AGloriousChurch Eph 5:27. A Glorious Church The church is glorious!The church is glorious!

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AAGloriousGloriousChurchChurch

Eph 5:27Eph 5:27

A Glorious ChurchA Glorious Church

• The church is glorious!The church is glorious!

• The church is glorious!The church is glorious!– Jesus died “so that he might present the church to Jesus died “so that he might present the church to

himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Eph 5:27, ESV).blemish” (Eph 5:27, ESV).

• The church is glorious!The church is glorious!– Jesus died “so that he might present the church to Jesus died “so that he might present the church to

himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Eph 5:27, ESV).blemish” (Eph 5:27, ESV).

– Tonight, we want to examine how glorious the church Tonight, we want to examine how glorious the church truly is!truly is!

THE CHURCH IS GLORIOUS IN THE CHURCH IS GLORIOUS IN HER ORIGIN.HER ORIGIN.

• Christ established his church.Christ established his church.

• Christ established his church: “I will build my Christ established his church: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt 16:18, ESV).against it” (Mt 16:18, ESV).

• Christ established his church: (Mt 16:18).Christ established his church: (Mt 16:18).• The church’s establishment cost Jesus his life.The church’s establishment cost Jesus his life.

• Christ established his church: (Mt 16:18).Christ established his church: (Mt 16:18).• The church’s establishment cost Jesus his life: The church’s establishment cost Jesus his life:

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28, he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28, ESV).ESV).

(Acts 20:28).(Acts 20:28).• Men have established churches at a Men have established churches at a

comparatively small cost.comparatively small cost.

(Acts 20:28).(Acts 20:28).• Men have established churches at a Men have established churches at a

comparatively small cost.comparatively small cost.• The church of our Lord was costly!The church of our Lord was costly!

THE CHURCH IS GLORIOUS IN THE CHURCH IS GLORIOUS IN HER HEAD.HER HEAD.

• Different churches have different humans as Different churches have different humans as their heads.their heads.

• But, Christ is the head of his church.But, Christ is the head of his church.

• But, Christ is the head of his church.But, Christ is the head of his church.– God “put all things under his [Christ] feet and gave God “put all things under his [Christ] feet and gave

him as head over all things to the church” (Eph 1:22, him as head over all things to the church” (Eph 1:22, ESV).ESV).

• But, Christ is the head of his church.But, Christ is the head of his church.– God “put all things under his [Christ] feet and gave God “put all things under his [Christ] feet and gave

him as head over all things to the church” (Eph 1:22, him as head over all things to the church” (Eph 1:22, ESV).ESV).

– ““He is the head of the body, the church. He is the He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Col 1:18, ESV).everything he might be preeminent” (Col 1:18, ESV).

• Human leaders receive their commission from Human leaders receive their commission from other men.other men.

• Christ received his appointment from the Father.Christ received his appointment from the Father.

• Christ received his appointment from the Father.Christ received his appointment from the Father.– ““I have not spoken on my own authority, but the I have not spoken on my own authority, but the

Father who sent me has himself given me a Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak” (Jn commandment—what to say and what to speak” (Jn 12:49, ESV).12:49, ESV).

• Christ received his appointment from the Father.Christ received his appointment from the Father.– ““I have not spoken on my own authority, but the I have not spoken on my own authority, but the

Father who sent me has himself given me a Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak” (Jn commandment—what to say and what to speak” (Jn 12:49, ESV).12:49, ESV).

– ““The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son” (Jn 5:22). to the Son” (Jn 5:22).

• Human leaders die & need to be replaced.Human leaders die & need to be replaced.

• Human leaders die & need to be replaced.Human leaders die & need to be replaced.• Christ lives forever.Christ lives forever.

– ““I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Rv 1:18, ESV).the keys of Death and Hades” (Rv 1:18, ESV).

– ““He holds his priesthood permanently, because he He holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever” (Heb 7:24, ESV).continues forever” (Heb 7:24, ESV).

