A Full Reward: The Bride Of Christ
The magnificent city of New Jerusalem towering 1,500 miles high will be the eternal palace of Jesus Christ and His Bride.
The joy of the New Heaven and New Earth will be this triumphant company of sanctified saints that were perfectly ready to die for Christ. These Godly Christians had forsaken the world and its empty treasure to win the prize of a full reward. The joy of the Bride in this world and the city of New Jerusalem was and will be for all eternity “Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.”
Carnal Christians, worldly Christians, and unfaithful church members cannot have one little bit of expectations to be His Bride. Reading the Scripture of the last day church call “Laodicea,” the Lord said it would not even go in the Rapture but be spewed into the Great Tribulation: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16) This company of disappointed believers will have to die as martyrs in the hell and fury of the antichrist.
Let’s study the Biblical teaching of the “Full Reward” that is still available to the “crucified saints.” It all starts in the Biblical truth of the “Body of Christ.” This “Body of Christ” is the New Testament church that Apostle Paul taught us about in the Book of Corinthians. Every “Born Again” believer is added immediately to the Body, or we normally say, “The Church.” Read with me. “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” (I Corinthians 12:12-14)
This “Body” is not just good people or neighborly people but saints of God, and every saint has a place to labor. “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” (I Corinthians 12:27-28) Some of us are given five talents, two talents, or maybe only one, but every believer has a place and duty to fill. We are in a spiritual war and you will be rewarded for your labor. “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” (II Timothy 2:4-5) Pew warmers cannot win this place of “masteries.”
There will be a host of people saved that have forfeited their reward. This certainly includes the highest possible reward of the “Bride of Christ.” “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”(I Corinthians 3:8-10) You are saved by grace but it is your duty in His grace to build on that foundation. “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (I Corinthians 3:12-15) How sad it is to think of losing all rewards after Christ dying for us on the cross.
The church world is full of selfish people, arrogant leaders, worldly person that hate someone preaching what the Godly preacher preaches. : “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” (II Timothy 4:3) These same souls are furious when you warn them about missing the Rapture and His Brideship.
Nothing is more absolute for the Bride of Christ than living in full surrender to the Lordship of Christ. The Bible calls this lifestyle, sanctification. In such a life the person is not simply forgiven and saved but set apart from the old nature of Adam. Jesus Christ did not die for you just to be saved from damnation but to be a “vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use.” (II Timothy 2: 21) Your temple is the temple of the Holy Ghost. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (I Corinthians 6:19-20)
The church world has been taught a watered-down gospel for several decades and the “chickens have come home to roost.” I write this introduction for this sermon to encourage you that this great opportunity for the Bride Of Christ reward is available for every Believer. My heart is overwhelmed with the burden of warning and blessing you. I weep over these sermons, but I believe they cannot fail to reach a host of people. God’s true saints want the truth because it will set you free. The Rapture is on schedule and I believe it is at the door.
The world no longer wants anything to do with the fundamental truth of the Bible. The Governor of New York, Cuomo, has declared that his state no longer wants any citizens that believe in the standards of the Bible. If the church does not wake up that could become the standard of America. The attitude of the world leaders will be even much more plain and damning after the Rapture. They will kill you for conducting a wedding between a man and a woman. Abortions of a second pregnancy will be the law of the world, and to name the name of Jesus Christ will be a capital crime.
It is time to prepare to be part of His Bride. “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22: 11-14) Notice the last verse: “many are called but few are chosen.” To be chosen as His Bride is the highest calling and reward of the church world.
If you have been convicted of sin, you have been called. If you are saved, “born again,” then your call is even louder. He is calling and by His Holy Spirit inspiring you forward to a triumphant life. A “Born Again” Christian is saved and ready to spend eternity in God’s New Heaven and New Earth, but they must grow up and become mature in the Lord. Jesus prayed before His death for your maturity in the faith. “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” (St. John 17:15-19) He actually died for you to be saved and to be set free from the pull of your flesh life.
Apostle Paul added wonderful truth to this call. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (I Thessalonians 5:21-24)
Remember the words of Christ to the Philadelphian church: “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Revelation 3:11) Peter added wonderful hope to this warning. “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (I Peter 5:4) I want to have fellowship with you on one of the golden streets in New Jerusalem.
SuperCounters
Terri Hill
I have been preaching a strong message of repentance for a very long time now in the places where the Lord has sent me. I just ministered at a women’s bible study, and brought them the message of the “high calling”, and the necessity of “paying a price” in order to qualify to be a part of the Bride of Jesus Christ; Phil. 3:10-14; 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Rev. 3:21. When I got home, your article was waiting in my e-mail inbox. Talk about confirmation!
Ed G.
Pastor Joseph,
This is an incredible series of articles (sermons) that you have been blessing us with concerning the Bride of Christ. To finally be in the presence of our Lord and Saviour, our Bridegroom, “having fellowship one with another on those golden streets in New Jerusalem”, we simply cannot get enough of these comforting, timely words of truth & light. Such sweet sounding music to our ears; as His Word should always be, and all the more as we see that day approaching.
I also wanted to tell you how much l liked your book, and your insights into, “NEBUCHADNEZZAR – The Head of Gold”. I had never understood before, even after reading those accounts many times in the Bible, what a truly god-fearing man that great king, and his queen, actually were. But how quickly man always seems to forget such things, then turns back to his evil ways, especially in these last days.
Joseph B. D. Saraceno
All of the world Religions is joining up with Rome and this new pluralist, inter faith
gospel where Jesus is just another PROPHET will take place before the Lord can come back.
Remember the final general judgment will take place on PENTECOST SUNDAY middle east
time after the great Chastisement of fire. It will seem to be coming from the SUN.
The faithful will be protected.. The Kingdom come, finally O’ Lord. AMEN.
Bill Scudder
Terri:
We can not pay any price in order to qualify to be part of the bride of Christ. Jesus Christ paid the whole price. We can never be worthy to inherit the Kingdom of God. Jesus shed his blood to pay the price. We Have to see that before we can even repent. Lead me to the cross.
Brother Bill
Please quit correcting those that you do not agree with. Your doctrines show that you are in cheap grace. You do not get rewarded just by free grace. Of course every gift and calling of our Lord demands grace but if you sit on your behind and do nothing, you certainly are not going to be rewarded. Read the whole Bible not just those Scriptures you like. I love you and I am delighted you read our articles.
Pastor Chambers
Bill Scudder
Pastor Chambers:
I’m sorry that you are offended by the fact that I only pointed out that we can not pay to be in the bride of Christ as someone indicated. That was not a correction as you said but the Gospel truth.