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A Glorious Church. Ephesians 5:25-27. Ephesians 5:25-27.
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A Glorious Church Ephesians 5:25-27
Ephesians 5:25-27 • Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Introduction • Glorious • Endoxos – “splendid, (figuratively) noble:--glorious, gorgeous(-ly), honourable.” • Noble - Acts 24:3; 26:25; 1 Cor. 1:26 • Strong’s Dictionary • Glorious in the eyes of the Lord! • Purchased by the blood of Christ – vs. 25.; Acts 20:28 • Not popular with this world! – Rev. 3:14-18 • 1 Cor. 1:26; Matt. 7:13:14; Gal. 1:10 • This glorious church has certain attributes!
The Body Is the Church! Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18 Is this! Not this! Obedient people added by the Lord! Congregations are not added!
It Is Spiritually Clean! • Cleansed by the “washing of the water by the word.” • vs. 26; Jn. 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:22-25 • It is without “spot or wrinkle or any such thing” • vs. 27; Jas. 1:27 • Touches not unclean things! • 2 Cor. 6:17-18; 1 Pet. 1:15-19 • Its members obeyed the “Glorious Gospel.” • 1 Tim. 1:11
It Is Doctrinally Sound! • It accepts and teaches “all the council of God.” • Acts 20:27-31 • It endures sound doctrine! • 2 Tim. 4:2-4 • It actively opposes false doctrine: • Inwardly & Outwardly • Tit. 1:9, 11; Jude 3
It Is Active Faithfully! • In doing only the will of Christ! • Matt. 7:21-34 • In worshiping “in spirit and in truth.” • Jn. 4:24; Col. 3:17 • In doing the work of the church! • Evangelism – 1 Thess. 1:8; 2 Cor. 11:8 • Caring for its needy – Acts 6 • Edifying itself – Eph. 4:16 • Discipline of the erring – 2 Thess. 3:6-15
It Is Scripturally Organized! • Many denominational organizations today! • One-man pastor system! • Women in leadership roles! • Man-made committees! • Area, district, national and universal rule! • Christ has all authority! • Matt. 28:18
It Is Scripturally Organized! • N.T. Church organized in a simple way! • Bishops, deacons & saints – Phil. 1:1 • Local in nature – • Acts 14:23; 1 Pet 5:1-4 • Can exist: • Scripturally organized! • When qualified men are serving as elders! • Scripturally unorganized! • Until men are qualified to serve as elders!
It Is Scripturally Organized! • N.T. Churches were Male-led! • In the assembly • Women not to teach or have authority over man! • 1 Tim. 2:11-14 • Elders & Deacons were men! • 1 Tim. 3:1-12; Acts 6:3 • Tit. 1:5-11
Conclusion! • What church are you a member of? • This Glorious Church? • Have you been washed and purified by the waters of baptism? • You must to be added to the Glorious Church! • Obey the glorious gospel and be added to the Glorious Church!