Christ Obtains his Elect Spouse by Conquest

Christ has done greater things than to create the world, in order to obtain his bride and the joy of his espousals with her: for he became man for this end; which was a greater thing than his creating the world.

For the Creator to make the creature was a great thing; but for him to become a creature was a greater thing.

And he did a much greater thing still to obtain this joy; in that for this he laid down his life, and suffered even the death of the cross: for this he poured out his soul unto death; and he that is the Lord of the universe, God over all, blessed for evermore, offered up himself a sacrifice, in both body and soul, in the flames of divine wrath.

Christ obtains his elect spouse by conquest: for she was captive in the hands of dreadful enemies; and her Redeemer came into the world to conquer these enemies, and rescue her out of their hands, that she might be his bride.

And he came and encountered these enemies in the greatest battle that ever was beheld by men or angels: he fought with principalities and powers; he fought alone with the powers of darkness, and all the armies of hell; yea, he conflicted with the infinitely more dreadful wrath of God, and overcame in this great battle; and thus he obtained his spouse.

Let us consider at how great a price Christ purchased this spouse: he did not redeem her with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with his own precious blood; yea, he gave himself for her. –Jonathan Edwards, The Church’s Marriage to Her Sons, and to Her God (As quoted in: The Infinite Merit of Christ, p. 45)

Possibly Related posts:

1. Saved by Him, and from Him
2. Christ is Comforted and Tormented by His Father
3. Divine Power and Pleasure in Revealing Christ
4. Pursuing the Glory of Christ at My Own Expense
5. All I Have is Christ

6 Responses to “Christ Obtains his Elect Spouse by Conquest”

1. Michael says:

   December 23, 2009 at 12:40 pm

   Careful with that title, or your going to get the neo-2ker’s accusing you of theonomy, reconstructionism, or postmillinialism.
2. Tweets that mention Christ Obtains his Elect Spouse by Conquest- Irish Calvinist -- Topsy.com says:

   December 23, 2009 at 2:17 pm

   [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Matthew Blair, DrClem'sBlessedWidow and Erik Raymond, The Reformed Hub. The Reformed Hub said: IRISH CALVINIST: Christ Obtains his Elect Spouse by Conquest http://bit.ly/8VMiV4 [...]
3. Erik says:

   December 23, 2009 at 2:48 pm

   That’s great Michael. I didn’t think of that…
4. Matt says:

   December 23, 2009 at 7:37 pm

   Erik,

   It was driving me nuts today, trying to figure out who turned me on to Biehl’s book. I got it Monday and have read 100 pages so far, what a great book, thanks for the suggestion! If I have to put my favorite three sentences together, they are from Chapt. 2:

   “The love of Christ to you was no new thing…it was a thing of old standing when the foundations of the heavens and earth were laid. Christ had a book written, the Lamb’s Book of Life, wherein your names had been written from all eternity…In God’s equitable justice, He is inifintely merciful to some, but He is necessarily just to all.”

   God bless and Merry Christmas!
   Matt
5. Erik says:

   December 24, 2009 at 9:11 am

   Funny Matt–I just read this comment after posting today’s post, quoting this same section. The book is great. Glad you are enjoying it too!
6. Douglas K. Adu-Boahen says:

   December 27, 2009 at 7:30 am

   I like the idea of conquest. Much more forceful than the idea of a God-shaped hole…