Albany Missionary Baptist Church (Albany, Oregon)

The Bride of Christ

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What is the Bride of Christ? Who is in the Bride? What makes the Bride of Christ so special and can anyone be in the Bride?

 

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Ex. 25:8                                 Let Them Make Me A Sanctuary

  1. Where does God dwell?
  2. Can you worship God just anywhere?

 

Ps. 77:13                                 Thy Way O God

  1. Where are God’s ways?
  2. Where does man bring God glory?

 

Heb. 8:2-6                              The True Tabernacle

  1. Who built the Tabernacle in the wilderness?
  2. Who built the Tabernacle not made by man?
  3. The Tabernacle was a picture / type of N.T. Church.
  4. Tabernacle helps keep us on the right track in worshiping.

 

Matt. 16:18                            I Will Build My Church

  1. The Lord separated all other churches by calling it His.
  2. If Christ called it His, built it, there must be something that set it apart from all others.
  3. Who else built this church – (God)

 

Def. Of Church: A Local, visible, called out assembly of Scripturally Baptized believers covenanted together under New Testament Law for the purpose of carrying out the great commission with the Holy Spirit dwelling in their mist with the unbroken linage to the time of Christ down to today.

 

II Cor. 1:1-2                            Paul Unto The Church At Corinth

  1. Paul writing by the will of God to the Church at Corinth.
  2. These are the words of the Lord delivered by Paul.

 

II Cor. 11:1-2                           Present As A Chaste Virgin

  1. Paul says he is jealous with Godly jealously – Why?
  2. Church espoused, engaged, presented as a chaste virgin to Jesus Christ.

 

John 3:22-30                          He That Hath The Bride Is The Bridegroom

  1. A difference was made between John’s disciples and Christ’s disciples.
  2. Both disciples are saved and scripturally baptized.
  3. Who is the bride in V.22? – His disciples (Christ).
  4. Who is the bridegroom? – Jesus Christ.
  5. Will John the Baptist be in the Bride?

 

Mark 2:18-19                          Can Children Of The Bridegroom Fast

  1. Difference made between John’s disciples and Christ.
  2. What’s the difference?
  3. John the Baptist came to prepare the way for the Lord’s N.T. Church.

Matt. 4:17-22                          Jesus Established His N.T. Church

  1. Jesus goes to his prepared material and calls them for a purpose.
  2. Christ’s disciples are referred to as the Bride (John 3:2).

 

Who’s In The Bride:

 

Rev. 17:14                               Called, Chosen, Faithful

  1. Qualification of Bridal relationship
  2. Must be called – Salvation
  3. Must be chosen – Scriptural Baptism
  4. Must be faithful – According to Scriptures

 

Is. 1:19                                   If Ye Be Willing And Obedient

 

Matt. 20:1-16                         Many Are Called But Few Are Faithful

1) Every man from the beginning of the N.T. Church has had the opportunity to be saved, Scripturally Baptized, and a Faithful member of a N.T. Church.

2) Many may come to N.T. Church, become a member and won’t be chosen because they won’t give into the teachings and live faithfully for the Lord.

 

John 15:1-17                           Christ Does The Choosing

  1. Christ speaking to his N.T. Church calling them friends.
  2. Nothing is hid from us, all that God expects is found in his Word.
  3. Only those faithful in a N.T. Church can bring forth fruit.

 

Luke 16:10-13                       Must Be Faithful

  1. Must be found faithful in the little things.
  2. If found faithful in little things, God will reward with true riches.
  3. All saved are stewards.
  4. Faithful must keep all things, not few things.

 

Matt. 19:27-30                      Ye Shall Sit On Twelve Thrones

  1. Speaking to His N.T. Church.
  2. Who or what is more important than the Lord’s work?

 

Rom. 8:16-17                        Joint-Heirs Of Jesus Christ

  1. A person becomes a Joint-Heir of Christ when they are saved.
  2. Who is a Joint-Heir of Jesus Christ?

 

Eze. 18:24-32                       Turneth Away From Righteousness

  1. Does just one willful sin once in a while really matter?
  2. How important is Bridal Relationship?

 

John 14:1-4                         I Go To Prepare A Place

  1. The mansions in the Kingdom are already there.
  2. But, Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you.
  3. Who was He preparing a place for? His faithful.

 

Rev. 19:7-10                      The Bride Of Christ

  1. The wife made herself ready.
  2. Arrayed in fine linen, the righteousness of saints.

 

Rev. 21:1-4                       New City Jerusalem

  1. Dwelling place of the Bride (wife) of Christ.
  2. New City of Jerusalem is not the Bride.

 

Rev. 21:27                       Names Must Be Written

  1. TO dwell in the city, your name must be in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
  2. What does it take to have you name written there?
  3. What does Lamb’s Book of Life represent?

