Jesus Christ is the perfect Bridegroom, serving as the supreme standard that all husbands should strive to emulate. All marriages should be patterned after the union between Christ and His Bride, the Church. Human wives and the spiritual Bride of Christ, the Church, must turn to the inspired written word of God for guidance on maintaining the right perspective and relationship with their husbands and the Bridegroom. The love, joy, and peace essential for a truly successful Christian marriage are only attainable through God's Spirit, as both husband and wife remain teachable, obedient, and submissive in their intimate relationship with the Father and Christ. The mystery concerning Christ and the Church is profound, carrying far-reaching importance and many implications. This mystery, as revealed through a special dispensation of grace, encompasses God's purposes in Christ and specifically highlights the spiritual union between Christ and the Church. This union, described as a great mystery, is hidden from the world but revealed as a wonderful truth in Christ. It is not fully comprehensible without the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, yet it remains a spiritual truth accessible to those guided by God's Spirit. Christ, as the Head of the Church, shares an intimate relationship with His Bride, where the Church is described as members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. This vital organic unity underscores that the Church is not a loose attachment but an essential part of Christ, taken out of Him as woman was taken out of man in the beginning. Just as Eve was formed from Adam, the Church originates from Christ through an operation performed by God on the Second Man, His beloved Son, during His deep sleep of death. Thus, the Church is truly of His flesh and bones, reflecting the profound mystery of their union. The Church also represents the fullness of Christ, completing Him in a certain sense as Eve completed Adam. As Mediator, Christ considers Himself incomplete until united with His Bride, the Church, in marriage. This mutual completion signifies that Christ is the fullness of the Church, while the Church, as His body, makes up His fullness, highlighting the sacred unity and interdependence of this relationship. The Church, as His Bride, constitutes the complete body of the Redeemer, over which He rules as Supreme King and High Priest under God the Father. Christ's love for the Church is sacrificial, as He gave all of Himself to purchase His Bride, leaving the courts of heaven and enduring separation from His Father to save her. This act of love mirrors the union of husband and wife becoming one flesh, yet the believer's union with Christ surpasses human marriage, lasting for all eternity. The mystery of this spiritual relationship remains great, inspiring awe and astonishment, as it cannot be fully understood, yet it calls believers to fix their eyes on the truth that they are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones, joined to Him forever.

In the divine design of marriage, Jesus Christ stands as the Bridegroom to the church, embodying a profound love that transcends mere sentiment. His love for the church is not theoretical but manifests in practical, sacrificial actions. He gave Himself for her, purchasing her with His own blood, ensuring her redemption and entry into a covenant relationship. This act of love is the foundation of the church, for without it, there would be no bride for Him to claim. As the Bridegroom, He not only redeems but also sanctifies and cleanses the church, setting her apart for Himself. His purpose is to present her as a glorious bride, without spot or wrinkle, preparing her for the ultimate wedding day. This sanctification is His work, driven by His unwavering commitment, even when the church was yet in sin and enmity. His love persists in spite of her flaws, demonstrating a depth of devotion that husbands are called to emulate in their marriages. Christ's attitude toward the church reveals His concern, pride, and protective nature. He shields and guards her, humbling Himself to the point of death for her sake. His love is practical, shown in daily care and continuous sanctification, ensuring that she is transformed into His likeness. This relationship between Christ as Bridegroom and the church as His bride underscores the spiritual reality of unity, sacrificial love, and interdependence, mirroring the harmony God desires in earthly marriages.

In Ephesians 5, the apostle Paul unveils a profound connection between marriage and the divine relationship of Jesus Christ with His church, presenting Christ as the Bridegroom. Marriage, from the beginning of creation, was established by God to mirror and be patterned after Christ's forthcoming union with the church as His body. As stated in Ephesians 5:23, "For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body," this illustrates that the husband-and-wife union reflects the sacred bond between Christ and His bride, the church. Paul's commands regarding the roles of husbands and wives are not merely cultural but embody God's eternal ideal for marriage, exemplified by the relationship between the bride of Christ and Christ Himself, the Son of God. Thus, understanding marriage fully requires clarity on the doctrine of Christ and His church, as it is only through this spiritual lens that God's purpose for marriage is truly revealed.