The Maturity of the Bride

 

The Maturity of the Bride

1 Cor 18-19 "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body?"

Eph 4:15 "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ"

James 5:7 "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain"

Cor 3:18 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord"

Eph 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might"

Phil 4:11-12 "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content"

Rev 8-9 "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb"

Rev 21:2 "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband"

 

Aspect	Meaning	Distinction from Other Concepts	Biblical Examples	Practical Application	Related Detailed Scriptures
Basic Definition of Maturity (Greek: Telos - End/Goal)	The final stage of being filled with divine life, reaching the fullness of life	Transformation: Transformation is metabolic change; maturity is being filled with divine life. vs Regeneration: Regeneration is the starting point; maturity is the endpoint	Jacob from grasper (Gen 27) → transformation (Gen 37) → mature blesser (Gen 47)	Not being satisfied with regeneration alone, but continually pursuing growth in Christ's life until fullness	Heb 6:1 "Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection"; Col 4:12 "that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God"; Rom 12:2; 2 Pet 1:3-4
Body Consciousness of Mature Believers	Knowing and caring for Christ's Body, having Body consciousness, and being Body-centered	Individualism: Not personal spirituality, but Body maturity.  Sectarianism: Transcending denominations to see one Body	Paul emphasized the function of Body members: the eye cannot say to the hand "I don't need you" (1 Cor 12)	Coordinating with all members in church life, not acting independently, seeking Body fellowship and confirmation	1 Cor 12:16 "And if the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body";; 21 "And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee"; 24 "For our comely parts have no need"
Process of Pursuing Maturity	From regeneration onward, not being self-satisfied, pressing forward to reach maturity, continually growing in divine life	Stagnation: Not remaining at elementary level, but pressing forward. Complacency: Never being satisfied with current state.  Regression: Forgetting what is behind, straining toward what is ahead	Paul said "Not that I have already obtained or am already made perfect," but must press on (Phil 3)	Daily Bible reading and prayer, attending meetings, exercising spirit in daily life, accepting enlightenment and dealing from the Word	Phil 3:12 "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect";  14 "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus"; 15 "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded";
Farmer and Harvest Parable	The Lord Jesus is the true Farmer, patiently waiting for believers to mature; believers are the harvest, needing to mature in life to become firstfruits	vs Impatience: Not rushing to see the Lord's return, but letting the Lord wait for our maturity. Passive waiting: Not passive waiting, but actively growing to maturity	James exhorted believers to be like farmers patiently waiting for the precious fruit of the earth (James 5:7)	While waiting for the Lord's coming, earnestly pursue life growth to become the firstfruits the Lord desires	Matt 13:3 Lord Jesus' parable of sowing; Rev 14:4 "These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb"; 14-15 harvest
Christ Fully Formed	Christ being fully formed within us, completely transformed into His image, reaching life maturity	External imitation: Not outwardly learning Christ, but Christ being formed within.  Partial formation: Not partially like Christ, but fully formed	Paul travailed for the Galatians until Christ was formed in them (Gal 4:19)	Allowing Christ's nature, character, and virtues to be fully formed within us, expressing Christ in daily life	Gal 4:19 "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you"; 2 Rom 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son"; Eph 3:16-17
Surrender and Resurrection of Will	The neck represents the surrendered will; the Lord sees our will's surrender as beautiful; the surrendered will must be strong in resurrection	Passive will: Not elimination of will, but surrender followed by resurrection strength. Stubborn will: Not stiff-necked, but softly surrendered.  No will:  Not being a puppet, but actively surrendering	The beloved's neck in Song of Songs is like David's tower, built in rows, with a thousand shields hanging, all shields of mighty men (Song 4:4)	Seeking the Lord's heart in all matters, willingly submitting to the Spirit's leading, while being strong to fight for the Lord	Song 3:4 "Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury"; 4:1 "Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair"; 4 "Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men" 2 Cor 10:3-5 spiritual warfare
