Christ also loved the church

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for it. The Bible is clear that Christian marriage is a reflection or a picture of the relationship between Christ and the church. What a challenging statement! Just how did Christ love the church? He died to save us! He gave his life as a sin offering and suffered the agony of the cross for the sake of the church.

Ephesians 5:26-27 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Not only did he give himself up for the church, but he is sanctifying and cleansing the church. Jesus is going to present to himself a glorious church having no spot, wrinkle or any such thing. Think of what he is doing. In the Proverbs and throughout the Bible we read of two women. There is the woman of virtue and there is the harlot. There is the faithful wife and the unfaithful one. When we think of the church, we all started out as the harlot! Paul described the church at Corinth:

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

And such WERE some of you! The church is made up of sinful people who have been washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. We are all sinners when we come to Jesus, but he washes us and sanctifies us and presents to himself a glorious church. What a thought! Jesus is the only one who can take a harlot and turn her into a virgin. He does this for his bride, the church.

How precious is it to be a part of the church? It is the bride of Christ and he loves her. Please take the church seriously. Please be a part of the church. Please do not forsake the assembly. Christ gave himself up for her!

In Christ,
Rody