Engagement Ring

Last week we talked about how Jesus is coming back for His bride. Meaning we need to be committed to Jesus and be part of the bride of Christ. What does that even mean? You may be wondering. Simply put, locate yourself in the Church. But it is deeper than that. Jesus calls us, the Church, His bride. Today we will explore how the Church is the Bride of Christ.

Traditionally in Jewish weddings there were two stages to the wedding. The betrothal and the wedding reception. For the betrothal, the bridegroom would offer a price to the bride’s family to let his intentions be known. Thereafter, he would leave and go prepare a home for his bride. He would then come back to get her for the wedding reception.

That is the same with us as Christians. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 says, “You need to know that God’s passion is burning inside me for you, because, like a loving father, I have pledged your hand in marriage to Christ, your true bridegroom. I’ve also promised that I would present his fiancée to him as a pure virgin bride.” Who was the Apostle Paul talking to? The church in Corinth, not individuals who were doing their own thing. As the Church (global church made up of many individuals from different Christian churches and denominations around the world), we are engaged to Jesus. We have been betrothed to marry Jesus.

Jesus came and He paid the bride price for us with His body on the cross and His blood that was shed for us. 1 Corinthians 7:23-24 says, “God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.” Jesus paid a high price for us, because He loves us.

But so we know just how serious He is about marrying us, Jesus did one more thing. Ephesians 1:13 -14, “And because of him, when you who are not Jews heard the revelation of truth, you believed in the wonderful news of salvation. Now we have been stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit. He is given to us like an engagement ring, as the first installment of what’s coming! He is our hope-promise of a future inheritance which seals us until we have all of redemption’s promises and experience complete freedom—all for the supreme glory and honor of God!” We have been given the Holy Spirit is our beautiful Engagement Ring!

Thereafter, Jesus then went away to go prepare a home for us. John 14:2-3 says, “My Father’s house has many dwelling places. If it were otherwise, I would tell you plainly, because I go to prepare a place for you. And when everything is ready, I will come back and take you to myself so that you will be where I am.” How romantic is that! Jesus has gone to prepare a place for His fiancée, the Church, so that He can come back for her when everything is ready.

If you are part of the Bride of Christ, Jesus is making a place for you right now in Heaven and as soon as it is ready, He is going to come get you. I don’t mean when you die and go to heaven. I am talking about Jesus coming to get us for the wedding reception. Yes, there is going to be a wedding reception in heaven. Revelations 19:6 says, “Let us rejoice and exalt him and give him glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come. And his bride has made herself ready.” What a wedding feast that will be!

When Jesus comes back, He is going to be looking for people who have the Engagement Ring, the Holy Spirit. You can’t borrow someone’s ring. This is why we have to make sure we have oil in our lamp, that is the Holy Spirit in our lives. He is the evidence of our engagement to Jesus Christ so we are not turned away from the wedding. Holy Spirit is our proof that we are betrothed to Jesus. Proof that we are spoken for and belong to Jesus. Which is why God tells us not to flirt with the world. We are spoken for. We are engaged to Jesus Christ! When He returns, it will be to take His bride to the reception, the wedding feast of the Lamb.

Love and blessings,

Melissa Tsingano.