 

I Pet. 2: 9-11                    Kings And Priests

  1. Who is the letter written to?
  2. Who are the Kings and Priests?

 

Rev. 1:4-6                       Kings And Priests

  1. Who are the Kings and Priests?

 

Ps. 15:1-5                        Bridal Relationship

  1. Who shall dwell in the Lord’s Tabernacle?
  2. Not become so use to sin we don’t see it.

 

I Cor. 13:1-8                    All Must Be Done Out Of Love

  1. Are we motivated by love o serve the Lord?
  2. How important is love in our service?

 

Luke 17:7-10                       Done Our Duty

 

Requirements:

 

Acts 2:47                            The Lord Adds

  1. Unless you are scripturally saved you cannot be apart of the Bride.
  2. Must be added by the Lord.
  3. Before the Lord can add, must be scripturally baptized.
  4. Are you willing to take a chance on your Baptism?

 

Acts 2:41                            Must Be Baptized

  1. Those who gladly receive His word—lost man cannot gladly receive His

Word.

  1. They were Baptized because sin forgiven (V.38) not to forgive sin.

 

I Cor. 12:18                        God Set The Members

  1. The Lord is the one who adds to His Church.

 

Acts 16:5                           Established In The Faith

  1. How does a church grow?
  2. By preaching of the Word.

 

Matt.4:18-22                      Jesus Calls His Disciples

  1. Church membership is a call to serve.
  2. Unless you are willing to put the Lord first in all things, don’t become a member.
  3. The disciples immediately left everything and followed the Lord.
  4. The Lord said he would make you bishops of men. Too often we try to make ourselves.

 

Matt. 6:33                         Seek Ye First

  1. Put God and His work first in all ways.
  2. Have we forsook all and followed the Lord?

 

Luke 14:33-35                   Cannot Be My Disciples

  1. Who or what comes before the Lord’s Work?

 

Matt. 12:46-50                  For Whosoever Will

  1. The woman chosen above all women was Mary.
  2. Yet to Jesus Christ the ministry was more important.
  3. How important to you is the ministry of Jesus Christ?

 

John 14:15                       If Ye Love Me

  1. The Lord said if you love me, you will.
  2. He didn’t say you would do your best.

 

Matt. 10: 37-38                 He That Loveth Anything More Than Me

  1. Who or what is more important than Jesus Christ?
  2. Children, wife, hunting, fishing, sports, job, vacation, etc…
  3. If you have ever missed services for one of these, there more important.
  4. Does willful sin once in awhile really matter?

 

Heb. 10:22-31                   Willful Sin

  1. These scriptures speaking nothing but forsaking the assembly.
  2. (V.26) When we sin willfully there remains no more sacrifice for sin.
  3. Man needs to look at sin the way God does.
  4. Other willful sin: Not studying, praying, witnessing, loving enemy, tithing….

 

Eph. 5:25-27                     A Glorious Church

  1. Made right by washing of the word.
  2. What is the guide in your daily life = The Lord.
  3. What cleans a N.T. church = needs to be the Word.
  4. For a church to be sin free, we as individuals must remain sin free.

 

II Cor. 13:5                       Examine Yourselves

  1. How does a person examine themselves?
  2. What is a reprobate?

 

Luke 9:57-62                     Follow Me

  1. Do we follow the Lord’s will?
  2. Do we preach only when it’s convenient?
  3. Is there a true burden to see lost souls saved?
  4. Does it really trouble you to witness to somebody?

 

Rev. 2:1-7                           Remember Where Thou Has Fallen

  1. Need to remember our first works, love the Lord with all our heart.
  2. If we fail here, we will begin slipping in other areas.

 

Rev. 3:16                             Cannot Be Lukewarm

  1. Are we just going through the motions of services?
  2. What about youth meeting, youth rallies, home Bible studies?
  3. Do we think evil thoughts, slow to take offense, backbite?
  4. Love will bring forth action.

 

Ps. 63: 1-8                          My Soul Thirst For Thee

  1. Do we desire God, worship like this?
  2. Do we long to feel the power of God in services?

 

Rev. 3:20                             Hold Steadfast

  1. The majority may not always be right.
  2. May need to stand alone.
  3. Truth and God are always a majority.

 

Rev 3:22; Eze. 33: 30-33       Must Be Willing To Listen

  1. We may hear, may know what to do.
  2. But, do we listen?

 

Matt. 6:19-21                        Priority

  1. Do I desire more earthly or heavenly gains?
  2. Do I obey out of fear or love?

 

Luke 16:10-13                      Little Things

  1. Little things matter to God.

 

I Cor. 4:2                             Be Found Faithful

 

Eph. 5:1-12                          Have No Fellowship

  1. How so children love and follow God?
  2. Unconditionally!
  3. Do we know more about sports than spiritual things?
  4. A worldly minded disciple has no inheritance in the Kingdom.

 

Heb. 5: 11-14                       Need Of Milk

  1. Where do you fall?

 

I Cor. 16:14                         Love

1) Are we motivated by love?