“IT” (EPH.
_files/image001.gif)
____________________
____________________
_files/image002.gif){kind=small}
____________________ THE CHURCH
____________________
____________________
1) If you have seen today’s bulletin you have a shell outline for this morning’s lesson.
2) In the 5th chapter of Ephesians Paul presented several facts about Jesus and the church.
3) This information is revealed by the use of the pronoun it.
4) An example of what I am describing is drawn from the end of Eph. 5:25.
5) Paul said Jesus gave Himself up for it.
6) The pronoun it describes the church.
7) Jesus died for the church.
a) In our day and time there are varying ideas about the church.
b) People use this word to describe a building, or going to church, or finding a new church.
c) When we study God’s word we find that the word church is a special word.
d) This term describes an institution that Jesus bought.
e) Jesus purchased the church and the price for the church was His blood.
f) Jesus died a painful and horrible death to acquire the church.
8)
If you wish to use the bulletin outline, the first line
should read, “gave Himself up for, Eph.
9) Jesus willingly died so He could buy His church.
a) A second piece of information that comes from the pronoun it is at the end of verse 26.
b) Jesus has cleansed it (the church).
c) If you are filling in the outline here is the second point.
d) You may write “has cleansed” in the second blank.
e) What did Paul mean when he said Christ has cleansed the church?
f) He did not mean that Jesus scrubbed the walls and floors in a building.
g) The word church describes people.
h) Jesus gave His life to buy some people, Eph. 5:25.
i) The people He bought have been cleansed, verse 26.
j) This cleansing describes a cleansing from sin.
k) How do we know? Look at verse 27.
l) Here is another “it” but I am not including this one on the outline.
m) The members of Christ’s church are “holy and without blemish.”
n) In other words, Christians are people who have sinned but their sins are forgiven.
o) Their wrongdoings are wiped away.
p) How can Christ forgive sins?
q) The first blank on our outline says that Christ died for the church.
r) Jesus died in our place. He paid the price for our forgiveness.
s) He made a sacrifice that allows us to be forgiven of every sin.
t) Someone may ask, “How does the process of forgiveness work?”
u) Paul tells us in Eph. 5.
v) At the end of verse 26 we read of a “washing” by “water” and the “word.”
i) In order to be forgiven we must come into contact with “the word”.
ii) That is, we must be told about Jesus, sin, and salvation.
iii) We must hear about Christ and His death on the cross.
iv) When someone tells us about the word they encourage us to have faith in Jesus.
v) The word we hear also contains some information about repentance, Acts 17:30.
vi) The word describes confessing and making a commitment to Christ.
vii) The word that Paul describes in Eph. 5 also has information about the washing of water.
viii)
That is, the Bible teaches that people are to be
baptized for the forgiveness of sins, Acts
10) Jesus died for the church; that’s clear.
11) When we have faith in Him, repent of our sins, and are baptized, we become a Christian.
a) At the moment we become a Christian we are cleansed.
b) In our world we know that the word clean describes various levels of cleanliness.
c) How clean are Christians?
d) We have already seen the description at the end of verse 27.
e) When someone becomes a Christian in the way the Bible describes they are holy.
f) They are without blemish.
g) A third illustration by Paul makes the picture even better - 26a.
h) The third blank on your outline should contain the word sanctify.
i) Christ has sanctified those who are in it (His church).
ii) The word sanctify means to set apart.
iii) Perhaps we have something in our house that is set apart for a special purpose.
iv) Some set aside china or certain tableware for special occasions.
v) Others set aside clothes for special days.
vi) Perhaps a food item is reserved for a special time.
i) The words it and sanctify show that God has reserved a people for Himself.
j) Those who are sanctified are God’s friends, co-workers, and the future recipients of heaven.
12) IF CHRIST HAS SANCTIFIED, CLEANSED, AND GIVEN HIMSELF FOR THE CHURCH, THIS INSTITUTION MUST BE VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM. IT IS.
a) The fourth point comes from the first part of verse 27.
b) The fourth item in our outline can be summed up with the word present.
c) At a future time Christ will present the church to Himself.
d) This fact is almost too magnificent for the mind to grasp.
e) The Bible teaches that Christ made all that exists, Col. 1:16.
f) As the creator the Lord owns it all.
g) Though the Lord owns all that is in the material universe, what has been created will be destroyed.
h) This is what Peter affirmed in 2 Pet. 3:9-10.
i) Out of all that exists in the universe and on earth Christ will preserve only thing.
j) Jesus will keep the church and this will be presented to Him.
k) Jesus loved the church enough to die for it.
l) He loves the church now enough to help those who are members of it, 1 Tim. 2:5.
m) Jesus’ love for the church will continue throughout eternity.
n) He will present the church to Himself and keep the members of it forever.
i) In our day to day life we see different kinds of presentations.
ii) While in the military I saw presentations that were made in private.
iii) Other presentations were made in front of hundreds of people.
iv) There were also presentations where more than a thousand people were present.
v) Some presentations are even accompanied by a band or a parade.
vi) The Bible says that the presentation of the church to Christ will be glorious.
vii) Williams translates this, “as a splendid bride.”
13) Brides always want to look their best.
a) Imagine a bride that has been prepared by God.
b) What a glorious and magnificent image.
c) For the 4th point on the outline we must say that Christ will present it (the church) to Himself.
14) IF JESUS DIED FOR THE CHURCH, AND HAS CLEANSED THE CHURCH, AND SANCTIFIES THOSE WHO ARE IN IT, AND WILL PRESENT THE CHURCH TO HIMSELF AT THE END TIME, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE LORD IS THE SAVIOUR OF THE CHURCH.
a) This is what Paul affirmed - verse 23.
b) If you are filling in the outline here is the 5th point.
c) Christ is the savior of “it” (the body/church).
d) Our last point shows that many misunderstand the church.
i) Scores of people talk about “a church.”
ii) The Bible speaks of “the church.”
iii) This church is…….the Church …of Christ.
iv) That is, the church that belongs to Jesus.
v) In conversations with people we hear references to “my church.”
vi) The Bible says the church belongs to Christ.
vii) He is the founder, He is the saviour, and He is head of the church.
viii) How does this compare to those who say, “I started that church.”
ix) That may be true but the church that was started was not Christ's church.
x) The Bible says that Christ built His church and the price for this church was His blood.
xi) In Eph. 5 Jesus promised to save His church.
xii) He has promised to cleanse the members of His church.
xiii) Those in Christ’s church are without spot, wrinkle, or any such thing.
e) At times people ask me why I work and worship with the churches of Christ.
f) The answer is found in Eph. 5.
g) Jesus gave His life for a single church.
h) He gave Himself up for it, not them.
i) Jesus made provisions to cleanse the members of His church.
j) All who are members of this church are sanctified (the true people of God; the saved).
k) Those in this church will be presented to Jesus in a glorious way.
15) When I look in the phone book I don’t see too many church names that honor Christ.
16) When others tell me about their place of worship I don’t hear the message found in Eph. 5.
17) If Jesus died to buy His church I want and I need to be a member of His church.
18) The membership terms for this church have already been given. Faith, repentance….
a) Are we a member of it—the church built by Christ?
b) Do we even know about it—the church?
c) Do we need to return to it?
d) Or are we ready to become a member of it this morning?