Godly Love For The Church

Being married to a man or to a woman, having a life partner, for many is a big deal and a goal. Many people want a significant partner not realizing they had one all along. In the Bible, God is describing that the church is His wife. This is very significant for it is saying that before anyone loved me and you, God decided to love us, Before we were perfect enough, God decided He wanted to be in partnership with us. Before anyone could see our potential, God already saw Christ in us. This means my marriage with God, my relationship with God is more important than any other relationship I could have. God decided He wanted to do life with me since the beginning. Marriage is like a covenant, so it's understanding that all the promises God has made will always stand as long as I am in relationship with God. Its also knowing that when I chose to be in relationship with God, I chose to love the same way God loves me. This is an unconditional love. Throughout the Bible, the church is referenced as the wife of God. The church is often a place of refuge for people who need healing, restoring faith, praising/worshipping God. The church, is made whole in Christ. God is the bridegroom and God compares the church to being like a wife. Below is what the Bible says about God's love for the Church, the manner in which the church should love God, and the destined lifestyle given to those who are called to the body of Christ. God is the head of every relationship and as a Godly wife, may we be ready!

1. God's Love For the Church
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Ephesians 5:25

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body Ephesians 5:23

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Revelations 19:7


2. Manner In Which The Church Should Love God

The church submits to Christ

We are born again as babes in Christ

Angels are our help in ministry

The church is Christ body; the church is the body of Christ

God equips the saints for the work of the ministry for building the body of Christ

You will be equipped with everything good to complete His will

Make peace by the blood of the cross

Under the law almost everything is purified by blood

Shepard the flock of God that is among you

Exercise, oversee willingly, eagerly be examples to the flock

Be able to resist temptation

Present the church to himself with splendor, holy without blemish


3. Destined Lifestyle For Those Called To The Body Of Christ

First give yourselves to the Lord

Drink and eat in a worthy manner

Love your own flesh, nourish it, cherish it

Love your wife like you love your own body

Love your neighbor as you love yourselves

Walk in a manner worthy of the calling

Be gentle like a nursing mother


Verses:

For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Ephesians 5:23-33


I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16