Page 56 - The Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2009

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“FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION HAS APPEARED TO ALL MEN, TEACHING US THAT,
DENYING UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY IN

THE PRESENT AGE, LOOKING FOR THE BLESSED HOPE AND GLORIOUS APPEARING OF OUR GREAT GOD
AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM EVERY
LAWLESS DEED AND PURIFY FOR HIMSELF HIS OWN SPECIAL PEOPLE, ZEALOUS FOR GOOD WORKS.”
Titus 2:11-14

There are verses like the one above which, in one flowing sentence, takes us from the grace of God to
a people that become zealous for good works. Passages like these are scattered throughout the Word
of God to convey the whole counsel of God in a manner that prevents any misunderstanding as to what
God’s full intentions are for His people. God’s brand of grace prepares His people for good works
because of the fact that God wants those in the Body of Christ to qualify for the Bride of Christ!

There are many mysteries (hidden truths) in the Bible. Among the twelve found in the New Testament,
the Bride of Christ is singled out as “a great mystery.” Paul writes:

“HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES, JUST AS
CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT,

THAT (“IN ORDER THAT”)
HE MIGHT SANCTIFY AND CLEANSE IT WITH THE

WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD,
THAT (“IN ORDER 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….THIS IS A GREAT MYSTERY,
BUT I SPEAK CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.”
Eph. 5:25-27, 32

Here again in verses 25-27 we have one long flowing sentence filled with
revelation about the Bride of Christ. First of all we are told the well-known
fact that “Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it”. But the passage
goes right into two higher truths revealing why He gave Himself for it:

THAT (“IN ORDER THAT”) THAT (“IN ORDER THAT”)
HE MIGHT SANCTIFY AND CLEANSE IT HE MIGHT PRESENT IT TO HIMSELF A GLORIOUS
CHURCH, NOT HAVING SPOT OR WRINKLE OR ANY
WITH THE SUCH THING, BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE HOLY AND
WASHING OF WATER
WITHOUT BLEMISH.”
BY THE WORD,

Paul’s subject is the Bride of Christ and he is writing to members of the Body of Christ. Note that
Jesus intends to sanctify the church by means of “washing it in the water of the Word.”

He is writing to a people who have been “washed in the Blood of Christ”. Look at this comparison:

“TO HIM WHO LOVED US AND “CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF
WASHED US FROM OUR SINS FOR IT THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY…
IN HIS OWN BLOOD” IT WITH THE WASHING OF WATER
Rev. 1: 5 BY THE WORD.” Eph. 5:25-26

Those whom Christ has washed in His Blood He now seeks to wash in the water of the Word.
Washing in blood produces justification (forgiveness of sins), but washing in water produces
sanctification (holy in conduct). God’s ultimate will for us is sanctification in our spirit, in our soul, and
in our body (see 1 Thess. 4:3, 5:23). All that we have looked at in Column A deals with justification. The
things we find in Column B deal with sanctification. If, as a blood-washed member of the Body of
Christ, you intend to become the Bride of Christ, you will need to pay attention to Column B’s
theology. Jesus wants a sanctified Bride that is willing to wash in the water of His Word as well as in
His Blood!