After the gifts were presented to the bride, the next step needed in the ancient Jewish wedding ceremony is the CONSENT OF THE BRIDE! Will she say “YES”? The Bride’s consent was important to Abraham, concerning getting a wife for Isaac. Gen 24:8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
Rebecca gave her consent to be the bride and go with Abraham’s servant, having not seen her future husband Isaac. Gen 24:58, 59 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go. And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
The Old Testament also reveals that the people of Israel by verbal acknowledgement were consenting to agree to the Law of God. Exo 24:3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.
As Rebekah immediately left her family, we see in the New Testament that when Jesus called His disciples they too gave their consent by immediately following Him. Mat 4:18-22 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
Likewise, we give our consent and agree to love and follow after Jesus, and to become his wife. Even as Rebekah did not see her future husband Isaac as she was agreeing to be his wife, we consent without having seen the groom, and agree to be his bride.
1Pe 1:8, 9 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
To consent to become the Bride of Christ we covenant ourselves to accept the whole Bible rightly divided and holds these sacred truths as they have been revealed in the Scriptures by the Holy Ghost. All those who are saved and wish to become members of The Church of God, The Bride of Christ must accept the following covenant in the affirmative:
"Will you sincerely promise in the presence of God and these witnesses that you will accept this Bible as the Word of God believe and practice its teachings rightly divided the New Testament as your rule of faith and practice, government and discipline, and walk in the light to the best of your knowledge and ability?"
The answer is: “I will”.
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