Text: Leviticus 21:10-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2
Intro:
    A. There are at least two outstanding truths in these passages.
        1. The high priest is a type of Jesus Christ our Great High Priest forever (Heb. 5:6; 7:17).  Hebrews 7:17 For he
            testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
        2. The bride of the High priest must meet certain qualifications.
    B. Moses was writing God’s instructions to the Levitical priesthood about the qualifications of a bride.
    C. Paul, by inspiration, was writing to the Church at Corinth and sets forth that they, the local visible church, are to be a
        chaste virgin espoused (engaged) to Christ
    D. When these passages of Scripture are put together we have:
        1. Jesus as our High Priest and He has a bride.
        2. His bride is His faithful, chaste virgin church.
        3. Salvation does not equate to the position of bride any more than being of the seed of Abraham makes one a true
            Israelite (Romans 9:6) Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of
            Israel:
        4. The bride of Christ must meet certain qualifications.
I. The High Priest Serving in the Tabernacle or Temple was not to “go in to any dead body” She is a Living Bride.
    A. No man wants a dead bride!
        1. Who would choose a dead woman for a bride?
        2. Lost sinners are dead in trespasses and sin (Eph. 2:1).
        3. No lost sinner (unbeliever) can qualify) to be in the bride of Christ until he or she is born again and given life by the
            Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:5; John 3:3-7).  1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy
            priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
    B. All the saved ARE IN THE FAMILY OF GOD: but all the saved ARE NOT IN THE BRIDE.
        1. No groom marries the whole family
            a. The groom chooses from the family the bride that meets his qualifications.
            b. Leviticus 21:14 “He shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.
            c. Abraham sent his servant to his own people (his family) to find a wife for Isaac (Gen. 24:2-4).
        2. One can have two kinds of relations.
            a. Blood relation and marriage relations.
            b. When one is born they immediately have blood (family) relations with father, mother and perhaps siblings: but they
                do not have marriage relation at that time.
            c. When a sinner is saved he has blood relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ; they are a part of the
                family of God (Eph 3:15, 2 Cor.6:18).
            d. When a sinner is saved, Scripturally baptized, unites and faithfully serves in a New testament Church they may also
                have marriage relations: that is, be a part of the Bride of Christ (Romans 7:4). Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are
                become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from
                the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
II. Each New testament Church is an Engaged Bride - (2 Cor 11:2). For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I
have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
    A. The greater truth in Paul’s lesson concerning husband and wife relationship (Eph.5:22-32) concerns Christ and His
        church.
    B. Paul gives the espousal vow in  (Eph. 5:22-24).
    C. When one is saved, Scripturally baptized and unites with a New Testament Church they take this vow “I will be subject
        to Christ in all things and make Him the Head of my life.
    D. Scriptural baptism is the first act of submission to Christ and a perquisite for membership and bridal relationship
        (1 Cor. 12:13,).
        1. After salvation and Scriptural baptism one becomes a part of the body of Christ; 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the
            body of Christ, and members in particular.
        2. The body of Christ is His church (Eph. 4:12; Col .1:18).
        3. It is sad that some that are saved are never Scripturally baptized and never unite with one of the Lord’s New
            Testament churches.
            a. They cannot be in the bride because they do not meet the Lord’s qualifications.
III. She is a Faithful Bride.
    A. Faithful to the espousal vows and the One to whom they are made.
    B. An espoused couple is to be faithful as if already married.
        1. Look at Joseph and Mary (Matt. 1:18-19).
        2. The espoused Church or bride must be faithful; subject to Christ and His Word.
    C. The marriage vows can be broken.
        1. This was true of many marriages in the Old Testament (Deut. 24:1,2).
        2. This was True of Israel’s espousal to Jehovah (Jer.3:8,20)
        3. This is true in many marriages today (Matt. 5:31,32).
        4. This can also be true of a church (Rev 3:4-5). Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their
            garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. ~ He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed
            in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father,
            and before his angels.
            a. Note the promise here is to the overcomer and the garment that is worn by the Lamb’s bride (Rev. 19:7,8).
        5. These passages teach us that the bride cannot be a harlot or a divorced woman. The Church is subject to the law of
            her Husband, Jesus Christ.
        6. Anytime a Church makes someone else her head  (Pope, Presbyters, Bishops, Elders, Synod, or Convention),
            submits to someone else but Christ, embraces false doctrines and the ordinances, that body becomes an
            ADULTERESS and thus ceases to be qualified for bridal relationship.
IV.   SHE IS A CLEAN BRIDE.
    A. The church must be clean from the leaven of sin that can permeate the whole body.
        1. Moral or spiritual error must not be embraced (1 Cor. 5:7-10; 2 Thess. 3:6)
    B. The church is to be free from the leaven of doctrinal error (Titus 3:10-11; Rom. 16:17).  Now I beseech you, brethren,
        mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
    C. Christ desires and will have a clean church as His bride.(Eph. 5:25-27).
        1. This is not talking about salvation but the daily cleansing in the Word (Psalm 119:9).
        2. It is the transformed life that is subject to the Lord’s Word (Rom. 12:1-2).
        3. Any time a church embraces those who continue to walk disorderly {in an irregular manner} she tarnishes her garment.
        4. The bride of Christ will not be yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14-18).
        5. To be outside of Scriptural relationship is to be outside of Scriptural Bridal relationship with Christ.
V. She is a Watching and Waiting Bride (Luke 12:35-40).
    A. We do not know the day, or hour, thus it behooves us to watch (Mark 13:32-33).
VI. She is a Ready Bride.
    A. There is a personal readiness that the bride alone must perform (Rev. 19:7-8).  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give
        honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. ~ And to her was granted
        that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
        1. Salvation: By grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9).
        2. Baptism: The immersion of a believer by authority of the church (Matt. 28:19-20).
        3. Faithfulness: Remains true both doctrinally and morally (Acts 2:41-42).
    B. The bride will be presented to Christ in a glorious garment  (Psalms 45:13-14; Rev. 19:8).
    C. There will be many guests at the wedding.
        1. As it is with most weddings the guests will likely outnumber the wedding party (Matt. 22:2, 8-10; Rev. 19:9). And
            he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto
            me, These are the true sayings of God.
    D. John the Baptist presents himself as the friend of the Groom (John 3:29).
    E. Many of the saved will make up the nations that walk in the light of the city (Rev. 21:24-26).
Conclusion: She is an Inviting Church.
    A. Church members by their words and actions are to say come.
    B. The bride let’s her light (Jesus) shine (Matt. 5:14-16; Phil. 2:15).
    C. What a privilege! What an honor! Do you meet the qualifications?
        1. Saved by grace through faith.
        2. Scripturally baptized:
        3. Faithfully serving in a New Testament Church..
            a. True to your espousal vows.
            b. Watching and praying; “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”