The Bride of Christ

Ephesians 5:25–33 NIV

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

1. Jesus loves the church

Jesus demonstrates His love by dying for the church

We must learn to love like Christ loves

2. The church must be holy

To make holy means to set aside

To make holy means to set aside. We make something or someone holy by setting it aside. We sacrifice for it, we suffer, we pray, we struggle, we endure.

To make holy means to set aside. We make something or someone holy by setting it aside. We sacrifice for it, we suffer, we pray, we struggle, we endure.

We make something or someone holy by setting it aside

We sacrifice for it, we suffer, we pray, we struggle, we endure

3. The Word must be the focus of the church

We must be in the Word

The Word will cleanse us

The Word will fulfill us

The Word will strengthen us

The Word will empower us

The Word will keep us in shape

4. Jesus is coming back for a radiant church

Radiant: displaying great joy, love, or health

Standing out

Standing out

Jesus is coming back for a healthy church

Jesus is coming back for a healthy church

A church with great joy

A church with great joy

A church with great love

A church with great love

5. Jesus is coming back for a stainless church

Stain: mark or discolour with something that is not easily removed,

damage

mark or discolour with something that is not easily removed, damage

The church must not be damaged

6. The church must be without wrinkles

As people get older, their skin gets thinner, drier, and less elastic, and less able to protect itself from damage

Pollution can create wrinkles, Lack of sleep, Stress,

Sugar - not a healthy diet

Clothes that cover the body, such as hats and long sleeves, may delay the development of wrinkles

7. Love should drive the church to feed and care for His sheep

Jesus asked Peter if loved Him, when Peter replied, Jesus demanded Peter feed and care for His sheep

Feeding and caring are a natural occurrence of love

We must show our love