HOW IMPORTANT IS CHRIST TO THE CHURCH?
  1. INTRODUCTION:

    1. SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 2:14-20 ; Ephesians 5:23-30
    2. CHRIST SAID SPEAKING TO PETER, Matthew 16:18 = "…And upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
    3. CHRIST WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO THE CHURCH THAN THE BUILDING OF IT.
    4. THE CHURCH WAS OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE TO CHRIST.
      1. Christ did not just build it and leave it to man to do with as he pleased.
      2. Christ was (and is) involved, or concerned, with it in every way.
      3. Study with me for a few minutes just how important the Church is to Christ.

  2. DISCUSSION:

    1. CHRIST CREATED IT. Ephesians 2:14-15 = "For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might created in himself of the two one new man, so making peace."
    2. CHRIST WAS THE CHIEF CORNER STONE. Ephesians 2:20 = "Being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone."
    3. CHRIST PURCHASED IT. Acts 20:28 = "Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood." ….. Ephesians 5:25 = "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it."
    4. CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF IT. Ephesians 1:22 = "And he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church."
    5. CHRIST LOVES IT. Ephesians 5:25 = "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it."
    6. CHRIST IS IT’S SAVIOR. Ephesians 5:23 = "For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body."
    7. CHRIST CHERISHES AND NOURISHES IT. Ephesians 5:29 = "For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church."

      8. COMMENT: CHERISH is to hold dear, treat with tenderness. Nourish is to feed, to rear, to train up.

    8. CHRIST CLEANS AND SANCTIFIES IT. Ephesians 5:26 = "That he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the world."
      1. We are made one with Christ in baptism. Galatians 3:27 = "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." ….. Acts 22:16 = "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the lord."
      2. Sanctified is that relationship with God into which men enter by faith in Christ. Acts 26:18 = "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." …..
        I Corinthians 6:11         = :And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

  3. CONCLUSION:

    1. JUST HOW IMPORTANT IS THE CHURCH TO CHRIST? [It was the body into which the Son of God could reconcile man to God.]

      2. Luke 19:10 = "For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost."

      Acts 2:47 = "… And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

      Ephesians 2:16 = "And might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby."

      1. That one body is the church. Ephesians 5:23 = "For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body."
      2. That body is sanctified and cleansed by Christ. Ephesians 5:26 = "That he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word."
    2. THE IMPORTANT OF THE CHURCH TO CHRIST IS EMPHASIZED BY:
      1. The fact that He created it. [Ephesians 2:14; Matthew 16:18].
      2. The fact that He purchased it with His own blood. [Acts 20:28].
      3. The fact that He has cleansed, sanctified, nourished, and cherished it. For one purpose only to house those that are to be saved. [Acts 2:47].
    3. THE CHURCH IS IMPORTANT TO CHRIST FOR HE WANTS IT PRESENTED TO HIM AS A CHASTE VIRGIN.

      4. Ephesians 5:27 = "That he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

      QUESTIONS:

      1. Will He so find the church, when he comes to have it presented to himself?
      2. Are you a spot, wrinkle, or blemish in His sight?
      3. Will you remove these sinful stains from you life to please the Lord?

CONSIDER: We know how important the church is to Christ, but just how important is the church to you?

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