We must begin by clarifying the title. Christ, in his capacity as God, is complete and therefore has no needs. However, the Father and the Son sovereignly agreed that He should have a Bride, an “Help”.
In the garden
The Word helps us understand that the law was a representation of things to come (Colossians 2:16-17). It helps us understand that the people of Israel going to the promised land is a representation of the Church (1 Corinthians 10:1-6). Similarly, we want to emphasize that from the very beginning of Creation, God had Christ in mind. The Bible tells us that God did not want “that the man should be alone”. He made an “help” from one of his ribs (Genesis 2:18-23). Let us remember Christ's pierced side on the cross (John 19:33-37). In reality, Adam, thus benefiting from an help, is yet another illustration of Christ.
Indeed, it wasn't only after the fall of Man that God considered giving Christ a Bride. Let's read carefully what the Apostle Paul reveals about Christ in his letter to the Colossians:
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him”.
From the Garden of Eden, man was created for Christ, the Life of God. We have no doubt that He would only have revealed Himself after man had eaten from the tree of life. Unfortunately, man did not make God's right choice. We all know the rest of the story.
Grace much more abounding than sin
Despite man's sin in rejecting God's original plan for them, the Lord has maintained the planned marriage between His Son and humankind; we know God's saving plan. Although we have sinned, it is now in God's very presence that we will live with Christ our Bridegroom, and no longer on Earth… God's grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20). However, let us note this: like Adam, Christ must multiply and fill the Earth; He must reproduce “after his kind” to beget “sons of God”.
Childbirth, a task assigned to the Wife
NOTE: In the case of Christ, we will speak of an introduction into ministry rather than a birth in faith.
God has always sought to reveal himself to humanity through other people (firstfruits), including Christ (although He remained God). We will, however, focus on the New Testament.
- Christ: We will not commit the blasphemy of claiming that Christ was born in faith; God forbid. On the other hand, although He was God, the "firstfruits" of the new Creation, the “cornerstone” of the new covenant, He allowed John the Baptist to introduce Him into His Ministry; although He was God, He wanted to give us an example.
- Saul (Paul): He had an apparition of Christ, however Christ himself refused to lead him into the New Birth, entrusting this task to Ananias, a member of the Bride (Acts 9:1-19)
- Corneilius: The angel appeared to him, but he was not commissioned to announce the Gospel to him… That was the Bride's responsibility. Even if she herself was surprised by the work her Bridegroom had her doing (introducing baptism to the Gentiles) (Acts 10)
- The Ethiopian eunuch: The Spirit preferred to send Philip through an angel, then catch him away after he had proclaimed the Gospel, rather than letting that angel preach directly to the eunuch. The Gospel was to be explained by Philip, a member of the Bride, and baptism in water was to be performed by the hands (i.e., members) of the body of Christ, not by angels. (Acts 8:26-40)
The presence of Church members at the new birth reveals a fact: childbirth takes place through the Bride, marvelous Grace!
Childbirth – clarification
Let us remember that Christ does not give birth to “Christs” but to “sons of God”. So please, never consider yourself a “Christ”, which means an “anointed one”; you are “only” a son of God. Let us never commit the sin of Reuben (son of Jacob) or Absalom (son of David) who defiled their father's bed (Genesis 35:22 and 2 Samuel 16:22). Never accept the praise and honor that the Bride owes to Christ; you are “only” a son, not the Bridegroom.
The pains of childbirth
Paul helps us understand that childbirth is a painful process (Galatians 4:19). It may involve a trying intercession, a heart-wrenching experience. But remember the arduous travail of Christ's soul (Isaiah 53:11). It goes without saying that before attempting to give birth, one must be healthy oneself. My brothers and sisters, we must implore God's grace in prayer to restore our spiritual health. And we must work on it ourselves for as long as necessary.
Fertility and Fecundity
What we can offer our Bridegroom to perpetuate his “kind” is not our beauty; it's helpful, but not essential: we must be fruitful. Today, all sorts of stratagems or “tricks” are deployed, supposedly to spread the Gospel. We hear things like, “We need to earn a lot of money to finance the Lord's work”, “We need to work on our voice and music for the choir”, “We absolutely must make our way into high society to preach the Gospel there too”... Dear brothers, let's be honest, all of this is seduction. We may “need” it, but for ourselves, not for God! God has only one need: our hearts. Everything else is secondary to Him, and when necessary, He will provide for it in due time. From Creation, through the time of the apostles to the present day, this is the only thing God has expected of us; it is “simple”, within reach of every budget, every “intelligence quotient”, every “voice” of a singer, but it is our entire life. God requires that our hearts be circumcised (Abram, uncircumcised, fathered Ishmael: due to a lack of faith, they resorted to a slave; but Abraham, circumcised, conceived Israel, the fruit of faith: circumcision was therefore a prerequisite [Genesis 17]). We can only produce death with uncircumcised hearts, while a circumcised heart can manifest faith. Furthermore, God requires that our hearts remain clean after circumcision because it is what comes out of them that can defile us (Matthew 15:17-20). And we know what personal hygiene means for a woman, even more so for a wife. If she happens to get soiled, she immediately cleans herself. This is the message God wanted to convey to us through the law concerning impurity. We must rigorously guard our hearts. The “spiritual” reproductive organ, that is, the heart, must be circumcised (the object of the law for men) and kept pure because Christ abhors defilement (the object of the law for women). Only a heart totally devoted to Christ will be fruitful; only a heart devoted to Him will accept all forms of suffering to bear Him a son. Skillfully crafted sermons and artistically produced hymns may perhaps induce a miscarriage (meaning they may stir the soul), but the seed of Christ, the Spirit of Christ, can only be borne by a fruitful heart. Mary had to be a virgin for the Spirit to come upon her and for her to give birth to Christ; our hearts must be pure for the Spirit to come to the Bride of Christ, and for sons of God to be born. Let us work on our hearts; if they bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), then they will be able to bear children. Let us rend our hearts, repent, and consecrate our hearts to God so that we may be vessels prepared unto every good work, useful to God in our families, in our nation, and in our generation (2 Timothy 2:20-21)
To His Glory and to that of our illustrious Bridegroom: Christ Jesus!
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