# Book - Bride of Christ ## Background - 2025.11.03 - I changed my mind about closing out this note and decided to update the book here - 2024.02.09 - Back in 2016, I had an idea for a book. I got past the outline and some of the intro, but didn't get any further. - Someday, I need to finish it because I have all these ideas floating in my head - Despite the incomplete nature of the "book", I will record this note as "complete." If I decide to work on it in the future, I'll start a new note. ## Book Title - BRIDE OF CHRIST ### PART 1 - WHAT IF? - What if the Bible is not about me? - We live in a very narcissistic time.  I am sure there have been other periods in the history of man where we were just as narcissistic.  However, this is the worst I have seen it in my lifetime.  A large segment of our society lives on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or some other social media site.  Our photo albums, as well as social media are filled with “selfie”.  Some of the mega TV superstar preachers preach a health and wealth gospel convincing their flock that they can have it all.  Many of the mega-churches around the country have created an entertainment superstar atmosphere that attempts to rival a rock concert or even the super bowl halftime show. - Most translations translate **John 3.16** similar to the BSB which reads, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”.  However, many people and even preachers talk about it as if it says, “For God so loved ME that He gave His one and only Son, that I shall not perish but have eternal life.”  We don’t search the scriptures to see what “eternal life” really means. - Is this really what the Bible says about Jesus’ Kingdom?  How many times does Jesus talk about His Kingdom in the four gospels?  Have we so watered down what the Bible says that we are completely missing the point? - What if the whole Bible was about God finding a bride for Jesus His Son? - What does the Bible say about the Bride of Christ?  What does it mean that Jesus will have a “Bride”?  What does the wedding feast really mean?  Why does God introduce the theme of marriage in the second chapter of the Bible?  Why does the marriage theme flow through the whole Bible from **Genesis** to **Revelation**? - If God the Father wanted to find a bride for His Son, how would He go about it?  What kind of Bride is worthy of God’s Son?   - What if everything was created as a part of God’s plan to find a bride for His Son? - What if the galactic battle between Satan and God is about Jesus’ Bride? - How would Jesus woo His Bride?  What does it look like for Jesus’ Bride to love and honor Him?  How can/does/should Jesus’ Bride “choose” to love and honor her husband? - What if man was created in Jesus’ physical image as well as His likeness? - What if it took billions of people in His church to fully reflect His glory and be a worthy Bride? - What if we need to make disciples of the whole world to fully reflect His glory? - What if the “church” (Jesus’ Bride) today isn’t fully washed and holy yet? - What if it takes suffering to purify the church (Jesus’ Bride)? ### PART 2 - BIBLICAL BASIS OF MY THESIS - ### PART 3 - SO WHAT? - Divorce - It is clear from various Bible passages that God hates divorce.  For example **Malachi 2.16** comes to mind.  Jesus discussed an allowable reason to divorce a spouse in **Matthew 5.32** and **Matthew 19.9**.  In both cases, the only acceptable reason for divorce was sexual immorality.  Those who violate this command are guilty of adultery. - I must confess I divorced my first wife. - In the book, I need to talk about how God “divorced” Israel then later took her back.  - Compare that with the mercy and grace He showed me after my sin. ### Links {[[Malachi_02]], [[Matthew_05]], [[Matthew_19]], [[John_03]] [[Preach]], [[Gospel]], [[God]], [[Love]], [[World]], [[Son_of_God]], [[Believe]], [[Eternal_Life]], [[Jesus]], [[Kingdom]], [[Gospel]], [[Bride_of_Christ]], [[Bride]], [[Wedding]], [[Marriage]], [[Scripture]], [[God_the_Father]], [[Creation]], [[Satan]], [[Honor]], [[Husband]], [[Image]], [[Likeness]], [[Creator]], [[Church]], [[Glory]], [[Disciple]], [[World]], [[Suffer]], [[Purity]], [[Divorce]], [[Hate]], [[Immorality]], [[Adultery]], [[Wife]], [[Israel]], [[Mercy]], [[Grace]], [[Sin]]}