"Baptist Bride" Asserted

Now there's an interesting concept.
Is it not true, (speaking from just a human perspective) that the Bride at a wedding holds the honored place at the feast? Is she not the one to whom all honor is given? And the Groom just stands there showing off His prize catch?
Hmmmm, could go a ways with this idea. Is it Scriptural?
Could be. Maybe not. One thing is for sure.
The faithful are given a place of honor in the Kingdom, as in "reigning with Him" as opposed to those who do not reign. Isn't the Marriage Supper just before the establishment of the Kingdom here on earth? I realize that one should not get too very dogmatic here, but the idea seems sound to me that, of those who are accounted worthy to enter the Kingdom, could it be that some receive "double honor"?
Any thoughts? And could these be the Bride?
Jim

 

Jim,

I believe you are on track but consider this. In the old testament the favorite son receives the double blessing or double portion. This represents Christ and since he possesses all things, his wife (the two shall become one flesh) shall receive all things given to him, especially his righteousness, because they have become one.
She is not of the five wise virgins who are wedding guest but she is the bride.
Greg

 

The church is the bride of Christ. All truly saved people during this time are in the church, the bride of Christ. This guilt trip theology is laughable.

 

Guilt trip theology? My goodness! You sound like some feller rebelling against his momma!
No my friend. Should you get a clear grip on exactly what Scripture tells you, you will find that this is not some guilt trip.
Jim

 

I think the entire discussion over "The Baptist Bride" could be called "How many Landmarkers can you have dance on the horns of a dilemma?"

There is simply nothing there to support the theory.

 

Dear Brother Mark,
I want to say here that I agree with you.

Has anyone considered the language of Christ at Mark 10.7 & Matt. 19.5 is the same as that of Barnabas in Acts 11.23. The relationship with Christ is positional all who are saved are in the family of God (Eph. 3.15), all the saved, that relationship to Christ through the NT church is positional and found where the church is found to be administering a proper scriptural baptism. Now, the question is what constitutes proper scriptural baptism.

Is not Baptism to be taught? Then is this not part and parcel of the doctrine of the church? Can anyone deny that my relationship with a local visible church begins with baptism? If not, then how will you keep me out of your assembly and others even though we refuse baptism? Are we not baptized into your local body because we have been baptized into the invisible body?

Bro. Dallas Eaton

 

Well put Br Mark, and AMEN!
In fellowship with an earthly church, how much error is to be tolerated before moving out? I ask as it would seem that we are unable to find the right church to be a faithful to. I have set a simple set of scriptural principles and it seems I can not fine a local church that even believes in the first point. Should I just join a church that has only the form of God and actively denies the power of God?

Under the principles of the Holy Bible and Holy Ghost in the unity of baptized believers I find a common simple faith would be;
1. One God (1Jn 5:7)
2. One Bible (2 Tim 3:16)
3. One Way (Jn 14:6)
4. One Body (Ep 4:4-6)

 

Amen Mark,

I am in prayer about the next step to take, as it would seem that God has not moved me from this location, I am home church building at this time. I am Pre-Trib and have expectation of the Lords return soon but I think I have to look to this as a mission and be ready for the long faithful run. I keep my heart open and looking as I find it hard to truly believe that I cannot find one local Church in line with this simple of a statement of faith. I know they would have more information even points as you have added for clarification and understanding. I also know that the body local would not be ‘perfect’ as we are humans struggling to the fulfillment of this election in mortal body as well as spirit. I could be looking at a TULIP Baptist Church that is so hurt by the flood of MV that they to are in quiet prayer seeking the will of the Father, with little desire to seek out others, as the stink of evangelism is mortifying to the local community of faith. I am evangelical and like to turn over the rocks and reach out to others stuck in the cracks.

 

Well said, Ken!

 

I've recently found what I believe to be the clearest, most concise discussion on the topic at http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/areyou.htm. I'm not vouching for the author or any of his views. What do you all think?

-Pluvivs

 

Attention: Mark Osgatharp and Bartholomew

A Warning to the Churches
A picture of the Judgment Seat of Christ

This scripture tells us not only what Christ's judgment of each church will be corporately but it also tells us what each and every individual can expect to be held accountable for upon Christ's judgment Saints.

Before we go any farther let me assure you that this writer has the firm belief that the saved are eternally saved and that eternal salvation can by no means ever be lost or changed.

This study, for the most part, is not concerning [salvation of the spirit], otherwise known as [eternal salvation] through the finished work of Christ on the cross, but rather is a study of the [salvation of the soul] which is different in that the [salvation of the soul] concerns the reward of being given entry into the Kingdom of Heaven based on [our own] works [blessed by the anointing of the Holy Spirit and not in the flesh] at the Judgment Seat of Christ and not the finished work of Christ on the cross which is a free gift.

It is not the Will of our Lord, The Christ, that any of us miss out on the glorious blessing of reigning with Him as a Servant-King during the millennial reign of Christ. If we miss out it will be because of our own behavior[disobedience or unfaithful works in the flesh] and for no other reason.

For more on this study please go to the following link > http://webpages.charter.net/ennisisland/ennisisland/Warnings%20to%20the%20Churches.htm

Many other [Kingdom] or [free grace] studies can also be found at my home page > http://webpages.charter.net/ennisisland/ennisisland/

Thank you for your considerations,

Your brother in Christ,

simnesan

 

You are not having any better luck here than elsewhere, are you, good buddy?

