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“..’Israel is called the “wife” of God, and the Church is called the “bride” of Christ!’” ~ #170

You replied: “I agree. ...”

Then you’ll have to _legitimately_ deal with, and not ignore or dismiss, Scriptures like this:

Paul calls the Church the bride of Christ and John speaks of marriage of the Lamb, where the bride is the church and the Lamb is Christ.

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]

Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and ___his wife___ hath made herself ready.

And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19:7-8]

In Ephesians 5 Paul says that the relationship of a husband and his wife is to model the relationship of Christ and His church.

Although this bride of Christ (the church) is made up of innumerable Christians, it is never referred to in the plural, but always in the singular. One bride… one wife.

Galatians 3:29
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+3%3A29&version=NASB

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Romans 2:28-29
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+2%3A28-29&version=NIV

A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

Philippians 3:2-3
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A2-3&version=NASB

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh..