THE CHURCH IS NOT THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

[Titus]

In Gal 2:9 Paul was referring to something that had happened in the past, not long after Paul was saved....apparently before James was martyred.

Give Scripture.
I already showed you James the apostle was dead when Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians.
The very first chapter Paul says James is the Lords brother.

Galatians 1:19,
- but other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lords brother

 

[Lizbeth]

Give Scripture.
I already showed you James the apostle was dead when Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians.
The very first chapter Paul says James is the Lords brother.

Galatians 1:19,
- but other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lords brother

I'm just saying in his letter to the Galations Paul was referring back to a time in the past, so perhaps James the apostle was still alive at the time Paul was speaking about. In any case I don't want to keep arguing about this forever....I seem to see there are indications in the bible that some apostles happened to have had more prominence or influence or carried more weight and were of greater repute than others and you don't agree, so we'll just have to agree to disagree.

(And just to add, if the James that Paul mentioned in Gal 2:14 is the brother of Jesus then likely it isn't the same James who was present at the transfiguration, so we can scratch that, no problem.)

 

[Titus]

Paul was referring back to a time in the past, so perhaps James the apostle was still alive at the time Paul was speaking about.

This subject is not open for debate.
We know the apostle James was dead and when he died.
We know who Paul was referring to because the brother of Jesus was one of the main men that worked diligently in the Jerusalem church. He is spoken of in Acts 15.
James is referred to as a pillar of the church.

.I seem to see there are indications in the bible that some apostles happened to have had more prominence or influence or carried more weight and were of greater repute than others and you don't agree, so we'll just have to agree to disagree.

Jesus taught against apostles being greater than other apostles. That's not my personal belief, that's Jesus teaching it.

Luke 22:24-26,
- and there arose a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest
- and Jesus said to them the kings of the gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called benefactors
- BUT NOT SO WITH YOU(APOSTLES) rather the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest and the leader like the servant
- for who is greater the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves is it not the one who reclines BUT I(JESUS) AM AMONG YOU AS THE ONE WHO SERVES

I'm glad to have taught you what sayest the Scriptures on this Bible subject.
Hopefully in the future you will study and consider all the scriptures I've shared with you and come to the same doctrine as Christ's,
Acts 2:42,
- and they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship in the breaking of bread and in prayers.

 

[GracePeace]

So `many sons` should really be many` females?`

So, when God called Israel "My firstborn son", that made all the women men?

For what ever reason, you are a rebellious woman--rebellious against Scripture, and rebellious against people who speak the Scripture which you have zero answers for (except the silliness of, "The Apostles were disobedient to the Lord's command, and did not go and teach the nations to observe all things He taught them--in order for me to be right, the Apostles must be wrong!")--and you need to quit it, because your abject ignorance is already bad enough on its own, but when you also intentionally rebel against God's Word, it's a really bad combination.

 

[GracePeace]

The symbol of the wife/bride was in the OT and for Israel. (Isa. 54: 5 & 6)

So `many sons` should really be many` females?`

If you want to deny that the entirety of believers, Jew and Gentile, are the bride of Christ, and argue, instead, that the bride of Christ applies only to the "Church of Israel"... are you not also subject to your own criticism that to say such things is to make all the men in the "Church of Israel" into women? LOL! The only way your view stands is through the power of ignorance and hypocrisy--apply rules to others that you don't have to abide by, yourself, and "voila", you're a genius woman "bible teacher". Bravo!

 

[Lizbeth]

This subject is not open for debate.
We know the apostle James was dead and when he died.
We know who Paul was referring to because the brother of Jesus was one of the main men that worked diligently in the Jerusalem church. He is spoken of in Acts 15.
James is referred to as a pillar of the church.


Jesus taught against apostles being greater than other apostles. That's not my personal belief, that's Jesus teaching it.

