Eternal Love: Our Identity as Christ's Beloved Bride

Devotional

Day 1: God's Eternal Love is Our Foundation

God's love is not a mere emotion but the essence of His being, existing before the creation of the world. This love is eternal, sacrificial, and unconditional, rooted in God's nature rather than our actions. Ephesians 1:4 reveals that God chose us in love before the foundation of the world, demonstrating our deep value and cherished status in His eyes. This eternal love is the foundation of our identity, reminding us that we are deeply valued and cherished by God. [55:50]

"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." (Deuteronomy 7:6, ESV)

Reflection: How does knowing that God loved you before the world began change the way you view your worth and identity today?

Day 2: The Church as the Bride of Christ

The church, as the bride of Christ, was in God's heart from the beginning. Just as Eve was formed from Adam's side, the church is formed from Christ, symbolizing an intimate and equal relationship with Him. This reveals that we are not an afterthought but the purpose of creation. Our existence is rooted in God's desire for a relationship with us, highlighting the profound significance of our role as the bride of Christ. [01:09:50]

"And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy." (Hosea 2:19, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you embrace your role as part of the bride of Christ, living in intimate relationship with Him today?

Day 3: Creation's Intentionality and Love

Creation is not random or accidental; it is intentional and rooted in love. Revelation 13:8 speaks of Jesus as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, indicating that the cross was not a reaction to sin but part of God's eternal plan. This love is intentional and sacrificial, demonstrating that God would rather die than lose us. Our value is found in God's willingness to lay down His life for us, showing that love was the beginning, the cost, and the meaning of it all. [01:16:12]

"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." (Colossians 1:16, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding that creation is rooted in God's love and intentionality affect your view of the world and your place in it?

Day 4: Our Identity in Christ

Our identity is not defined by the world or our past but by God's eternal love. We are chosen, pursued, and beloved by God. This truth should reshape our identity, allowing us to reject negative thoughts and embrace our worth in Christ. By understanding our identity in Christ, we can live confidently, knowing that we are deeply loved and valued by God. [01:25:23]

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Reflection: What negative thoughts or beliefs about yourself do you need to reject in light of your identity in Christ?

Day 5: Living as the Beloved

As the bride of Christ, we are not just saved but desired and pursued by God. This truth calls us to live as people who are deeply loved and valued, allowing God's love to be our beginning, middle, and end. Embracing this identity empowers us to live out our purpose with confidence and joy, knowing that we are cherished by God. [01:27:58]

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." (Zephaniah 3:17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you live today as someone who is deeply loved and pursued by God, allowing His love to shape your actions and decisions?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth of God's eternal love, a love that existed before the creation of the world. This love is not just a feeling or an emotion; it is the very essence of who God is. Before the universe was formed, before the stars were set in motion, God had a desire to love and be loved. This desire was not just to create or to rule, but to have a relationship with a bride for His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the beginning of our story, a story that does not start in Genesis 1 but in eternity past, where God dreamed of us and loved us before we were ever born.

We delved into the concept that love existed before light, as Ephesians 1:4 tells us that God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. This choice was made in love, a sacrificial, unconditional love known as agape. This love is not based on our performance but is rooted in God's eternal nature. We also discussed how the bride, the church, was in God's heart from the start. Just as Eve was formed from Adam's side, the church is formed from Christ, symbolizing an intimate and equal relationship with Him.

Furthermore, we examined the meaning of creation, which is rooted in love. Revelation 13:8 speaks of Jesus as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, indicating that the cross was not a reaction to sin but part of God's eternal plan. This love is intentional and sacrificial, demonstrating that God would rather die than lose us. Our value is not based on what we do but on the fact that God loves us so deeply.

As we continue this series, let us embrace our identity as the beloved bride of Christ, chosen and pursued by God across eternity. Let us live in the truth of this love, allowing it to shape our identity and purpose.

