I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      The wonderful love of God for the world was stated by Christ in John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

B.      This same truth of God’s love is more perfectly stated in Ephesians 5:25-33.

                                                             1.      Both passages (John 3:16 and Ephesians 5:25-33) contain the elements of divine love and its effects on believers, but the passage from Ephesians is a more complete statement of the intents and effects of Christ’s love.

                                                             2.      Presently, let us consider Ephesians 5:25-33 with a focus upon the love of Christ for the church.

II.      BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR THE CHURCH

A.      In Ephesians 5:25-33, the church of Christ is figuratively portrayed as the bride whom Christ loves dearly.

                                                             1.      This primary purpose of this passage of Scripture is to demonstrate the proper love that a husband is to have for his wife.  Christ’s love for the church is a perfect model of that love.

                                                             2.      Clearly, the focus of Christ’s love in this context is specifically for His church.  With that in mind, let us notice a few points:

a.       The love of Christ for His church is manifested through actions that were taken specifically for the benefit of His church.  The actions of Christ described in this passage were taken only for His one body, which is His church (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4).

b.       The church whom Christ loves is the one that He built (Matt. 16:18) and the one that He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).  It is His only bride, just as a husband has only one wife.

c.        The church that Christ loves is comprised of individual Christians (1Cor. 12:27; Eph. 5:30).  These members were added to the church by the Lord when they obeyed Him through the gospel (Acts 2:38-41, 47).

                                                             3.      By understanding this context, we will better understand each point that is made regarding the love of Christ for His church.

B.      Because of His love for the church, Christ gave Himself up for her.

                                                             1.      The giving of Christ’s life was a voluntary act (John 10:14-18).  His life was not taken from Him, but He freely gave it because He loved the church.

                                                             2.      The giving of Christ’s life is the greatest expression of His love for the church (John 15:13; 1John 3:16).  His act of love is the standard by which all other love is measured.

                                                             3.      The brutal way in which Christ gave His life reveals an even greater depth of love for the church.  He suffered so much because He loved the church so much (2Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:5-8).

                                                             4.      The giving of Christ’s life is how He saved the church.

a.       By giving His life, Christ became a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the whole world (1John 2:2).

b.       However, the salvation that Christ afforded by the giving of His life is only accepted by those who respond to His gracious act through faith (Eph. 2:1-10).  These saved individuals are made to be the members of His church.  He is “the Savior of the body” (Eph. 5:23).

c.        Let us understand that God loves the whole world and desires for all to be saved (1Tim. 2:4; 2Pet. 3:9), but some will be lost by their own accord (Matt. 7:13-14; 22:1-14; Luke 13:23-24).  We could restate this by saying that He wants all to become part of Christ’s church, which is the body of the saved, but not everyone conform to His will.

d.       Therefore, Christ died for the sins of the whole world, but He saves only the church, His bride whom He loves.

C.      Because of His love for the church, Christ sought to sanctify her.

                                                             1.      To sanctify is to set apart to a holy purpose.  Christians are to be holy because God is holy (1Pet. 1:16).

                                                             2.      The way in which Christ sanctified His church was by the “washing of water with the word.”

a.       Of course, “the word” refers to the word of God through which comes faith (Rom. 10:17) and sanctification (John 17:17).

b.       Under the Law of Moses, part of the process of sanctification for priests was washing in water (Ex. 30:17-21).  Now under the law of Christ, the word of God has replaced water as the means of washing and sanctifying Christ’s priests, who are Christians (1Pet. 2:4-9).

D.      Because of His love for the church, Christ sought to make her holy and blameless.

                                                             1.      This point is similar to the previous point, but this one emphasizes the purpose of the church’s sanctification.

a.       Christ sanctified the church to present her to Himself as a holy and blameless bride.

b.       This is so that the church collectively and Christians individually can be useful to Christ in the work of His gospel (Eph. 4:11-16; 2Tim. 2:20; Heb. 9:14).

                                                             2.      The holy and blameless character of the church is in stark contrast to the defiled condition of its members prior to their sanctification.

a.       Whereas the members of the church were formerly stained by their own sin, now they are made spotless in the name of the Lord (1Cor. 6:9-11).

b.       Whereas defiled sinners are not suitable to be joined to Christ, sanctified Christians are made holy and acceptable to be joined to Christ as members of His body.

E.       Because of His love for the church, Christ nourishes and cherishes her.

                                                             1.      By “nourishes,” it is meant that Christ provides what it necessary to feed and sustain the church.

a.       Christ feeds His church through the word of God (Matt. 4:4; Heb. 5:11-14; 1Pet. 2:1-3), which was revealed through Him by the Holy Spirit (John 1:18; 16:12-15).

b.       Christ even described Himself as living water and the bread of life (John 4:10, 13-14; 6:35, 47-58).  He is the source of spiritual life for the church.

                                                             2.      The fact that Christ cherishes the church means that He tenderly cares for the church as one would care for his own body.

a.       The Greek word translated as “cherishes” describes the tender care that a nursing mother has for her infant child (this word is also used in 1Thess. 2:7).  Christ has this same warm and tender love for His church.

b.       Christ is sensitive to every need of His body, and He always provides for that need.  The church is as Christ’s own flesh, and He provides it with every spiritual blessing (Eph. 1:3).

III.   CONCLUSION

A.      If we would have the effects of the love of Christ in these ways, then we must belong to the body that receives these effects.

                                                             1.      If you would have the atonement for sins that was provided by the giving of Christ’s life, then become a part of the church for which He gave Himself.

                                                             2.      If you would be cleansed by the washing of water with the word, then become a part of the church that has been sanctified by Christ.

                                                             3.      If you would become holy and blameless so as to be a servant of Christ, then become a part of the church that Christ has presented to Himself in glory without spot or wrinkle.

                                                             4.      If you would be nourished and cherished by Christ, then become a part of the church that Christ loves as His own flesh.

B.      Obey the gospel of Christ that the Lord might add you to the church that He loves (Acts 2:38-47).

                                                             1.      Hear the gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:17).

                                                             2.      Believe that Jesus is the Christ and the resurrected Son of God (John 6:47).

                                                             3.      Confess that belief before others (Rom. 10:8-9).

                                                             4.      Repent of all sins (Acts 2:38).

                                                             5.      Be immersed in water in the name of Christ for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).

                                                             6.      Continue steadfast in the faith henceforth (Col. 1:22-23).