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The Church the Beautiful Bride of Christ
By H. A. (Buster) Dobbs
I. Introduction.
A. In the parable of the marriage supper Jesus teaches some things
about the church.
1. "And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them,
saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain
king, who made a marriage feast for his son, and sent forth
his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage
feast: and they would not come. Again he sent forth other
servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have
made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed,
and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast. But
they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own
farm, another to his merchandise; and the rest laid hold on
his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.
But the king was wroth; and he sent his armies, and
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then
saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they
that were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore unto the
partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid
to the marriage feast. And those servants went out into the
highways, and gathered together all as many as they found,
both bad and good: and the wedding was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there
a man who had not on a wedding-garment: and he saith unto
him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-
garment? And he was speechless. Then the king said to the
servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the
outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing
of teeth. For many are called, but few chosen" (Matt. 22:1-
14).
2. The kingdom of heaven is the church of Christ (Matt. 16:18-
19).
B. Parable of the marriage supper came near the end of the life of
Jesus on earth.
1. As his life drew to a close, he spoke often of the rejection
of the Jews and the destruction of Jerusalem.
2. Jewish leaders reacted with resentment (Matt. 21:45).
(a) Jesus was not afraid and did not back away, but openly
repeated the teaching.
(b) His courage and boldness show his prophetic role. We
dare not be intimidated and meekly surrender.
II. Features of the Parable.
A. The call
1. Old Testament prophets, John the baptizer, Jesus.
(a) Jesus and John declared the kingdom was at hand and
called for repentance.
B. Rejection.
1. Invited guests (the Jews) made light of the invitation.
2. They were too busy with farm and shop.
(a) Men often put greater emphasis on the perishing things
of time than on the imperishable treasure of eternity.
3. The messengers were killed.
4. The king sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and
burned their city. The parable in point of time
anticipates the destruction of Jerusalem.
C. Others invited.
1. The King's invitation is extended to all who will come.
(a) The gospel is a "whosoever will" invitation to heaven.
(b) Every creature in all the world is invited (Mark
16:15).
(c) The gospel is for all - the grace of God which brings
salvation appears to all (Titus 2:11-12). If
salvation is by grace only, then all will be saved.
2. Anyone may accept the invitation by obedience to God's
commands.
D. A time of preparation and waiting.
1. The church on earth is not the wife of the lamb, but she is
the betrothed to Christ - engaged to the Lord.
2. The marriage will take place when Jesus comes again.
3. The church must keep herself unspotted from the world and
do nothing to dirty her good name and the reputation of
her groom.
(a) "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved
the church, and gave himself up for it; that he might
sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of
water with the word, that he might present the church
to himself a glorious church, not having spot or
wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy
and without blemish" (Eph. 5:25-27).
(b) The church must be glorious and unblemished.
4. No blemish in doctrine.
(a) Apostles were to keep the church free from error (Gal.
1:6-9).
(b) Passed this responsibility to others (1 Tim. 1:3;
1 Tim. 4:6; Titus 2:1).
(c) They in turn passed to others (2 Tim. 2:2; Jude 1:3).
(d) The gospel must be guarded, defended, and protected,
or it will be mutilated, perverted and altered (Heb.
2:1-3).
(e) The church--the saved--is the pillar and ground of
truth (1 Tim. 3:15).
(f) The church loses here beauty and glory if she forsakes
eternal truth.
5. No blemish in morals (Gal. 5:19-26).
E. The bridegroom comes.
1. Those without a wedding garment shall be cast out.
2. "Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the
glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and
his wife hath made herself ready. And it was given unto
her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and
pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the
saints" (Rev. 19:7-8).
3. The holy city coming down out of Jerusalem (Rev. 21:9-10).
III. Bride Become the Wife.
A. Here glory, thereafter, shall never fade nor pass away.
B. "And behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the
words of the prophecy of this book" (Rev. 22:7).
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