Ephesians 5:31-32 English Standard Version 

31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Which is it, our big brother or our betrothed?

What is the profound mystery?

The answer to the first question is both. The adoption into the family of God is stated as a current condition. We are in our current state being conformed. Betrothed however is related to a future state which will remain in effect until the wedding feast. Both are based on promises made by God which are conditional.

The first is justification by faith placed in the finished works of Christ. We have no say in the matter. Everything related to our justification and sanctification is the purview of God the Father and God the Father alone.

The second is one of betrothal that indicates a matter of gracious endeavors bestowed upon us as members of the body of Christ, His universal church, His betrothed. These gracious endeavors are identified in gifts and talents for the sole purpose of building and bettering His Church. 

While we have no say in the adoption process, we do have a say in the betrothal process. We have a relationship with the bridegroom and that requires communication. We cannot do what is asked of us unless we first hear His instructions, understand those instructions and love Him enough to carry out those instructions.

The reason we have no say in the adoption process is because that status never changes. There is nothing we can do to alter that condition.

The status of the bride is expected to change. While His love and commitment to His bride is inviolate, the betrothed is expected to grow closer to the bridegroom and learn to love Him in ways the world could never teach us. That is not a matter of flesh, it is pure spirit.

That is where the great mystery comes into play.

Romans 1:4-6 English Standard Version

4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

What does it mean to belong to Jesus Christ?

In the world we all struggle for a position in the world. We want to belong in order to have a life worth living. It begins in the family. We identify with our birth order. The first will always be the first. No one that comes after that one can replace them, even by death. It is an unmistakable reality.

In the world, position means success. We have coined the phrase, “rank has its privileges.” We equate success with position, CEO, President, Pope, and there are many leaderboards that show our rankings. We put numbers to positions to track our progress. We want to be number one. But that is the world, that is not Kingdom living.

Romans 8:29 English Standard Version (ESV) For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

No matter how much we look like the firstborn we will never be the firstborn in the family of God. That has to be made clear.

John 3:28-29 English Standard Version

28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

John the baptist refers to Jesus as the bridegroom.

Ephesians 5:31-32 English Standard Version 

31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Which is it, our big brother or our betrothed?

What is the profound mystery?