Christ And The Church

Alba 6-11-2023

CHRIST AND THE CHURCH

Ephesians 5:22-33

A 97-pound Labrador retriever named Marley is said to have been the world’s worst dog. His story is told in a book for children, "Marley: A Dog Like No Other", by John Grogan. It was also made into a movie called “Marley and Me”.

Marley was adopted as a puppy by a couple looking for another addition to their family. Marley routinely failed to "get the idea" of what humans expected of him; at one point, mental illness was suggested as a plausible explanation for his behavior.

He crashed through screen doors with alarming regularity. He went berserk during thunderstorms, destroying everything in his path.

He stole food off the dinner table, slobbered incessantly, drank from the toilet bowl, and ate bath towels, sponges, socks, used tissues, plastic toys, furniture, speaker covers, paychecks, even an expensive gold necklace.

He was incorrigible. How could a master love a dog that had so many bad qualities! But they kept him. Why, because to them... he was utterly lovable.

Even though the dog had many bad qualities, it was still loved. Is that unusual?

Have you ever seen a couple and said, “I wonder what he sees in her” or, “I don't understand what she sees in him”? So we can also ask, what does Jesus see in the church?

When one looks at the way many churches conduct themselves, or for that matter the way we as church members sometimes have acted, we have to wonder, how could Jesus love us? We are sinners. Jesus did not sin. Why would He have any concern for us?

One can point out the faults and problems within any church. One might not agree to certain decisions that are made. There can be people who are frustrating. Something else happens that causes a problem. But despite all of it’s warts and faults, Jesus loves the church.

We know that because the Bible says so! We sing “Jesus loves ME, this I know. For the Bible tells me so.” But we could also sing, “Jesus loves the CHURCH, this I know. For the Bible tells me so.”

Jesus loved us even while we were not only sinners, but His enemy. Jesus gave His very life. He gave Himself up for the church.

It is important to grasp this truth because otherwise we may allow some difficulty or trouble to cause us to turn our back on the church. To do so is like turning our back on Jesus Himself.

So where in the Bible does it say that Jesus loves the church? Turn to Ephesians 5:22-33. “Oh”, you say. “That's the section of scripture that preachers use when they have a wedding. It tells how husbands and wives should behave toward each other.”

Well yes it does, but it says more than that. It teaches that the relationship between the husband and wife is modeled after the relationship between Christ and His church. Let's read: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.

“Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

“So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

Actually this is a good section of scripture for ministers to use when performing a wedding. It is here that we learn God's intended way for a husband and wife to interact with each other. If these principles for marriage are put into practice, it will bless those who follow them.

If a wife shows respect for her husband, and if a husband demonstrates his love for his wife, both will be blessed and be able to enjoy a long life together. But if there is no respect and no love, it is no wonder why so many marriages fail.