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Your Righteousness, Not Jesus's



Amid the expansive domain of Christian theology, few images are as powerful and evocative as that of the Church as the bride of Christ. This metaphor, drawn from Revelation 19:7-8, paints a vivid picture of the relationship between Christ and His followers:

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." (Revelation 19:7-8, KJV)

The Bride's Identity

In this celestial wedding, the bride is none other than the present Church - the collective body of believers in Christ. As the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "For I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:2, KJV)

A Call to Preparation

Just as a bride meticulously prepares herself for her wedding day, Christians are called to ready themselves for the ultimate union with their Lord. This preparation is not merely external but primarily internal and spiritual. The apostle Peter emphasizes this in his epistle:

"But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." (1 Peter 3:4, KJV)

The Bridal Attire: Righteousness in Action

The fine linen granted to the bride is not mere fabric but represents the righteous acts of the saints. This imagery underscores the importance of faith manifested through works. As James pointedly states:

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:26, KJV)

Christians who will be ready to meet their Bridegroom are those adorned with righteous deeds. The alternative is a stark and sobering prospect - to be found spiritually naked and unprepared.

Holiness: The True Adornment

The Church's preparation is fundamentally about holiness. This concept goes beyond mere outward appearance, echoing the words of Paul:

"I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." (1 Timothy 2:8-10, KJV)

This holiness is characterized by a quiet and gentle spirit, a stark contrast to the often loud and ostentatious nature of worldly adornment.

Conclusion

As we await the return of Christ, the challenge for every Christian is clear: to live in a state of constant preparation, adorned with righteousness and holiness. Like a bride eagerly anticipating her wedding day, the Church must be vigilant, pure, and active in good works. For when the Bridegroom comes, may He find a bride ready and radiant, clothed in the splendor of righteous deeds and a heart fully devoted to Him.

"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Matthew 25:13, KJV)

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