"A CLEAN CHURCH'
EPHISIANS 5:25-27
Glen Murphy

INTRODUCTION:

THE WORD CHURCH COMES FROM A GREEK WORD,EKKLESTA,
MEANING "CALLED OUT" SO MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH THAT JESUS BUILT ARE
CALLED OUT BY THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. 2 THESSALONIANS 2:13-I4; MATTHEW 16: 18-20.
THE CHURCH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INSTITUTTON IN ALL OF
THE WORLD, HAVING BEEN INCLUDED AS PART OF THE ETERNAL PURPOSE OF GOD,
AND PURCHASED WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF THE LAMB OF GOD. EPHESIANS 3:9-11; 
ACTS 20:28.
IS IT ANY WONDER THAT CHRIST DESIRES FOR THE CHURCH TO BE "A GLORIOUS CHURCH", 
NOT HAVING SPOTS OR WRINKLE, OR ANY SUCH THINGS, BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE HOLY AND 
WITHOUT BLEMISH; EPHESIANS 5:27 OF OUR TEXT.
IN STUDYING THIS LESSON ON A CLEAN CHURCH LET US FIRST NOTICE


(I).GOD DESIRES IT TO BE CLEAN:

A.THE CHURCH IS COMPOSED OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN MADE FREE FROM SIN THROUGH OBEDIENCE 
TO THE GOSPEL; So THE SAVED ARE IN THE CHURCH. ACTS 2:47; 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-13.

B.THO5E WHO HAVE BEEN SAVED ARE PURE AND CLEAN SPIRITUALLY; 1 PETER 1:22-23; 
1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-11.

C.CHURCH MEMBERS MUST REMAIN PURE AS THEY CONTINUE TO ABIDE BY THE TEACHINGS OF 
GOD'S WORD; MATTHEW 5:13-16; 1 John 1:7-10; 2:1-3.

D.GOD DESIRES THAT THE CHURCH BE CLEAN AND PURE BECAUSE IT IS HIS
SPIRITUAL BODY UPON THIS EARTH THROUGH WHICH HIS WORK MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED;
EPHESIANS 3:9-11, 17-21; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:214; 1 THESSALONIANS 14:17.

(II).SIN SPOTS THE CHURCH:

A.SIN IS THE ONLY THING THAT CAN MAKE THE CHURCH IMPURE AND DESTROY HER REPUTATION:
1 John 3:4.

B.	SIN IS A BLEMISH TO THE CHURCH FROM WITHOUT, AND WITHIN, THEREFORE
THOSE WHO SIN SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO REPENT;
1 C0RINTHIANS 5:9-13; GALATTANS 6:1; JAMES 5:15-20; ACTS 8:18-24;
MATTHEW 18:15-17.

C.SOME SIN WILLFULLY AND RESIST THE EFFECTS GF OTHERS TO RESTORE THEM;
HEBREWS 10:25-31; 2 PETER 2:20-22.

D.WHEN SIN IS KNOWN IN THE CHURCH AND THE GUILTY WILL NOT REPENT, IT IS TIME TO 
ACT: 2 TFIESSALONIANS 3:6-15; ROMANS 16:17.

E. GOD'S PEOPLE SHOULD NOT POSTPONE ACTION THAT IS NECESSARY FOR THE CLEANSING AND 
PURIFYING OF THE CHURCH.

(III).DISCIPLINE RESTORES THE CHURCH:

A.WHILE THE UNFAITHFUL ARE WITHDRAWN FROM THE CHURCH IS PURE AGAIN; 1 CORINTHIANS 
5:7; EPIIESIANS 5:27; 2 CORINTHIANS 2:6-9.

B.THE REPUTATION OF THE CHURCH CONTINUES TO BE HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM; ACTS 2:46-47; 
Acrs 5:11-14; 2 CORINTHIANS 2:6-9.

C. THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL DOES NOT BLAME THE CHURCH FOR THE FACT THAT HYPOCRITES GET 
INTO THE CHURCH, BUT THEY DO BLAME THE CHURCH FOR LETTING THEM REMAIN AS MEMBERS.

D.CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINED WHEN USED PROPERLY WILL CAUSE GOD TO BE
GLORIFYED AND THE CHURCH HONORED, BUT LACK OF DISCIPLINE WHEN NEEDED
WILL BRING REPROACH. EPHESIANS 3:21; 1 TIMOTHY 3:15

CONCLUSION:

WIVES, SUBMIT YOURSELVES UNTO YOUR OWN HUSBANDS AS UNTO THE LORD.
FOR THE HUSBAND IS THE HEAD OF THE WIFE, EVEN AS CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH: 
AND HE IS THE SAVIOUR OF THE BODY.
THEREFORE AS THE CHURCH IS SUBJECT UNTO CHRIST. SO LET THE WIVES BE TO THEIR OWN 
HUSBANDS IN EVERY THING.
HUSBANDS LOVE YOUR WIVES EVEN AS CHRIST ALSO LOVED THE CHURCH, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR 
1T THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY AND CLEANSE IT WITH THE WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD,
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.