Ephesians 5:26-27

 

Ephesians 5:26-27

That He Might Present to Himself a Glorious Church

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 

Eph 5:27  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. 

           1.     Jesus Sanctifies His Church – vs. 26a*

a.     Jesus wants more than a forgiven Church; He wants a purified one

                                               i.     Ephesians 1:7 

b.     Jesus shows us the path to sanctification is through self-denial

                                               i.     Romans 8:3-4 

c.     A husband leads his wife through his own self denial

                                               i.     Mark 8:34-36 

           2.     Jesus Washes His Church with the Water of the Word – vs. 26b*

a.     In ancient Greece a woman would ritually wash the night before her wedding, signifying her purity

                                               i.     Ezekiel 16:8-12 

b.     There is a cleansing that happens in the life of the believer through the baptism of the Holy Spirit

                                               i.     Ezekiel 36:24-27; Titus 3:5 

c.     Water baptism is symbolic of the internal cleansing that goes on in the heart of the believer

                                               i.     Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21 

            3.     Jesus Presents Himself a Glorious Church – vs. 27a*

a.     The Church has nothing to offer - Romans 7:18 

b.     The Church hasn’t done very well in the past - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 

c.     Yet Jesus sees potential - Revelation 21:1-4 

           4.     Jesus Purifies His Church – vs. 27b*

a.     The Church is to accomplish great things - Titus 2:14 

b.     The Church will one day attain glory - 1 John 3:1-3 

c.     The Church cannot be defeated - Matthew 16:18 

           5.     Jesus Makes His Church Holy – vs. 27c*

a.     What is the mode by which Jesus makes His Church Holy?

                                               i.     James 1:18; James 1:21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; John 17:17