PORTRAIT OF CHRIST'S PRIDE
EPHESIANS 5:22-23
INTRODUCTION:
A. Three obvious points about the church.
1. The church is the bride of Christ.
2. The bride is to be of beauty and holiness.
3. Christ gave himself for her to be and to be holy.
B. This passage presents a contrast of terms.
1. Five represents being free from sin and its guilt.
2. Two represent flaws.
C. Christ never intended for his bride to have wrinkles on her face or spots on her
gown, but always to be brand new. II Cor. 5:17; I Jn. 1:7; Phil. 4:8; I Tim. 5:22;
Jas. 1:27; Psa. 24:3,4.
D. This sermon is a contrast between the positive and negative. What insures blameless-
ness and that which brings fault.
I. STANDING FAST IN FAITH.
A. Meaning of "steadfast." I Cor. 16:13; Ga. 5:1; Phil. 1:27.
1. To persist, to preserve.
2. Once stand is taken, stand there. Not in--out; hot--cold.
B. Meaning of "in the faith." I Cor. 15:1,2.
1. All the principles set forth in the New Testament.
2. Therefore we hold fast everything God has done for our salvation.
C. Illustration.
1. The stoutest timber is not found in a greenhouse or sheltered valley--but
out where the wild tempest rages and the winters are cold and hard.
2. More starters than finishers. II Tim. 4:6-8.
II. SOUND DOCTRINE (or compromise).
A. Some modern trends are not apostolic - II Tim. 1:13; Tit. 2:1.
B. The time has come: II Tim. 4:3; II Cor. 2:17; II Pet. 3:16.
1. Some prefer weak-kneed leadership. Isa. 30:10; Acts 20:28-31.
2. Only the pure word saves - Jas. 1:21; Psa. 19:8; Jn. 15:3.
3. We have commands regarding false teachers - Rom. 16:17; Tit. 3:10.
C. Only one kind of preaching will do - I Pet. 4:11.
III. UNITY (or division).
A. God's plan must prevail - Eph. 4:3-6; I Cor. 1:10; Phil. 1:27.
B. A badly divided, discordant, wrangling church is the most offensive thing in the
community. Gen. 13:8; Gal. 5:15.
C. Illustration: Lone woman juror told eleven men--"If you were not so stubborn we
could all go home."
IV. LOVE (or envy).
A. What do we prove by showing brotherly love?
1. Our love for God - I Jn. 4:20.
2. We have the greatest gift - I Cor. 13:13.
3. Fulfilling God's law - Gal. 5:13-15.
B. Christian love is always in danger:
1. Of ignorance--think others don't want it.
2. Of selfishness - Phil. 2:4.
3. Of hypocrisy - Rom. 12:9 (free from improper motives).
C. Illustration: An old man sold small boxes of cement. Said it would mend broken
vases and hearts. He had included a tiny piece of paper with L-O-V-E written
on it.
V. SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS (or materialism).
A. The church often imitates the world by running for things of "second place"-Mt 6:33.
B. There is a tendency to elevate the material in our thinking.
1. Evaluate the church by numbers, building, contribution.
2. Look what we have done for the Lord or ourselves?
3. Foreigner said--"They were rich in everything but religion."
VI. PURITY (or worldliness).
A. Purity of thought, word and deed. Mt. 5:8; I Pet. 3:10; II Cor. 7:1.
B. No victory is possible when marred by the polution of the world.
1. "I'm no saint." Who are you? Hos. 7:8; Acts 2:40; Jas. 4:4.
2. "Accursed thing in our midst." Josh 7:6-13; II Cor 6:14-17; Rom. 12:2; I Jn.
2:15; I Thess. 5:22.
C. How can a Christian maintain his purity?
1. Read the word of God. Psa. 119:11; I Jn. 3:9.
2. Think about heaven. I Jn. 3:13; Rev. 21:21; 22:1.
3. Warn and admonish others. I Cor. 5:5; Heb. 10:25.
VII. EVANGELISM (or failure).
A. This job is never finished - Mk. 16:15, 16.
B. Soul winning glorifies God - Jn. 15:2-8.
C. Illustration: Excursion ship "Prince Alice" collided on dark, foggy night in Thames
River. 600 lives were lost. Two ferrymen were mooring boats for the night--one said
too dark and foggy to go. Other raved all night saying "If I just had a bigger boat."
1. What does the bride of Christ look like?
2. Do you want to be pure--free from sin?
a. Christ gave himself - Acts 20:28.
b. You must be cleansed - Jn. 3:5; Tit. 3:5.
c. Baptism stands between you and sanctification.
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