ELTBefore Married לקח

ELTBefore Married לקח [∞]

The Church as the Bride of Christ

The Bible calls the church the "bride of Christ" to show the close and loving relationship between Jesus and His followers. The Hebrew word for "married" is לקח (laqach), which means "to take" or "to marry," but it also means "teaching" or "doctrine." This tells us something important: in the Bible, marriage and teaching are connected in a special way.

In marriage, a husband and wife join together in a promise, called a covenant. In the same way, the church is joined to Christ in a covenant of salvation. The word laqach reminds us that marriage shows the oneness we have with Jesus, who lives in us through His Spirit.

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Paul’s Teaching About Marriage

In the Bible, Paul gives advice to women, telling them to learn from their husbands, especially about church teachings (see Ephesians 5:22-33 and 1 Corinthians 14:34-35). But Paul also says that he’s not just talking about marriage between a man and a woman—he’s talking about Christ and the church.

In this picture, Jesus is like a husband, and the church is like His bride. Just as a husband leads and teaches his wife, Christ leads and teaches the church. His Word (the Bible) is how He helps His bride grow in faith and live a holy life.

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The Church Learns From Christ

Paul explains that a wife learns from her husband, but he’s really talking about how the church learns from Jesus. Jesus is the teacher, and the church is the learner. This relationship shows how important it is for the church to listen to Jesus and follow His teachings. His Word helps the church become stronger in faith and live in a way that pleases Him.

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Marriage and Teaching

The Hebrew word laqach shows us how marriage and teaching are connected. Just as a husband and wife are united by love, the church is united with Christ in love and by learning from His teachings. These teachings guide the church in truth and help it grow in faith.

So, when we think about the church as the bride of Christ, we can see it’s not just about love—it’s also about learning from Jesus, who leads and cares for His people.

Discussion

Marriage and Teaching

In this lesson, we learned that the Hebrew word for "married" (לקח - "laqach") has two meanings: "to take or marry" and "doctrine" (which means teaching). This shows us that marriage is not only about love and promises but also about learning from each other. In the same way, the church’s relationship with Christ is based on learning from Him. Christ teaches the church how to live and grow spiritually, just like a husband teaches his wife. This idea of learning together is a key part of both marriage and the relationship between the church and Christ.

Learning from Christ

Paul talks about how women should learn from their husbands, but he is really speaking about how the church learns from Christ. Christ, as the "husband" of the church, is the one who teaches and helps the church grow in its faith. This comparison shows that the church’s relationship with Christ is not just about love, but also about learning from His teachings.

The Church as Christ’s Bride

The church is often called the "bride of Christ," meaning it is always learning from Him. Just like students learn from their teachers, the church learns from Christ. This learning is important for spiritual growth and helps the church grow closer to God. By following Christ's teachings, the church is shaped in faith and holiness.

Doctrine and Spiritual Growth

Doctrine, or the teachings of the Bible, is also a vital part of this process. Just as a marriage involves learning and growing together, the church's relationship with Christ involves learning His teachings. This learning helps the church grow spiritually and prepares it for Christ's return.

Conclusion: Growing in Faith

In conclusion, the relationship between Christ and the church is a beautiful picture of marriage, where the church learns from Christ and grows spiritually. Christ, as the "husband," teaches and guides the church, helping it become more like Him. This understanding shows us how important it is to learn from Christ as we grow in our faith.