Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:25-29
Keeping the Church Pure
Intro.
1. Christ’s love for His church compelled His sacrifice of death, Eph. 5:25-27. His purpose and result was to sanctify (set apart) the church (saved ones) unto God and apart from sin (1 Pet. 2:9; 1 Thess. 2:12; 1 Cor. 1:9).
2. Water and the word: Cleansed (new birth), Jno. 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:22. (Tit. 3:5)
3. Church must maintain its purity and holiness, 5:27 (Tit. 2:14; Jas. 1:27).
a. Each Christian is under obligation to cleanses ourselves, 2 Cor. 7:1.
b. A pure church will be delivered up to God, 1 Cor. 15:24.
4. When we compromise with sin and try to lower the divine standards to those of the world, while professing to be faithful members of His church, we are deceiving ourselves.
-The Lord did not die so the church can defile herself.
5. The Lord expects us, His church, to be pure in all things.
I. PURITY OF DOCTRINE MUST BE PREACHED.
A. God’s Word is Pure, Psa. 119:140.
1. Truth purifies (purges and refines) us when we obey it, Psa. 19:8; Eph. 5:26.
2. God cleanses us of faithlessness and sin by the truth, Eph. 5:26; Jno. 15:1-3; 17:17.
B. Truth’s Power to Purify is Jeopardized by Error, 2 Tim. 4:3-4.
1. False teaching, human opinions, wisdom, creeds, doctrines.
2. Error is corrupting and condemning, 2 Pet. 3:15-16.
C. We Must Guard and Maintain the Purity of God’s Doctrine, Jude 3; 1 Tim. 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13; 2 Jno. 9.
-Polluted teaching cannot sanctify and cleanse us from sin, Eph. 5:26 (Desire the “pure milk of the word” to grow, 1 Pet. 2:2).
II. PURE LIVES MUST BE LIVED.
A. The Church is Pure When Our Lives are Pure, cf. Rev. 3:4.
1. Pure in heart (Matt. 5:8; 2 Tim. 2:22); Pure in thought (Phil. 4:8); Pure in speech (Jas. 1:26); Pure in deed (2 Cor. 7:1).
2. The church that is presented to Christ will be pure, Eph. 5:27; 2 Cor. 11:2.
a. Only the pure will be eternally saved, Rev. 21:27.
b. Christ is the Savior of the body (Eph. 5:23).
c. Therefore, the body He saves will be a pure body.
3. Don’t deceive yourself; You cannot live in moral and spiritual impurity and go to heaven.
B. Purity of Life is Constantly Threatened:
1. By indifference, Heb. 2:2-3.
2. By worldliness, 1 Jno. 2:15.
3. By evil influences, 1 Cor. 15:33 (“keep yourself pure,” 1 Tim. 5:22).
C. Christians must Maintain Purity of Life.
1. Word dwelling in us, cf. 1 Jno. 3:9 (Eph. 5:26; Psa. 119:11).
2. Hope of heaven motivates us, 1 Jno. 3:2-3.
III. PURE LOVE MUST BE PRACTICED.
A. Christian Love is a Tremendous Responsibility.
1. Must love God properly, Matt. 22:37; 1 Jno. 5:3.
2. Must love each other properly, Jno. 13:34 (fervent love 1 Pet. 4:8).
-As Christ loved us (Eph. 5:25).
B. Pure Love is Always in Danger:
1. Due to an unwillingness to sacrifice for others, 1 Jno. 3:17-18.
2. Due to selfishness, Eph. 5:2.
3. Due to hypocrisy, Rom. 12:9-10.
-Let love be “free from sinister or improper motives.”
C. Pure Love is Learned and Developed.
-By obeying the word of Christ, Jno. 14:15
Conclusion
1. Christ intends for His church to be pure in doctrine, life and love, Jas. 4:8.
2. We each have the responsibility to be pure in these areas.
3. As we each do our part - the church will be pure.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: June 7, 2016