By: Robert Serreyn
Question? Could you sir give some thoughts to Eph. 5:27?
(Ephesians 5:27) 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.
Answer:
Ephesians 5:27 is speaking of the Body of Christ – Believers (church) specificaly, V26 is dealing how a person is saved BY THE Word Of God (The Gospel). – 1 Cor. 15:1-4, John 3:16, Acts 16:31.
(John 3:5) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
– Water = The Word Of God – Ephesians 5:26
– Spirit = Holy Spirit – Ephesians 1:13, 1 Corinthians 12:13
(Romans 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
In V27 Christ is DESIRING Faithful, Obediant children(by faith THROUGH the gospel) that HAVE NOT Spot, Wrinkle, or Blemish but are worthy of his blessings and rewards.
The SPOT, WRINKLE, and BLEMISH represent the three ways in which sin is removed from the christians life.
– SPOT – These sins can be removed by the christian by confession of it to the Lord.
(1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
– WRINKLE – These sins are removed by the Lord through his chastening (correction).
(Hebrews 12:5,6) And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: (6) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
– BLEMISH – These sins will only be removed by the Lord at the Judgement Seat of Christ in which the christian will lose rewards because of them.
(1 Corinthians 3:11 – 15) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (13) Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. (14) If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. (15) If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
(Romans 14:10 – 12) But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (11) For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
Salvation is GIFT OF GOD – Ephesians 2:8,9, given to anyone who will simply place their TRUST ALONE (believing) in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Rewards and Blessings however ARE DEPENDANT UPON OUR FAITHFULNESS.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH