Isn’t She Beautiful?

Ephesians 5:25–27  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  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.

 

Intro
 

  • Jesus calls the Church His bride.
     
  • We see flaws, but He sees His finished work.
     
  • And He still says, “Isn’t she beautiful?”
 

  • If we see the Church the way Christ sees her, we’ll love what He loves and embrace the process He is working in us.

 

  • How much does Jesus LOVE His Bride, the Church?

 

1) Jesus Purchased Her!

 
  • 1 Peter 1:18–19  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
     
  • She’s beautiful because He paid for her.
     
  • He didn’t just purchase her. He joined her.
     

2) Jesus Partnered with Her!
 

  • John 17:21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
     
  • She’s beautiful because she is one with Him.
     
  • And what He joins to Himself, He also cleanses.
     

3) Jesus Purified Her!
 

  • Isaiah 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
     
  • She’s beautiful because He is perfecting her.
     

Close
 

  • Isn’t she beautiful? Don’t you agree?
     
  • Then let’s fall fresh in love with Jesus, and fall fresh in love with His bride, the ecclesia.
     
  • We gather, not just to sit and soak, but to go.