 

The Key's to the Kingdom of Heaven can be found on this Island

http://webpages.charter.net/ennisisland/ennisisland/

 

Why are earth did you post this?

-Pluv

 

The man who operates the Way of Life web site (Bro. David Cloud) is worth studying. He is very intelligent, extremely well-read, a thorough researcher and a true servant of Christ. We have followed his good teaching for years.

 

Mark,

Thnaks for the topic and your first post. I have heard the term "Baptist Bride" and those who promote it have nerver explained it. I do not like the term "Baptist Bride" but will go with the term "Bride."

Also, I thank all of you keeping this open to discussion and not name calling. I hope it continues.

Richard

 

Attention: Pluvivs

Re: Why on earth did you post this?

If this question was directed at me here is my reply.

This forum is about the Bride of Christ. Since this is the case, my above post is concerning the beginnings of a discussion on how the Bride of Christ is chosen from the saints who will be raptured and stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Right now the general assembly of the saints are described to us in the Word as being the Body of Christ [not the Bride of Christ]. The Bride of Christ must be taken from the Body of Christ [the last Adam] just as the bride of the first Adam [Eve] was taken from the body of the first Adam.

The first Adam and Eve are types of Christ and His Bride.

This whole study also has to do with correctly or rightly dividing the Word of God.

Man is a tripartite being. [Physical body, Soul body, and Spirit body.

We know that the spirit body is saved when one believes upon the Lord Jesus Christand they become a new creature in Christ.We also know that spirit salvation is forever and can never be reversed. Once the 'old' man has been slain with Christ he can only arise from that new birth as a new creature. Even if the saved spirit could die [and it can't] it would die as a new creature in Christ [not the old Man]. Thus, spirit salvation can never ber reversed. If God makes us a new creature, nothing can reverse God's work. Nothing.

This brings us to the salvation of the Soul.

The determining factors that yields the salvation of the soul or soul death begins the day we are saved. Soul salvation has to do with inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven with Christ and ruling/ reigning with Christ for 1000 years from the heavenly sphere where Satan and his minions reign from today.

The way to soul salvation is to obey the commandmants of Christ, die to self, and confess your sins multiple times daily. These [works of the Spirit] can only be counted toward soul salvation and only after spirit salvation has been realized through belief on the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bride of Christ inherits Christ's kingdom with him [salvation of the soul] for 1000 years and rules from the heavens associated with this earthly domain and continues from there throughout eternity.

God created Adam and Eve to have dominion over this domain [the earth and the heavens associated with the earth]. Satan caused the disqualification of Eve and thus Adam. Therefore, Satan , for a brief period of time, has won the right to rule over this earthly dominion from the heavens associated with the earth.

In the middle of the tribulation period Satan and his minions will be cast out of the heavenly sphere of the dominion of earth by violence.

Christ and the saints who have been given the reward of the inheritance with Christ [at the Judgment Seat] will begin ruling from the heavenly sphere of the dominion of earth at that time and this reign will be for 1000 years.

Those saints who were unfaithful and apostate to Christ in this life will lose their reward of inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven and ruling\ reigning with Christ. The souls of these saints will experience the 'hurt of the second death, be cast outside of the Kingdom for 1000 years, but, after the 1000 years will go into the new heaven and new earth because they have been born a new creature in Christ although they were in rebellion to Christ's commandments during their physical lifetimes.

The saint who have overcome are not hurt of the second death.

After the 1000 years Satan must be loosed for a little season to give those who were born during the 1000 years their choice of rebelling against Christ, the nation of Israel and any gentile nations loyal to Christ.

After all, everyone else in the previous six thousand years have been subject to the temptations of Satan.

Those who rebel will be destroyed by fire and brimstone. Immediately after this the Judgment of the Great White Throne will be convened and the thing that we know as 'time' will be no more.

Eternity future will begin and all of those who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ will go into eternity as residents in the new heavens and the new earth.

Those who never believed on the Lord Jesus Christ will be cast into the Lake of Fire with Satan, the anti-Christ, the false prophet, and all of Satan's minions, for eternity. Their reward and recompence for the works they have done in their physical lives of wickedness will have cought up with them. AMEN

You may visit my website for more reading and teaching on this subject at:
http://webpages.charter.net/ennisisland/ennisisland/

 

This question of the relationship between works (following Christ) and salvation (or heavenly rewards) is clear in the Bible. Some argue that there will be more than one Judgement for different people to get around this but I don't find any justification for that belief. The Judgement described in Mathew and the Judgement described in Revelation are one and the same. There will be only one Judgement for all. Looking at the Mathew description we find:

Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty, and gave [thee] drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

How much clearer could this be? We are saved by Grace but the indwelling of the Holy Spirit MUST result in a changed life (Ye must be born again).
Salvation which is not characterized by following Christ and demonstrating love towards God and our fellow man is not genuine. Moreover, although we have a sinful nature and will stumble, we must repent and turn again in the right direction.

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

This passage shows that we must seek the right path and that it's hard to find. "Grace only" is an over-simplification of the true gospel. "Once saved always saved" is the most danderous doctrine ever conceived by MAN.

God says:

Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 

"Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me."

Whatever happened to the "bema" seat?

Selah,

Bro. James