Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and becomes part of the body and Church of Christ. The Church is the bride of Jesus on earth, and Jesus is her Bridegroom. He died to redeem her from sin and death, and He rose again to prepare a place for her in heaven where she becomes His wife.
Jesus made His Church His bride on earth and His wife in heaven because she kept His Word and abided in His love, just as He kept His Father's Word and abided in His love (John 15:10). Before the Church could become the wife of Christ, she first had to be redeemed into the spiritual image and likeness of God.
Only Christ could redeem His Church, for she was created in His image and likeness as His closest relative. Jesus did not redeem her merely to marry her He redeemed her because He was already united with her from creation, and He came to save her from sin and the lake of fire.
Do you believe this truth? You should want to if you don't. For this is the greatest life mankind can live on earth or in heaven (Matthew 11:11).
Autorentext
Oried E. Graves is devoted to living the life Jesus died for us to live. Born the fifth of ten siblings, he learned early the value of faith and perseverance. After losing his father at the age of nine, he looked to the Church for guidance and spiritual direction.A graduate of high school, Oried served three years in the military before pursuing higher education. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, a Master of Business Administration, and a Doctorate in Divinity specializing in Interdisciplinary Religious Studies.Called into ministry in 1980, Oried and his wife, Edna, were blessed by the Lord to establish Hosanna Christian Church in 1984, where he continues to serve faithfully as pastor. Together, they have four children and eleven grandchildren.In 2012, Oried authored God Created Mankind in His Image and Likeness, a work that laid the foundation for his ongoing message: that mankind was created in the image and likeness of God to forever be with Him. His ministry continues to bear witness to this divine truth reminding all that to truly follow Jesus, one must walk in the image and likeness of God.