How do we know that the church is the bride of Christ?
Answered in 1 source
The church is referred to as the bride of Christ through various scriptural images that highlight the intimate and covenantal relationship between Christ and His people.
Scripture provides several compelling images that establish the church as the bride of Christ. In Ephesians 5:25-27, Paul explains how Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, to sanctify and cleanse her. This notion of sacrificial love emphasizes the depth of the relationship between Christ and His church, likening it to the love between a husband and wife. The culmination of this imagery is seen in Revelation 19:7-9, which describes the 'marriage supper of the Lamb,' where the church, His bride, is presented in glory. This indicates a future hope where the church, through Christ's righteousness, is ultimately united with Him. Hence, the identity of the church as the bride of Christ underscores the profound union and intimacy intended in the Christian faith.
Commentary