Christ and the Church

Christ and the Church

Eph. 5:22-33

Introduction

1. Compares marriage relationship with relationship of Christ and the ‘church’

2. Each member individually is married to Christ -  Rom. 7:4;  2 Cor. 11:2-3

Christ is the HEAD of the BODY ..  vs. 23

1. Became such HEAD when raised / ascended ..  1:20-23

2. As head – has all authority over… is head over ALL THINGS – 1:22

3.  We live by HIS word – HIS teaching – Col. 3:16-17, Mtt. 28:18, etc.

4.  As head – he has provided nourishment through the very relationship of the body – Eph. 4:12-16

a.  Thus the importance of a healthy relationship to God’s people ..

b. Thus an ACTIVE participation in this body ..

c.  Through SUCH we are to GROW – help in the further building up of the body

Christ is the SAVIOR of the body – 23

1.  He CAME to save – to save PEOPLE - 

Matt. 1:21 –

Luke 2:11

Luke 2:26,  30-32

Luke 19:10

2. BUT such is about PEOPLE … it is PEOPLE that are SAVED…

3. Such being saved and being part of HIS church are ‘glued together’ -- 

4. Dangers

a. of separating –

cp. Acts 9:    join self to the ‘church’ – with THEM coming and going… 

b. of equating this to an institutional view –

It is a relationship – to relate to Jesus AND thus to His people !

Christ Loved the Church and Gave His LIFE for it – 25

1. the EXTENT of such love –

2. Such the TRUE friend – John 10:17-18

3. Such demonstrates GOD’s love – Romans 5:6-8

4.  It is through such shedding of blood – that we are redeemed / purchased – Acts 20:28,  1 Cor. 6:19-20

5.  We then are HIS – each of us are HIS – when we sin against each other – we sin against HIM…

Christ died that He might SANCTIFY and CLEANSE the church -  26

1. Sanctify – to separate / consecrate – to set apart unto God for sacred use.

a.  We are SAINTS – 1 Cor. 1

b.  Our sanctification is God’s purpose in our lives – 1 Thess. 41f

2. Cleansed –

a. often used for picture of sin that ‘defiles’ and ‘soils’ –

b. Titus 3:5 –

c. Acts 22:16 –

d. Hebrews 10:22

3. By the WORD .. 

a. through the revelation – the instruction that it gives ..

That He might Present it to HIMSELF – a GLORIOUS CHURCH – 27

1. We to STAY sanctified and clean –

2. We to be ‘without spot and blemish’ – of moral imperfections…   2 Cor. 4:14

3.  1 John 3:3 – this our hope, and THUS we keep ourselves pure…

4.  Col. 1:22-23 -  we not moved away from such hope … not go back to the world and sin…

5. He will come – and take us to himself – and thus we shall ALWAYS be with the LORD – 1 Thess. 4:

Summary

We often see the church in very different light !  We often look at the imperfections.  We often look at ourselves in the wrong view – but it is time to change the view and see God’s people as God sees them.

ARE YOU ONE OF HIS PEOPLE…

Acts 2:

1. repent / baptized – for the remission of sins in the name of Jesus

2. As many as received .. were baptized

3. The LORD added TOGETHER such as should be saved – thus the CHURCH

Adapted from Walton Weaver’s article in Truth Magazine, Vol. XLIV: 4 p1 February 17, 2000