All Doves:

The next step in "The Theme of The Bride" is the matter of "Consent".  Consent was important to Abraham, concerning getting a wife for Isaac. 

Genesis 24:8  - "And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again."

Rebecca gave her consisent to be the bride and go with Elizer, having not see her husband Isaac.

Genesis 24:58 - "And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man?  And she said, I will go."

The people of Israel made a verbal acknowledgement to agree and consent to the Law.

Exodus 24:3  - "And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do."

This is a choice, to be made continually.  It is not a one time event.

Deuteronomy 30:19  - "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:"

Joshua 24:15  - "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Christians, likewise, give consent, and agree to love Jesus to become His Wife.  Likewise, as Rebekah did not see her future husband Isaac as she was agreeing to be his wife, well over 99.99% of Christians consent without having seen the Groom, and agree to be His Bride.

1 Peter 1:8  - "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:"

John 20:29  - "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

1st Corinthians 2:9  - "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

But, we actually give a verbal sign when we consent and agree to become the Bride of Christ.  Everyone who hears the Gospel, the invitation, (if they are appropriately moved to repentance and belief by the Holy Spirit) has the option to confess or deny Jesus Christ.

Matthew 10:32  - "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven."

Matthew 10:33  - "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven."

Romans 10:6  - "But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven?"  (that is, to bring Jesus Christ down from above.)

Romans 10:7  - "O, Who shall descend into the deep?"  (that is, to bring up Jesus Christ again from the dead.)

Romans 10:8  -  "But what saith it?  The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith which we preach;"

Romans 10:9  -  "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Romans 10:10.  - "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Consent is an important part of the preaching ministry, if people are not willing to listen, we are told to move on, and we are not responsible any longer, as Abraham said in Genesis 24:8 - "And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath."

Matthew 10:4  - "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet."

Mark 6:11  - "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.  Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city."

Luke 9:5  -  "And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them."

In the next post on "Biblical Theme of The Bride" we will look at the next step in the process, which is the "Written document, A Covenant."

God bless,

Pastor Bob