Paul's Ministry Goal	To present every man perfect in Christ, making people complete and whole, for the one new man	Individual salvation: Not just personal salvation, but for the one new man. Spiritual knowledge: Not just understanding doctrine, but life maturity. Gift exercise: Not just gift function, but life growth	Paul labored and strived according to God's mighty power working within him to dispense Christ into people	In ministry, not just preaching doctrine, but dispensing Christ into people to make them grow and mature in Christ	Col 1:28 "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus"; 29 "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily"; 3:10-11 one new man
Jacob's Maturity Process	From grasper (Gen 27) → transformer (Gen 37) → mature person (Gen 47), life measure enlarged, accepting the Spirit's discipline	Natural life: Not improving the natural, but receiving divine life. External change: Not outward reform, but inward transformation. Sudden maturity: Not overnight growth, but accumulated process	Jacob lost Joseph and learned to trust God, eventually becoming one who blessed Pharaoh, embodying life maturity	Seeing God's sovereign arrangement in life's various encounters, allowing God to transform us through circumstances, enlarging our measure	Gen 27:27 Jacob's grasping; 37:31-35 losing Joseph; 43:11,13-14 trusting God; 47:7,10 blessing Pharaoh; Psa 4:1 "enlarged place"; Heb 12:5-11 "Spirit's discipline"; 2 Cor 1:8-10 Paul's experience Gen 47:7 "And Jacob blessed Pharaoh"; 10 "And Jacob blessed Pharaoh"; 48:14-16 blessing Ephraim and Manasseh; Heb 7:7 "And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better"; 1 Tim 6:6-8 contentment
Characteristics and Marks of Maturity	Enlarged measure, accepting the Spirit's discipline, trusting and resting in the all-sufficient God, becoming a channel of blessing to others	Narrow measure: Not petty, but broad in measure. Complaining about circumstances: Not grumbling, but thanking God for His sovereignty. Selfishness: Not for self, but becoming a blessing	Jacob blessing Pharaoh is the most powerful mark of maturity; Paul learned contentment in suffering	Not complaining in difficult circumstances, but rather thanking God and being able to bless and intercede for others
Realization of the Mature Bride	The corporate bride is the overcomers, prepared through life maturity, becoming the Lamb's wife, reigning with Christ	Individual believers: Not individuals, but corporate bride. General salvation: Not ordinary believers, but overcomers. Earthly enjoyment: Not earthly blessings, but reigning with the Lord	Revelation 19 Lamb's wedding, overcomers becoming the bride reigning with Christ for a thousand years	Pursue being overcomers, overcoming the world, flesh, and Satan in this age, preparing to become the Lamb's bride	Rev 19:7 "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready"  6 "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth"; John 1:29 Lamb; 3:29 bridegroom; Rev 21:2 holy city bride
Kingdom and Wedding Feast	The reigning in the millennium is the wedding feast; overcomers are both the bride and those who reign with Christ	Separate matters: The kingdom and wedding feast are not two things, but two aspects of one thing. Future beginning: Must prepare now to participate in the future	Those invited to the wedding feast are the corporate bride, also those who reign with the bridegroom	Live a life of overcoming now, pursue life maturity, preparing ourselves for the future wedding feast and reigning	Rev 19:6 "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth"; 9 "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb"; 20:4 "And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years";
God's Eternal Economy	The mature bride is the goal of God's desire and purpose; God's New Testament economy is to gain a bride for Christ	Mere salvation: God's goal is not just saving sinners, but gaining a bride. Individual relationship: Not just individual relationship with God, but corporate bride's union with Christ	Genesis shows God making Eve for Adam as a type of Christ gaining the church as bride	Not being satisfied with individual salvation, but being built together with all saints in the church to become Christ's bride	Gen 2:22 "And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man"; Rom 5:10 "saved by his life"; Eph 5:25-27 Christ loves the church; Rev 19:7-9; 21:2,9-10 holy city bride is the completion of God's economy

 

Summary Application Principles:

1.      Continuous Pursuit: From regeneration to maturity is a process requiring continuous pursuit

2.      Body Building: Individual maturity is for the Body's building and the realization of the one new man

3.      Environmental Cooperation: Accept transformation in God's sovereignly arranged circumstances, allowing measure to be enlarged

4.      Becoming Blessing: The mark of maturity is ability to bless others, becoming a channel of God's grace

5.      Ultimate Goal: All maturity is for becoming Christ's bride, completing God's eternal economy

 

*Please refer to the 2025 Memorial Day Blending Conference. General Topic: Preparation of the Bride. Chapter 3: Maturity of the Bride.