‘The Lamb Who Takes Away Sin vs. The Bridegroom Who Comes to Take a Bride’

 

‘The Lamb Who Takes Away Sin vs. The Bridegroom Who Comes to Take a Bride’

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

John 3:29 "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices at the bridegroom's voice; therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled."

 

Analysis Dimension	The Lamb Who Takes Away Sin	The Bridegroom Who Comes to Take a Bride
Basic Meaning	Accomplisher of judicial redemption, God's Lamb who takes away the sin of the world	Achiever of organic salvation, the Bridegroom who obtains a mature bride
Primary Purpose	To take away human sin, solve the sin problem, accomplish redemptive work	To obtain a mature bride, fulfill God's eternal purpose
Nature of Work	Redemptive work  (one-time sacrifice, judicial solution)	Building work  (continuous life supply, organic salvation)
Time Period	Mainly accomplished on the cross, historical one-time achievement	Continuous process from resurrection to new heaven and earth, eternal work
Work Focus	Negative aspect: taking away, forgiving, cleansing, redeeming	Positive aspect: building, maturing, transforming, uniting
Biblical Revelation Order	John 1:29 first reveals the Lamb identity	John 3:29 further reveals the Bridegroom identity
Salvation Aspect	Judicial redemption:  justification, forgiveness, cleansing	Organic salvation: regeneration, sanctification, transformation, glorification
Ultimate Result	Sin forgiven, reconciled with God, becoming God's children	Life matured, becoming the bride, united with Christ
Relationship Nature	Savior and sinner, Redeemer and redeemed	Bridegroom and bride, lover and beloved
Position in God's Plan	Means, necessary step to achieve higher goal	Goal, ultimate completion of God's eternal purpose
Old Testament Types	Passover lamb (Ex. 12:1-14), sin offering (Lev. 16)	Isaac taking Rebekah (Gen. 24), Solomon and Shulammite (Song 8:6-7)
New Testament Fulfillment	Sacrifice on the cross (Heb. 9:26), once-for-all atonement	Building the church (Eph. 5:25-27), indwelling work of the Spirit
Personal Experience Examples	Regeneration and salvation, sin forgiveness, conscience cleansing	Life growth, nature transformation, conformation to Christ's image
Corporate Experience Examples	Establishment of the church, calling of saints	Building and maturing of the church,  growth of Christ's Body
Core Related Scriptures	• John 1:29 "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" • 1 Pet. 1:18-19 "With precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless" • Rev. 5:6 "A Lamb standing, as if slain" • Heb. 9:26 "He offered Himself as a sacrifice to put away sin" • Isa. 53:7 "Like a lamb that is led to slaughter"	• John 3:29 "He who has the bride is the bridegroom" • Rev. 19:7-9 "The marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready" • Rev. 21:2 "As a bride adorned for her husband" • Eph. 5:25-32 "Christ loved the church... This mystery is great" • 2 Cor. 11:2 "Present you as a pure virgin to Christ"
Spiritual Application - Personal	Recognize Christ's redemptive efficacy, live in forgiveness grace, thank for salvation	Pursue life maturity, let Christ be formed within us, love His appearing
Spiritual Application - Church	Proclaim the gospel, testify of salvation, spread forgiveness grace	Build Christ's Body, prepare as the bride, pursue oneness
Spiritual Application - Service	Preach gospel to save souls, help people know salvation	Feed and build saints, cooperate with Christ's building work
Worship Focus	Thank and praise redemptive grace, remember the Lord's death	Love and await the Lord's return, prepare to meet the Bridegroom
Redemption Process - Redemption Stage	Remove sin's barrier, solve problem between God and man	Begin indwelling life work, mingling of divinity and humanity
Redemption Process - Sanctification Stage	Continuous cleansing by precious blood, remove sin's defilement	Continuous life supply and transformation, conformation to Christ's image
Redemption Process - Glorification Stage	Complete and thorough redemption, total removal of sin	Complete maturity of bride, realization of Lamb's marriage
Ultimate Revelation	Victory of the Lamb in Revelation, completion of redemptive work displayed	Marriage of the Lamb in Revelation, ultimate completion of God's purpose
Spiritual Focus	Christ's death:  "He became the propitiation for our sins"	Christ's resurrection and return:  "He will come again to take His bride"
Eternal Value	Eternal redemptive foundation, satisfaction of God's righteousness	Eternal life union, satisfaction of God's love

 

Integrated Insight:

Relationship Nature:

The Lamb's work is the means, the Bridegroom's work is the goal. As the provided information points out: "Christ's goal is not to take away sin, but to obtain a bride."

Complete Process:

From Lamb to Bridegroom embodies the two stages of God's complete salvation:

1.      Judicial Redemption (Lamb) → Solve the sin problem

2.      Organic Salvation (Bridegroom) → Complete God's purpose

Ultimate Climax:

Revelation 19:7-9 "The marriage of the Lamb has come" is the highest peak of the entire Bible and God's eternal plan, where the Lamb and Bridegroom identities are completely combined, showing the perfect accomplishment of redemptive and building work.

 

*Please refer to the 2025 Memorial Day Blending Conference. General Topic: Preparation of the Bride. Chapter 3: Maturity of the Bride.