The Church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the object and focus of His love. The apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians, “Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the Church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27). Some translations read: “That He might present it to Himself aglorious Church.”
Listed in the text are some noteworthy things about Christ and His Glorious Church. Firstly, we see that He “loved the Church.” Secondly, because of His love, He “gave Himself up for her.” Thirdly, His purpose was “that He might sanctify her.” Fourthly, His chosen methodwas “having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.” Fifthly,His purpose, was that “He might present the Church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.” Finally, “that she might be holy and without blemish”
It is abundantly clear that the Church is not any brick and mortar building. The Church is the “body of Jesus Christ.” Paul writes, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Cor. 12:27). The building is the place where the “body of Christ” meets or assembles for preaching the gospel, worship, prayer, praise, communion, testimony, Bible study, thanksgiving, and other spiritual activities.
The Glorious Church is comprised of the unity and oneness of its members who are “born again” believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). Note: “that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you.” This is absolutely essential to preserve the harmony and unity of the Church.
“Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her” is of the greatest significance and must never be overlooked or taken lightly because of the tremendous price paid by Jesus Christ in His death on the Cross. William MacDonald writes, “In the past He demonstrated His love for the church by giving Himself for her. This refers to His sacrificial death on the cross. There He paid the greatest price in order to purchase a Bride for Himself. At the present time His love for the church is shown in His work of sanctification: that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word. To sanctifymeans to set apart. Positionally the church is already sanctified; practically she is being set apart day by day. In the past, Christ’s love was manifested in our redemption. In the present, it is seen in our sanctification. In the future, it will be displayed in our glorification. He Himself will present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but . . . holy and without blemish.She will then reach the acme of beauty and spiritual perfection.” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1948).
Hundreds of years before Christ died on the Cross, the prophet Isaiah wrote about His vicarious sacrifice for man’s sin. “But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5,6).This proves beyond any doubt that the Church was not an ‘afterthought’ by God. The Church was planned in the foreknowledge and eternal counsels of God. And subsequently established through the death and resurrection of the Jesus Christ Himself. Christ is the builder of His Church. He said, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
Believers have a glorious hope and wonderful expectation as we await the Lord’s second advent. And that is when our Lord will present “the Church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.” What a glorious day that will be! Let us then be true and faithful to Him who loved us washed us from our sins.
“Wave the banner, shout his praises,
For our victory is nigh!
We shall join our conqu’ring Saviour;
We shall reign with Him on high!
’Tis a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb,
’Tis a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle,
Washed in the blood of the Lamb.”
(Author: R.E. Hudson, 1843-1901)
The Church is a glorious church because Jesus prayed, “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one” (John 17:22). The Church is also a glorious Church that Christ “might present it to Himself a glorious Church” (Ephesians 5:27). The glorious thought is as Paul writes, “we are members of His body” (Ephesians 5:30). This proves Christ’s love for us and accepts us as members of His own body. In a coming day, we will live and reign with Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. Therefore, “to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:21). Amen.