THE CHURCH - THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
                           Eph.5:22-33

1.  The first marriage was a type of Christ and the church.
     A.  Side opened in sleep - John 19:34; Acts 20:28.
     B.  Singular - Matt.16:18; Eph.4:4
     C.  Named after the husband - Eph.2:15; Rom.16:16.
2.  The following passages give us the grand intention of Christ for the church - 2 Cor.5:17; 1       
     John 1:7; Phil.4:8; 1 Tim.5:22; James 1:27; Ps.24:3,4.
3.  What are the marks of faithfulness for the church?

I.  STANDING FAST IN THE FAITH.  1 Cor.16:13; Gal.5:1; Phil.1:27.
    A.  Some are off and then on.  Not able to speak with Paul - 2 Tim.4:6-8.
    B.  "The Faith." N.T. principles - 1 Cor.15:1,2; Jude 3.
    C.  The strongest timber is not in a greenhouse, but out where the winters are cold and hard.

II.  SOUND DOCTRINE. - 2 Tim.1:3; Tit.2:11.
     A.  This modern trend toward compromise is not apostolic.
     B.  The time has come when sound doctrine is not endured - 2 Tim.4:3; 2 Pet.3:16; today it's   
           have weak leadership and soft preaching - Isa.30:10; Acts 20:28-31.
     C.  Only one kind of preaching will do - 1 Peter 4:11; Rom.16:17.

III.  UNITY - Eph.4:1-6.
       A.  God's plan must prevail - 1 Cor.1:10; Phil.1:27.
       B.  A divided church is an offensive thing - Gen.13:8; Gal.5:15.
       C.  The lone woman juror told the eleven men who were in agreement, "if you were not so    
             stubborn, we could all go home."
 
IV.  LOVE - 1 Cor.13:13.
       A.  Envy is it's opposite and is the cause of much church trouble.
       B.  Our love for brethren proves our love for God - 1 John 4:20; Gal.5:13-15.
       C.  Christian love is always in danger of - Ignorance, we think others don't want it;                 
             selfishness - Phil.2:4; hypocrisy - Rom.12:9.
     
V.  SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS - Matt.6:33.
      A.  The church imitates the world by running for things of second place.
      B.  Too many churches are evaluated by the outward show - nickels , noise and numbers.
      C.  Foreigner said, "They are rick in everything but religion."

VI.  PURITY - 2 Cor.7:1
       A.  It must be in thought, word and deed.
       B.  No victory is possible in a church marred by worldliness - Acts 2:40; James 4:4;                
            Josh.7:6-13; 2 Cor.6:14-17; Rom.12:2.
       C. How can we maintain purity - read the word - Ps.119:11; 1 John 3:9; Think about heaven  
           - 1 John 3:1-3; Warn and admonish others - 1 Cor.5:5; Heb.10:25.
 VII.  EVANGELISM.
         A.  This job is never complete and always glorifies God - John 15:2,8.
         B.  This is the activity that destroys apathy.
         C.  The excursion ship "Prince Allen" collided on a dark, foggy night on the Thames River. 
               Two ferryman heard the crash.  One said, "too dark and foggy to help."  The other          
              went and said, :I wish I had a bigger boat."
 
CONCLUSION:
1.  If the church is the Bride of Christ, then what does she look like?  Does she meet with His       
     approval?
2.  Do you want to be free from sin? Acts 2:38; John 3:5; Tit.3:5.