The apostle Paul tells the Corinthians, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2). Two things are seen: one, espouse you to one husband is an analogy that uses the idea of a bride that is espoused to one husband, and two, chaste refers to purity, referring to a bride that is pure by the rules, and the desires, of the husband, that being in this case Christ as that one husband, and his word, as the requirements for his bride.
In Ephesians Chapter 5, Paul uses human marriage as a symbol of Christ and the church. Paul says, “…even as Christ is the head of the church: and is savior of the body” (verse 23). Again, “Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (verse 25). “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (verse 30), which shows how close and much the church is integral to Christ, and how much in likeness the church is to be like him.
Then each Christian being a part of his body, understands that he or she can be rejected when in conflict with Christ. The conduct will then be what the Christ the head instructs Christians and the church to follow. These surely describe the bride that all men want, and it describes the church, the bride of Christ, which he wants.
When the church is considered as the bride of Christ, it takes on a new meaning, and a responsibility to Christ. Thus the church is not a toy of men. It is his bride and he has all requirements for that bride.
