The Bridegroom - Mini Bible study on Christ's love

 

Revelation 19:6-9 ESV - Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"-- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."

February is the month of love, and as we finish it out I can't help but speak of Christ's love. As a writer of Christian romance, love is often in the forefront of my mind. We long for love stories with heroes who protect us both physically and emotionally, and who love us unconditionally. Yet it is impossible to find a person who loves us perfectly and can guarantee our protection. We were designed for this kind of love and relationship. In the garden of Eden we had it, but since the fall we long for it and reach for it, often turning to things that are no good for us and are an imitation of what is best.

We have this kind of love in Christ! His death for our lives is the ultimate outpouring of His love, yet His love extends even further. Let’s look at some of the other characteristics of His love.

A love that is intimate. He knows us inside and out and loves us still.

Psalm 139:1-4, 15-16 ESV - 1 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. ... 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

A love that sanctifies, nourishes, and cherishes. Christ is making us holy and preparing us for our eternal home!

Ephesians 5:25-32 ESV - 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

A love that forgives.

Ephesians 1:7 (ESV) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

1 John 1:9 (ESV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

A love that provides for the future.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV) 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

John 14:2-3 (ESV) 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

There are many more verses that present the depths of God’s love as shown through Christ for His people. I will not attempt to list them all here, though I have a few more for you. This is but a taste of His love. I urge you to spend time reading God’s word and talking with Him daily so you can get to know Him as intimately as He knows you.

Psalm 136:1 (ESV) Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

All of Psalm 136 extols the steadfast love of God. It also recounts the times and ways He showed love to His people (in spite of their sins which were numerous when you read the Old Testament accounts). 

A love that will conquer all. Because of God’s holiness, Christ will judge and conquer all sin to make a way for the future He has promised. 

Those fairytales of a knight on a white steed protecting His kingdom and His bride by destroying everything that comes against them are not unfounded. We have that very image in Revelation!

Revelation 19:11-16 (ESV) 11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Celebrate our perfect hero!