Why You Should Seek to Be the Bride of Christ in These Last Days

 The Call to Intimacy with Christ

The Christian life is not merely about believing in Jesus, attending church, or identifying with a religious label. It is about entering into a covenantal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church. In

John 3:29 (ESV),

John the Baptist says:

“The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.”

This imagery of the Bride and Bridegroom is used throughout Scripture to describe the deep, intimate union God desires with His people culminating in the marriage between Christ and the Church (cf. Ephesians 5:25–27).

1. Not All Who Profess Faith Are the Bride

Many assume that being a Christian is synonymous with being the Bride of Christ. However, the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1–13 (ESV) presents a sobering truth. All ten were waiting for the Bridegroom, but only five entered the wedding feast:

“And the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’” (vv. 10b–12)

Here, Jesus makes a distinction not between believers and unbelievers, but between the prepared and the unprepared  those filled with the Holy Spirit (oil) and those who were not.

Theologically, we can say that this parable distinguishes between nominal Christianity (faith in name only) and regenerate Christianity (faith expressed through obedience and transformation).

2. The Difference Between the Bride and the Concubine

In biblical times, a bride entered into a legal covenant with her husband and had full rights, including inheritance. A concubine, though perhaps loved, had no lasting claim or covenantal standing. This serves as a metaphor for two types of people in the Church:

• The Bride represents those fully surrendered to Christ transformed, purified, and living in covenant (see 2 Corinthians 11:2).

• The concubine represents those who are content with outward religion but have no deep communion or obedience to Christ.

God does not desire a casual, distant relationship with His people. He desires a bride who knows His heart, walks in holiness, and is ready for His return.

3. The Bride is Entrusted with the Mysteries of Christ

Christ promises to share the secrets of the kingdom with those who are His. In

Revelation 10:4 (ESV), John writes:

“And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.’”

This sealed message reminds us that not all revelation is public some truths are reserved for those walking closely with God (cf. Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong to the Lord…”). The Bride is the one to whom Christ discloses the “hidden manna” (cf. Revelation 2:17).

This aligns with

John 15:15 (ESV),

where Jesus says:

“No longer do I call you servants…but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

The Bride of Christ walks in that level of intimacy and trust.

4. The Bride Is Known by Her Righteousness (Holiness)

The mark of the true Bride is holiness not perfection in the flesh, but a life continually surrendered, sanctified, and bearing the fruit of righteousness. As Paul writes in

2 Timothy 2:19 (ESV):

“But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’”

And in Revelation 19:7–8 (ESV), the final union is depicted:

“Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”

This righteousness isn’t self-made. It is the result of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit (cf. Romans 8:13–14).

5. Urgency in the Last Days

We are living in a time when spiritual deception is increasing, and the line between the world and the Church is becoming blurred. Jesus warned of lukewarm faith in

Revelation 3:16 (ESV):

“Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”

Now more than ever, we must be vigilant not merely religious, but truly transformed. The Bride must keep her lamp full (cf. Matthew 25:4), her garments clean (cf. Revelation 3:4), and her eyes fixed on the Bridegroom (cf. Hebrews 12:2).

 Prepare Your Heart

If you examine your life and see a lack of holiness, intimacy, or oil in your lamp, the time to repent and seek Christ fully is now. There is still grace available, but the time is short. Christ is at the door.

Pursue Him with all your heart. Not for the rewards. Not for recognition. But because you long to be His not just a guest at the wedding, but the Bride at His side.

Maranatha – Come, Lord Jesus.

Print this post