Ephesians: His Glorious RichesSample

We return to this passage a second time. Paul is concerned to encourage godly marriages and homes. However, there is clearly another great theme: that of Christ and His relationship with the church. In fact, this is the primary theme. It is not that Paul is using the love of Christ for the church as an appropriate but random model for marriage. God’s plans to provide a bride for His Son predates the creation of marriage in the Garden of Eden. Marriage is an illustration of Christ and the church, rather than the other way around. 

So what do we learn? It is legitimate to say that Christ died for us as individuals (Gal. 2:20). However, the emphasis in the New Testament is more commonly on the fact that Christ died for the church. Christ loved His church in eternity – before the foundation of the world. As He prepared to go to the cross, Jesus spoke to the Father about the people that the Father had promised to give Him (John 17:1–2, 6–7). He died to redeem His church: ‘From heav’n He came and sought her to be His holy bride; with His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.’ (Samuel J. Stone, ‘The Church’s One Foundation’.)

Paul describes Christ’s love in various ways. His love was sacrificial (v. 25); He ‘gave himself up’ for the church. He did not see any beauty in her, but was driven by pure grace. For her He suffered humiliation, torture and death. More than that He experienced the wrath of a sin-hating God poured out on Him in the darkness of Calvary. 

His love was intentional (v. 26). His aim was always to make the church holy and pure. God takes sinful people out of a sinful world, makes them holy, puts them back in a sinful world and keeps them holy. The church should be pure in life, truth and love. 

His love was victorious (v. 27). One day the church will be perfect. Like a bride on her wedding day it will be radiant. The church will be free of external wrinkles and internal stains. The evidence of the New Testament letters is that the church is far from perfect; it is easy to see its many imperfections. However, we must not dismiss the church because it is precious to Jesus; you cannot love Him without loving His bride.

Reflection

‘I love Jesus, but I’m not too keen on the church.’ 

How does this study affect the way you think about the church and pray for it (John 13:1; 1 John 3:16)? 

How does this passage enable you to reflect further on the nature of marriage?