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 - Part 2082

"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. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself.

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church: for we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." (Ephesians 5:25-27)

" ... 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 ..." (Ephesians 5:25-30)

As we know from the Old Testament, almost all things are purged with blood, and without the shedding of blood is no remission. This is why there had to be a purchase, in order for you and I to be redeemed. The pattern of the old replicated, but not the shedding of blood every year, but the final shedding of blood -- once and for all -- by our Lord God and Saviour. The Word made flesh, dwelling among us, so that we could believe on Him, and His mercy, and kindness, and grace. (Titus 3:4-7; John 1:1-18; I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:8; Acts 20:28; II Corinthians 5:17)

"For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, "This [is] the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you ...

Moreover, he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry, and almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." (Hebrews 9:20-26)

Thus, we are cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. (I John 1:7) Further, as Ephesians 5:26 tells us, we are cleansed with the washing of water by the Word.

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure where unto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him." (I Peter 3:18-21)

The like figure where unto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." (I Corinthians 10:1-4)

You see, Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. He came to redeem us from our sin. But God did not send a "Son" as the devil would have us believe, but instead clothed Himself as a Son, so that His salvation plan would come to fruition. Indeed, from the beginning of time, God's plan was to bring together a people -- sons and daughters of the Most High King - that would worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

This is why Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)

And who is the Father? Jesus went onto say to His disciples -- "If ye have seen Me, ye have seen the Father." (John 14:6-12; John 10:30)

It is for these reasons that we must repent, believing that this same Jesus whom we have crucified is BOTH LORD AND CHRIST, and to be water baptized in His precious Name -- the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins so that we too can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-41)

Don't let anyone lead you astray from the apostolic doctrine which was preached unto us -- through the New Testament. So much to learn but this needs to be your starting point for salvation. As such, I encourage you to understand the Name that is above every other name, and the ONLY NAME whereby we must be saved in this current dispensation of grace. (Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9; Acts 2:38)

Stand in the offering plate.