How does Christ sanctify and cleanse the church according to Ephesians 5?
Christ sanctifies and cleanses the church by the washing of water by the Word, not by a foot tub or a laver. He gave Himself for the church, which is His body of believers, so that He might sanctify and cleanse it through the Word.
In Ephesians 5:25, Paul says husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. Les points out that Paul is speaking about believers, members of the body of Christ. Christ's purpose is to sanctify and cleanse the church, not with the washing of a foot tub or a laver, but by the washing of water by the Word. Les notes he wished he had more time on this verse and that the same teaching appears on a different level.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
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