Ephesians 5:25-27
“25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 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.”
Matthew 7:3-5
“3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
Ephesians 5:25-27
“25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 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 5:27
“27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor…”
Jesus wants the church to be seen.
“To be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in”
— C.S. Lewis
Matthew 23:5-7
“5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.”
The age of self-construction
We are conditioned to believe we have the power to decide who sees us, how they see us, why they see us, and when they see us…
“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear.”
— Tim Keller
#1. “That HE might present the Church…”
Ephesians 5:27
“27 so that he might present the church…”
John 2:1-5
“1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ 4 And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’ 5 His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’”
John 5:19
“19 So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.’”
It’s not up to you to be seen.
#2. “To HIMSELF…”
Ephesians 5:27
“27 so that he might present the church to himself…”
Matthew 23:5-12
“5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others…”
It’s not for them to see.
#3. “In SPLENDOR.”
Ephesians 5:27
“27 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.”
“At that time, then, Jesus made of water wine, and both then and now He ceases not to change our weak and unstable wills. For there are, yes, there are men who in nothing differ from water, so cold, and weak, and unsettled. But let us bring those of such disposition to the Lord, that He may change their will to the quality of wine, so that they be no longer washy, but have body, and be the cause of gladness in themselves and others.”
— John Chrysostom
It’s not over yet.