The term the bride of Christ holds deep meaning for every believer. Rooted in ancient Jewish wedding traditions, it reveals God’s desire for an intimate, covenant relationship with His people. This identity shapes how we live, worship, and await Jesus’ return.
The Bride of Christ and Jewish Wedding Customs
In Jewish culture, weddings followed a sacred pattern. First came the betrothal period, a legally binding agreement in which the groom paid a price and made a covenant promise. The bride was then set apart and waited for her groom to return.
This tradition mirrors God’s covenant plan. Jesus paid the price, entering into a covenant with His Church. Now, as the bride of Christ, we wait with hope and preparation for His return.
Author Kyle Swinehart explores this connection in his book, Cultivating and Maintaining a Healthy Covenant Relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He demonstrates how the Old and New Covenants form part of a single, continuous story – a divine love story between God and His people.
The Role of the Bride of Christ Today
Being the bride of Christ is not a passive title. It’s an active calling. Like the ancient Jewish bride, we must live in readiness and devotion. Our identity calls us to walk holistically, set apart from the world.
The bride’s role includes trust, loyalty, and obedience. We belong to the Bridegroom; our lives should reflect this reality. This means preparing daily through prayer, worship, and faithfulness.
Swinehart reminds us that covenant is not just theology. It’s a lifestyle. Every act of devotion brings us closer to the heart of God.
Covenant Relationship: Then and Now
God’s covenant began with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He promised a people and a future. Through Jesus, that promise became accessible to all. The New Covenant fulfilled the old and extended the invitation to the world.
As the bride of Christ, we step into that ancient promise. We are joined with Christ through a covenant of grace. This is not about religion. It’s about the relationship.
Swinehart’s book uncovers how this relationship shapes our spiritual life. He helps readers see the Bible not as a rulebook, but as a covenant invitation to live faithfully with God.
Waiting with Purpose
The Jewish bride never knew exactly when her groom would return. She waited with oil in her lamp and her heart prepared. This tradition echoes Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13).
We, too, wait. But our waiting must be active. As the bride of Christ, we serve, love, and pursue holiness. Our preparation is part of our worship.
Swinehart emphasizes that readiness is not fear-driven. It’s love-driven. The more we know the Bridegroom, the more we long for His return.
Living the Covenant Daily
Faithfulness is central to covenant living. As the bride of Christ, our lives are marked by daily commitment. We choose Christ repeatedly in prayer, in our relationships, and in obedience.
This isn’t perfection. Its pursuit. Swinehart encourages readers to live in a way that reflects covenant loyalty. When we stumble, we return. When we doubt, we trust again. The covenant holds.
His book provides practical insight into how to grow this relationship. It’s a guide to cultivating intimacy with God and maintaining spiritual focus.
The Bride and the Return of the Bridegroom
The end of the story is just the beginning. Scripture tells us Christ will return for His bride. Revelation 19:7 declares, “The wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.”
Will we be ready?
This is the heart of Swinehart’s message. We are not waiting for an event; we are waiting for a person. Jesus, our Bridegroom, is coming. And He seeks a pure, prepared bride.
As the bride of Christ, we are invited into a future of eternal union. But that future begins with how we live, love, and worship.
A Call to Covenant Living
Understanding the bride of Christ through ancient Jewish tradition offers more than insight. It offers identity. It calls us into a deeper relationship with Jesus and greater readiness for His return.
Kyle Swinehart’s book is a timely reminder that covenant is not outdated but essential. He helps readers enter their divine role through every page and live as a radiant, faithful bride.
The Bridegroom is coming. Let us live prepared, devoted, holy, and watching.
Dive into Kyle Swinehart’s Cultivating and Maintaining a Healthy Covenant Relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and embrace your sacred role as the bride of Christ.
References:
https://www.gotquestions.org/bride-of-Christ.html
https://www.gracedupage.org/sermons/2024/2/25/the-bride-of-christ
https://shaynelooper.com/2023/05/07/here-comes-the-bride-the-church-as-the-bride-of-christ/
