Why did Christ give Himself for the church?
Christ gave Himself for the church because He loved it, in order to sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water through the Word, and to present it to Himself as a glorious called-out assembly, holy, set apart, without spot, wrinkle, or blemish.
Les explains that Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, then verse 26 and 27, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word—not with baptismal water, but Scripture. The purpose is that He might present the body, the church, to Himself a glorious called-out assembly, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy, set apart, without blemish. This parallels how men ought to love their wives as their own bodies, for no man ever hated his own flesh but nourished and cherished it, even as the Lord the church. Believers are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones, united to Him as husband and wife are one flesh. Paul writes concerning Christ and the church, the body.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
More Questions
Who is the church that Christ loved and gave Himself for in Ephesians 5:25?
In Ephesians 5:25, when Paul speaks of the church Christ loved and gave Himself for, he is speaking of us believers, we who are members of the body of Christ.
Who is Paul talking about in Ephesians 5:25 when he says Christ gave Himself for it?
The 'us' for whom Christ gave Himself in Ephesians 5:25 is believers—those who are members of the body of Christ—not Israel or some other group.