While it is true that God is preparing the church (i.e. people who believe the Gospel and receive Christ as their Lord and Savior) to be the bride of Christ, this is NOT the invitation of the Gospel.
The Gospel is a call for sinners, currently under God’s wrath, to flee for refuge and escape. It is an offer of life.
Comparing the Gospel to a wedding PROPOSAL is not Biblical. Jesus did, however, compare it to a wedding INVITATION. There is a big difference between the two.
The Gospel is a call for sinners, currently under God’s wrath, to flee for refuge and escape. It is an offer of life.
Regarding the analogy, don’t try to read too much into it. It is only about the point it is trying to make, that her attitude about Mr. Right would be different if he gave her that choice, and that she would be choosing for the wrong reason.
And that is what puts a LOT of people in churches - fear of a vengeful God making them suffer for all eternity. That is not the gospel. That is not coming to God out of desire to please him and reciprocate. That is about stark terror.
In Jeremiah 3:8 The Heavenly Father divorced the House of Israel. When do you think that wedding took place? Now remember according to Peter, Those three days and nights in the tomb, Christ went to all, souls/spirit intellects, back to the time of Noah and offered them salvation, those whom accepted would be called Christians... regardless of ethnicity.
The bride is not just those still in a flesh body.
You wrote.....”Comparing the Gospel to a ‘wedding PROPOSAL’ is not Biblical. Jesus did, however, compare it to a ‘wedding INVITATION’.... There is a big difference between the two.”
Yes....