Key Takeaways

1. Eternal Love: Before the world began, God loved us with an eternal, sacrificial love. This love is not based on our actions but is rooted in God's nature. It is a love that chose us before the foundation of the world, demonstrating that we are deeply valued and cherished by God. [55:50]
2. The Bride's Origin: The church, as the bride of Christ, was in God's heart from the beginning. Just as Eve was formed from Adam's side, the church is formed from Christ, symbolizing an intimate and equal relationship with Him. This reveals that we are not an afterthought but the purpose of creation. [69:50]
3. Creation's Meaning: Creation is not random or accidental; it is intentional and rooted in love. The cross was part of God's eternal plan, demonstrating that love was the beginning, the cost, and the meaning of it all. Our value is found in God's willingness to lay down His life for us. [76:12]
4. Identity in Christ: Our identity is not defined by the world or our past but by God's eternal love. We are chosen, pursued, and beloved by God. This truth should reshape our identity, allowing us to reject negative thoughts and embrace our worth in Christ. [85:23]
5. Living as the Beloved: As the bride of Christ, we are not just saved but desired and pursued by God. This truth calls us to live as people who are deeply loved and valued, allowing God's love to be our beginning, middle, and end. [01:27:58]
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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Opening Remarks and Weather Discussion
[02:00] - Connection Form and Prayer Needs
[04:00] - Introduction to New Series
[06:30] - Love Pursued Across Eternity
[08:00] - Love Existed Before Light
[10:30] - God's Eternal Love and Choice
[13:00] - The Bride in God's Heart
[15:30] - Creation's Meaning and Intentionality
[18:00] - Identity and Value in Christ
[20:00] - Living as the Beloved Bride
[22:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship Invitation
[25:00] - Worship and Reflection
[30:00] - Final Blessing and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Ephesians 1:4 - "He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love."
Revelation 13:8 - "All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain."
John 17:24 - "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world."

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Observation Questions:

According to Ephesians 1:4, when did God choose us, and what was the basis of this choice? How does this relate to the concept of love existing before light? [55:50]
In Revelation 13:8, what does it mean that Jesus is the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world"? How does this reflect God's eternal plan? [01:16:12]
How does John 17:24 illustrate the relationship between Jesus and the Father before the foundation of the world? What does this reveal about the nature of God's love? [58:27]
The sermon mentioned that the church, as the bride of Christ, was in God's heart from the beginning. How is this concept illustrated in the creation of Eve from Adam's side? [01:09:50]

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Interpretation Questions:

What does it mean for believers to be chosen in love before the foundation of the world? How does this understanding affect one's view of personal worth and identity? [55:50]
How does the idea of Jesus being the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world challenge the notion that the cross was merely a reaction to sin? What does this say about God's intentionality in creation? [01:16:12]
In what ways does the eternal love between the Father and the Son, as described in John 17:24, serve as a model for the love God has for humanity? How can this shape our understanding of divine love? [58:27]
The sermon suggests that the church was not an afterthought but the purpose of creation. How does this perspective influence the way believers view their role and purpose in the world? [01:09:50]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on the idea that you were loved long before you were born. How does this truth impact your daily life and interactions with others? [52:08]
The sermon emphasized that our value is not based on performance but on God's eternal love. How can you remind yourself of this truth when you feel inadequate or unworthy? [55:50]
Consider the concept of being the bride of Christ. How does this identity influence the way you live your life and engage with your faith community? [01:09:50]
The sermon mentioned that God's love is intentional and sacrificial. In what ways can you demonstrate intentional and sacrificial love in your relationships this week? [01:16:12]
How can the understanding that creation is rooted in love change the way you view the world and your place in it? What practical steps can you take to live out this perspective? [01:19:07]
The sermon encouraged believers to reject negative thoughts and embrace their worth in Christ. What specific negative thoughts do you need to reject, and how can you replace them with the truth of God's love? [01:25:23]
As the beloved bride of Christ, how can you live in a way that reflects being desired and pursued by God? What changes might you need to make in your life to align with this truth? [01:27:58]

Sermon Clips

Before the world began, the kind of love that God had for us, it wasn't sentimental. It was covenantal. He chose to love you, listen, He chose to love you with the same love that sent Jesus to the cross. How many of you know, if that was an emotional love that God had in that moment, He wouldn't have sent His Son to the cross. It was an act of His will. Not an emotional love, not a romantic love, not a sentimental love. A self-giving, sacrificial, unconditional love. [00:57:20] (38 seconds) Edit Clip

