WHY IS JESUS COMING BACK FOR HIS BRIDE?

By Reverend Nick

As believers, one of the most profound truths we encounter in Scripture is that Jesus Christ is coming back for His bride—the church. This imagery, woven throughout the Bible (e.g., Ephesians 5:25-27, Revelation 19:7-8), paints a picture of an intimate, covenantal relationship between Christ and those who are saved. But what does it mean to be the bride of Christ, and why does Jesus desire this relationship with us?

Let’s explore this divine calling and what it reveals about God’s love, our free will, and the purpose of our existence.

The Bride: Perfect and Faithful

Scripture tells us that the bride of Christ must be perfect and faithful (Matthew 5:48; Revelation 19:8). When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are declared righteous through His grace, made perfect in God’s sight. This perfection isn’t something we earn but a gift we receive through salvation. As the bride, we are also called to be faithful, choosing to live in devotion to Christ. This isn’t forced upon us—God doesn’t demand our love like a tyrant. Instead, He offers us the freedom to choose Him, just as a bride freely chooses her groom. This free will is central to our relationship with God. Unlike a human proposal where love cannot be coerced, God invites us into a covenant with Him, rooted in love and trust. We have a choice: to align ourselves with God’s sovereignty and inherit the promise of heaven, or to reject Him and face the consequences of rebellion. This choice is starkly illustrated in the fall of Adam and Eve, who, despite being in God’s presence, chose disobedience.

The Fall: A Necessary Choice

The story of Adam and Eve in Genesis reveals why the fall had to happen. God is love, and love must be chosen freely (1 John 4:8). For love to be genuine, there must be a legitimate choice—an alternative. Before the fall, Adam and Eve didn’t know evil or death; they lived in perfect harmony with God. Yet, Satan tempted Eve with the promise of knowledge, saying she would “be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). In their choice to disobey, they stepped out from under God’s authority and came under the influence of Satan, the prince of this world (John 12:31). The consequences were immediate: shame, guilt, fear, and blame entered the world. Adam pointed the finger at Eve, saying, “It’s her fault!” (Genesis 3:12). They covered themselves, aware of their nakedness, and feared rejection. This rebellion introduced the sin nature we all inherit, a curse that taints humanity. Yet, God’s plan was not derailed. He allowed the fall to create an environment where we could experience the reality of sin and evil, making our choice to follow Him meaningful.

Why a Fallen World?

Why would a loving God allow us to live in a world ruled by Satan, where evil seems boundless? (We note here that God is always supreme, of course, but Satan is deemed to be the prince of this world.) The answer as to why Satan is given temporary dominion lies in the nature of choice. By experiencing the consequences of sin—shame, guilt, and brokenness—we see the stark contrast between life under Satan’s influence and life under God’s authority. This fallen world serves as a backdrop to highlight God’s extraordinary love and the redemption offered through Jesus Christ. Jesus, our Redeemer. Jesus paid the ultimate price to buy us back from Satan’s claim on us. (1 Corinthians 6:20). On the cross, He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30), settling the sin issue once and for all. Through His death and resurrection, we are freed from the curse of sin and invited into an intimate, covenant relationship with Him. This is the essence of being the bride of Christ—not a contract based on performance, but a covenant rooted in grace and love.

Living as the Bride

So, how do we live as the bride of Christ? It starts with a daily, intimate walk with Jesus. Too often, we fall into a performance mentality, thinking we must earn God’s favor through good works. This leads to bondage, where God becomes a taskmaster rather than a loving Savior.

Indeed, we are called to a worship mentality—a life of repentance, forgiveness, and trust in God’s grace. As the bride, we are to be salt and light in a fallen world (Matthew 5:13-16). By simply being who God created us to be, we influence others for Christ. We practice discipleship, helping to heal the hurting and restore the broken. As I once shared, “Do what you can, when you can, with what you’ve got.”

This is the freedom we have in Christ—freedom to live for Him, to trust Him fully, and to rest in His finished work.

The Role of Angels and Demons

You may wonder why angels and demons exist in this narrative. They make the spiritual battle personal. Angels, who also have free will, serve as God’s messengers and helpers, while demons, led by Satan, seek to deceive and destroy. The rebellion of Lucifer and a third of the angels (Revelation 12:4) mirrors humanity’s fall, showing that even in God’s presence, free will can lead to disobedience. Yet, God uses this spiritual war to guide us to Him, demonstrating that He alone is sovereign (1 Corinthians 4:9).

A Covenant, Not a Contract

One final thought: our relationship with God is not a contract based on performance, but a covenant, like a marriage. A contract depends on both parties fulfilling obligations; a covenant is a sacred union, creating something new in the spiritual realm. As the bride of Christ, we are united with Him, loved despite our imperfections, and called to live in His rest. Let’s embrace this calling with joy, trusting God’s plan and choosing Him daily. Ask Him, “Lord, what’s Your plan for me today?” As we walk intimately with Jesus, we reflect His love to a broken world, preparing ourselves as His faithful bride for the day He returns.

Rev. Dr. Nick Marica is the Vice-Chancellor of Amherst Theological Seminary and holds a D.Min. from Amherst Theological Seminary and an MA from Liberty University in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is the author of “The Walk Applied: Living the New Creation Life as a Citizen of God’s Kingdom in a Secular World” and “The Fasting and Prayer Handbook.” Nick has been married to Kathy since 1985, and they are the proud parents of three children.

Contact Nick at nick.marica@srcministry.org,

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