist on earth at this time. Every true Christian's
mission is to be firmly rooted in Jesus Christ.
Chapter 10: Christ's Expectation for His Bride |