God's choice was not based on our performance. How many of you are glad for that? God's choice, it was not based on our performance, but it was rooted in eternal love. Before time began, He was already calling us His very own. Before time began, He was whispering your name and calling you His very own. We know 1 John 4, 8, we just said this a minute ago. God is what? God is love. Love is not something that God does, it's the essence of who He is. God is love. [00:58:03] (39 seconds) Edit Clip

Creation wasn't the beginning of God's activity. Creation was the unveiling of God's heart. The first act of God was not of power, it was an act of passion. It was a deep, eternal desire to share the love within the Trinity with someone else, with a bride. In the book of Hosea, how do you know the book of Hosea? You know the prophet Hosea. God speaks of the prophet Hosea, and He tells him to marry, anybody know her name? Gomer. [00:59:47] (34 seconds) Edit Clip

God's the one who betroths us to himself. And he does so in righteousness and in justice and loving kindness and in mercy. By the way, the Hebrew word translated loving kindness is chased. Everybody say chased. Get it? Get that little thing going? Ha. Chased. Deal in Hebrew, you learn some of these, way these things are pronounced. Chased can be translated loving kindness. It can also be translated steadfast love. As a matter of fact, this is a covenant word that is often used describing God's faithfulness and his loyalty and his mercy and his love. [01:01:20] (39 seconds) Edit Clip

Even before his people were faithful, even while they were running away, God is a pursuing lover. And his love, again, how many of you are glad that his love is not reactionary? It's eternal. It's fierce. It doesn't wait for performance. It initiates pursuit. And really this echoes what Paul was talking about in Ephesians chapter 1-4 when he said, we were chosen in him before the foundation of the world. It actually says in love, right? We were chosen in him before the foundation of the world. [01:02:34] (31 seconds) Edit Clip

You are not a cosmic accident. You are not a result of randomness. You are not an afterthought. You were formed in love. You were chosen in love. And you were pursued in love. Your story begins long before Genesis chapter 1. It begins in the heart of a God who is love. That's my first point. Love existed before light. Number two, the bride was in his heart from the start. [01:05:56] (35 seconds) Edit Clip

The bride was not an afterthought. The bride was the purpose of all this. The bride was the purpose of creation. Just as Eve was in Adam, even before she was ever revealed, the church was in Christ before the church was ever revealed. Is this making sense? Y'all hear what I'm saying? God dreamed, had this desire desire for a companion, a bride for his son, one who would love him freely in return. Before there was sin, before there was a fall, there was a wedding planned. [01:10:40] (42 seconds) Edit Clip

The cross was the price of this wedding. Guys, the church is not an afterthought. It's the heartbeat of God's eternal purpose. And you're not just part of the church, you are part of the bride of Christ. So love existed long before the light. The bride was in his heart from the start. My last point, my third point, number three, love is the meaning of creation. And I want you all to hear me in this. [01:14:49] (34 seconds) Edit Clip

God knew the cost of love from the beginning. God knew the cost of love before he created and he still chose to create. You see what I'm saying? Does this make sense? Does this deepen the love that you have your understanding of the love of God? 2 Timothy 1.9 says, God who has saved us and called us with a holy calling according to his own purpose and grace which he was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity. Guys, God's purpose was not invented in time. It was set in motion in eternity. [01:17:43] (43 seconds) Edit Clip

Love was the beginning, love was the cost, and love was the meaning of it all. How do you remember the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis chapter 22? Now remember this? God gives Abraham the promised son, right? And here a little while down the line, God says, hey, I want you to go up Mount Moriah. I want you to go sacrifice your promised son. How many of you as a parent would agree that would be a tragic day? [01:19:49] (27 seconds) Edit Clip

You have never been part of a meaningless story. From the moment God imagined creation, he imagined you and whispered your name. The cross, listen, the cross was not just God coming in and cleaning up your mess. The cross was God fulfilling his mission, a mission of love. And if that's true, then your value isn't based on what you do. It's not based on how you feel. It's not based on what you've been through. Your value is found in this. God would rather die and lay down his life than to lose you. [01:22:56] (46 seconds) Edit Clip