Luke 22:24-26,
- and there arose a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest
- and Jesus said to them the kings of the gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called benefactors
- BUT NOT SO WITH YOU(APOSTLES) rather the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest and the leader like the servant
- for who is greater the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves is it not the one who reclines BUT I(JESUS) AM AMONG YOU AS THE ONE WHO SERVES

I'm glad to have taught you what sayest the Scriptures on this Bible subject.
Hopefully in the future you will study and consider all the scriptures I've shared with you and come to the same doctrine as Christ's,
Acts 2:42,
- and they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship in the breaking of bread and in prayers.

Servant leadership doesn't mean no leadership, or else Jesus Himself would have been guilty. If the Holy Spirit leads some to stand up and take the lead at any time, or in an overall way, it doesn't mean either He or they are violating servant leadership. Whereas things like a condescending and superior attitude does violate it.

And if some of the apostles happened to have been found to carry more weight in the church than others, in the will and wisdom and foresight of the Lord, it doesn't at all have to mean they were violating the spirit of servant leadership and seeking recognition and status for themselves (unless they were doing that).

Anyway I'm finished here, you have a blessed day.

 

[Doug]

1. Adoption as sons and daughters of God — “He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:5). This is your new identity. Without it, you are still a child of wrath (Ephesians 2:3). This promise cannot be revoked or reasoned away.


2. The gift of the Holy Spirit — “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14). The Spirit is your seal and guarantee. To reject this is to walk in darkness, no matter how loudly you speak.


3. Eternal life through faith in Christ — “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). This is not wishful thinking. It is an unbreakable covenant written in the blood of Jesus.


4. Victory over sin and death — “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Your doubt will not resurrect the dead nor break sin’s chains. Only Christ’s power does.


5. Peace that surpasses all understanding — “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). This peace is a fortress, not fragile sentiment.

I totally agree with all of these promises
The reason I asked is so many people say that we are heirs of Abraham, not Christ, and get all the promises made to Israel like the land and reigning as priests etc
Yes we get all the promises you cited thru faith in Christ

 

[Doug]

> “Therefore, repent and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” — Acts 3:19
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” — 1 John 1:9

Just so you know these verses apply to Israel

 

[Doug]

I pray you are brought low by this word, broken, and crushed until Christ is all you have and all you want.

The sword is drawn. Repent. Submit. Live.

I appreciate your concern
I have trusted in Christ and his blood redemption
If you want to think we are the bride very well, I was just correcting your error

 

[GracePeace]

I totally agree with all of these promises
The reason I asked is so many people say that we are heirs of Abraham, not Christ, and get all the promises made to Israel like the land and reigning as priests etc
Yes we get all the promises you cited thru faith in Christ

Christ is the heir of Abraham, and all those who are in Christ are heirs together with Christ.

 

[Doug]

Christ is the heir of Abraham, and all those who are in Christ are heirs together with Christ.

Heirs of Christ

 

[GracePeace]

Heirs of Christ

There is only one seed Who is the heir; accordingly, only those who are IN CHRIST, the ONE seed, stand to inherit TOGETHER in the ONE heir, in Whom all are ONE--not heirs OF Christ, but heirs IN Christ, heirs TOGETHER WITH Christ.

Galatians 3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.
...
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
...
29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

 

[Scott Downey]

John the Baptist, Christ called him Elijah who was to come, said John was the greatest Old Testament prophet born among women, in fact more than a prophet.

John himself says this,

"He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. "


John 3
27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Matthew 11
7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written:

‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John the Baptist represents the end of the time of the old covenant.
After John comes Christ who was before John, but everything is in its own time.
John came to prepare the way for the Lord.

Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets, they are DONE., fulfilled in Christ, for all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

"He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. "

Christ establishes the new and the old is faded away, obsoleted.
Christ has the bride.
And we know that Christ builds His church.

Matthew 16

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ​

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not [g]prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth [h]will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The church is the Bride that Christ has.
The friend of the bridegroom, John the Baptist, represents the end of the old covenant
The bride is something new, it is the church of Christ, He purchased with His blood, in essence He paid the bride price..
There was no church before Christ.
We are in the church age now, the ministry of the Holy Spirit has been poured out on His church, and the Spirit indwells believers, who are His temple.