THE CHURCH IS GLORIOUS IN THE CHURCH IS GLORIOUS IN HER HISTORYHER HISTORY

• She is glorious in the face of “defeat.”She is glorious in the face of “defeat.”

• She is glorious in the face of “defeat”: “No, in all She is glorious in the face of “defeat”: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rm 8:37, ESV).through him who loved us” (Rm 8:37, ESV).

• She is glorious in the face of “defeat”: Rm 8:37.She is glorious in the face of “defeat”: Rm 8:37.• She is glorious in victory.She is glorious in victory.

• She is glorious in the face of “defeat”: Rm 8:37.She is glorious in the face of “defeat”: Rm 8:37.• She is glorious in victory: “I know that you have She is glorious in victory: “I know that you have

but little power, and yet you have kept my word but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Rv 3:8).and have not denied my name” (Rv 3:8).

THE CHURCH IS GLORIOUS IN THE CHURCH IS GLORIOUS IN HER MINISTRY.HER MINISTRY.

• ““Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19, ESV).the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19, ESV).

• ““Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16:16, ESV). the whole creation” (Mk 16:16, ESV).

THE CHURCH IS GLORIOUS IN THE CHURCH IS GLORIOUS IN HER IDEA.HER IDEA.

• The ideal of the church is the salvation of lost The ideal of the church is the salvation of lost men & women.men & women.

• The ideal of the church is the salvation of lost The ideal of the church is the salvation of lost men & women.men & women.– ““She will bear a son, and you shall call his name She will bear a son, and you shall call his name

Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Mt Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:21, ESV).1:21, ESV).

• The ideal of the church is the salvation of lost The ideal of the church is the salvation of lost men & women.men & women.– ““She will bear a son, and you shall call his name She will bear a son, and you shall call his name

Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Mt Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:21, ESV).1:21, ESV).

– ““I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rm 1:16, ESV).Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rm 1:16, ESV).

THE CHURCH WILL BE THE CHURCH WILL BE GLORIOUS IN HER FUTURE.GLORIOUS IN HER FUTURE.

• ““I know whom I have believed, and I am I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me” (2 Tm 1:12, what has been entrusted to me” (2 Tm 1:12, ESV).ESV).

• 2 Tm 1:12.2 Tm 1:12.• ““See what kind of love the Father has given to See what kind of love the Father has given to

us, that we should be called children of God; us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is” (1 Jn 3:1-2, ESV).see him as he is” (1 Jn 3:1-2, ESV).

THE CHURCH IS GLORIOUS IN THE CHURCH IS GLORIOUS IN HER PRIVILEGES.HER PRIVILEGES.

• Members aren’t voted in.Members aren’t voted in.

• Members aren’t voted in. Anyone who wants Members aren’t voted in. Anyone who wants may come.may come.

• Members an understand the Scriptures for Members an understand the Scriptures for themselves.themselves.

• Members an understand the Scriptures for Members an understand the Scriptures for themselves.themselves.– ““When you read this, you can perceive my insight into When you read this, you can perceive my insight into

the mystery of Christ” (Eph 3:4, ESV).the mystery of Christ” (Eph 3:4, ESV).

• ““Now to him who is able to strengthen you Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith” (Rm 16:25-26, ESV).faith” (Rm 16:25-26, ESV).

• Members have the privilege of divine kinship.Members have the privilege of divine kinship.

• Members have the privilege of divine kinship.Members have the privilege of divine kinship.• God is our Father & Christ is our brother.God is our Father & Christ is our brother.

• ““All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Rm 8:12-order that we may also be glorified with him” (Rm 8:12-17, ESV).17, ESV).

• Members have a glorious inheritance.Members have a glorious inheritance.

• ““I consider that the sufferings of this present time I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. . . . We ourselves, who have the firstfruits God. . . . We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we are saved” (Rm bodies. For in this hope we are saved” (Rm 8:18-19, 23, ESV).8:18-19, 23, ESV).

ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THAT ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THAT GLORIOUS CHURCH.GLORIOUS CHURCH.

AGloriousChurch Eph 5:27. A Glorious Church The church is glorious!The church is glorious!

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